A wine that flirts with perfection is the 2016 Estate Cuvée, which is 52% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot, all of which spent 15 months in new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a masculine bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid rock-like minerality, and lead pencil shavings, it reminds me of a top 2010 Pomerol with its opulence, power, and purity. Hitting the palate with full body, a layered, seamless, multi-dimensional texture, and present yet polished tannins, this beauty is one of the finest examples of this cuvée yet produced. Give bottles 2-3 years and it will keep for 15+.

Plump, sleek and rich blackberry and black cherry fruits, layered with cocoa bean and a dusting of cocoa powder. This has texture, and length, and is fully integrated at six years old, but will continue to age for another decade from here. Dried tobacco and spice show not only the heat of the summer (harvest was around two weeks earlier than average in 2016), but also helps balance out the palate from getting too sweet. A kick of pencil lead comes in on the finish. Michel Rolland consultant. 100% new French oak, from 12 different coopers.

Aromas of asphalt, blackberry, blueberry and crushed stones. Then it turns to grilled meat. Medium-bodied with medium, creamy tannins and a juicy finish with a lovely bitter-lemon note. 52% syrah, 32% cabernet sauvignon and 16% petit verdot. Drinking really well now.

(WA 90-93+ points) The 2016 Estate Cuvee reveals a youthful bouquet of crème de cassis, ripe plums, licorice, pencil shavings and anise, framed by a generous application of creamy, spicy new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ripe and heavily extracted, clamping down on the tongue and gums with an impenetrable wall of firm, chewy tannin that makes it hard to read. It's a bit too soon after bottling to truly get a handle on this, so I've given it a hesitant bracketed score. It's a blend of 52% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Petit Verdot that was matured in 90% new oak. - William Kelley