The fruit for this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc 31% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec came from Chalk Hill (58%) and Alexander Valley (42%). Pierre Seillan believes the Chalk Hill fruit provides a truffle-like character and the Alexander Valley gives minerality structure tannin and intensity. The 2008 will be fascinating to taste next to the 2007 over the next 30+ years. Sweet mulberry blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with notions of black truffles damp earth and forest floor emerge from this beauty of stunning intensity purity and texture. The alcohol is 14.4% and the relatively elevated pH is 3.76. Robert Parker Jr.

The 2008 vintage presented challenges for Cabernet Sauvignon but this Cabernet Franc-based blend succeeds wildly. It's bone dry tannic and enormously complex with flavors of sour-cherry candy red currant licorice and spicy cola. Ninety-five percent new oak lends this a wonderful toastiness. Few wines could handle that much new wood but this one can. However it's very tannic. You can drink it now but it should blossom after 2014. - S.H.