Lots of crème de cassis, vanilla bean, smoke, and meaty notes emerge from the 2016 Four Hearts Vineyard, a California beauty offering powerful, full-bodied, sexy aromas and flavors, gorgeous tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that won’t quit. Based on 66% Petite Sirah and 34% Tempranillo that’s sourced from dry-farmed, old head-trained vines, if this doesn’t put a smile on your face, you might be dead. Drink bottles over the coming 15 years or more.

Deep, bright-rimmed violet. Powerful red and blue fruit, lavender oil, Asian spices and incense on the expansive nose, along with a smoky mineral nuance that builds with air. Sappy, energetic and finely etched, offering palate-staining raspberry and blueberry preserve, cherry-cola and floral pastille flavors that convey a suave blend of depth and energy. Displays sharp focus and floral lift on an impressively long, subtly tannic finish that leaves behind notes of candied blue fruits and spicecake.

This is the first vintage of the 4hearts vineyard from Saxum. "We threw in some American oak on this one," says owner-winemaker Justin Smith. The 2016 4hearts Vineyard is made up of 66% Petite Sirah and 34% Tempranillo aged 33 months in 75% new oak. Medium to deep ruby-purple, it opens with tar and roses over notes of turned earth, toasted coconut, leather, Jamón Ibérico, scorched earth and loads of ripe black and red cherry and berry fruit at the core. Medium to full-bodied, slick and intense, it has a firm, chalky frame and good freshness, finishing long with rustic flavors. This could still use plenty of time in bottle. 267 cases were made.