I loved the bouquet of the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which has awesome purity in its classic Cabernet notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco, and earthy, gravelly mineral-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, utterly seamless, and lengthy, it's a rock star of a base cuvée that readers should snatch up. It's going to drink beautifully for two decades or more. This cuvée is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Malbec.

A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec, the deep purple-black colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate reveals lovely, open-knit, youthful cassis, crushed black plums and black cherries scents with hints of rose hip tea, chocolate box, lavender, tobacco leaf and redcurrant jelly. The full-bodied, vibrantly fruited palate beautifully offsets the rich black fruits with red fruit and herbal sparks plus tons of freshness, finishing with a wonderfully plush texture blanketing the fruit right through the long finish.- LPB