Despite showing a bit more maturity than the 1976 bottling, there's a beautiful core of red cherry and raspberry flavours here penetrating through layers of leather, ash and dried tobacco. 1978 was known for ripe, boldly structured wines, and there's still a seductive, succulent frame of fruit and acidity here. The finish is a bit dusty around the edges, meandering on whispers of soft, chalky tannins. Drink soon.

The 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks Vineyard is a bigger, chunkier wine than the 1976 but should also be consumed over the next several years. Brick at the rim, it shows hints of sous-bois, cigar box and vestiges of black cherries that linger on the long, still-tannic finish. - Joe Czerwinski