The 2012 True Believer is another brilliant wine. Still deep ruby/purple-hued with no bricking, it gives up a killer nose of spiced blackberries, ground pepper, leather, leafy herbs, and tapenade. Ripe, full-bodied, and sexy as all hell, it has a great mid-palate, ripe yet still present tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's a true “wow” wine if there ever was one.

A big, voluptuous blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Petite Sirah that was brought up in all neutral oak, the 2012 True Believer sports a vibrant, semi-opaque ruby/purple color to go with terrific notes of black raspberries, cassis, crushed violets, licorice and peppered meats. Big, full-bodied, and voluptuous, yet also balanced, fresh, weightless and silky, this is up there with some of the greatest GSM blends coming out of the Central Coast today.