The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Melbury which comes from a hillside vineyard site near Lake Hennessey is showing even better than it did in its youth. Probably years away from full maturity the wine has an extraordinary aromatic profile of smoky meats intermixed with blackberry creme de cassis charcoal lead pencil shavings and espresso. Dense opulent and full-bodied with terrific fruit this is a showcase style of vintage for a wine of such great ripeness and massive intensity. This extraordinary effort displays oodles of glycerin and fabulous purity while the oak has been completely absorbed. The cooler hillside climate of blue fruits and spring flowers is also present as the wine aerates in the glass. This wine has at least another 15-30 years of potential ahead of it.

Enormously rich, like biting into a warm chocolate truffle with a cherry-blackberry core. Ultrasmooth, a bit soft and melted, but oh, so supple and velvety, with fine, firm tannins. Completely dry and balanced, this is a wine of harmonious complexity.

Firm, pure, rich and concentrated, dense and youthful, this delivers blackberry, wild berry, olive, currant, mocha and black licorice flavors, ending with chewy tannins and excellent length.—2002 California Cabernet blind retrospective (May 2012). Drink now through 2022. – JL