Also bottled the week before this tasting, the 2016 Soul of a Lion includes more Cabernet Sauvignon than the 2014 and 2015 and is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. It’s an incredible achievement and has sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, violets, and lead pencil shavings. Made in a pure California, pedal-to-the-metal style, with full body and loads of fruit, it stays balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and a layered, seamless style that just glides over the palate. Don’t think Paso Robles can make world-class Cabernet Sauvignon? Try this wine.

The 2016 Soul Of A Lion is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. The nose offers pure, expressive, incredibly layered scents of espresso, cast iron, vanilla bean, cedar, cigar ash, black cherry jam, blackberry pie, fern, underbrush, exotic flowers and peppered meats. Medium to full-bodied, it bursts with flavor layers framed by wonderfully ripe, pixelated tannins and seamless freshness, finishing incredibly long and packed to the gills with flavor. This is heavenly. - Erin Brooks

Aromas of coffee bean, charred meat, blackberry and toast show on the nose of this blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. There is compelling density to the palate, which offers flavors of espresso, cocoa, charred toast and blackberry. - MATT KETTMANN

Super dark with a ton of bitter chocolate and cocoa powder, plus smoke and a hint of gunpowder. This has a great balance of full, powdery tannins and earthy power. Long, really complex finish. You could drink this now, but if you wait until at least 2021, it will give even more pleasure.