A bottling from AVV’s new Reserve line, this Cabernet is a good step forward for this family-owned winery. The aromatics begin with a whiff of buttered popcorn flowing into fresh tobacco and basil along with a solid dose of blackberry. The wine hits off with eucalyptus and graphite on the palate under a core of just-ripe cherries and hazelnuts. Tart cherries and cinnamon roll out in the end.
The Cabernet is definitely a middle-weight with high acidity and raw tannins that will soften after 3-6 years of aging. $35 retail. Wine Spectator will probably give this a 90-plus rating.