Moving to the two Cabernet Sauvignon releases, the 2017 Sage Ridge Vineyard comes from a mountain site located above Lake Hennessy and is 100% Cabernet (clones 15 and 7) that spent 20 months in new French oak. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. This deep purple hued beauty boasts loads of mountain scrub brush, flowers, candied violets, sage, and exotic flower-like nuances, all of which are grounded by a terrific core red and blue fruits. Full-bodied, bodied, opulent, and concentrated on the palate, it stays lively and elegant, with good acidity and precision on the finish. There's a kiss of background oak and I this will be even better with 2-3 years of bottle age and should have 20 years or more of overall longevity.

Extroverted, with lots of lush açaí, blueberry and boysenberry reduction flavors coursing through, with a melted licorice and Christmas pudding–accented finish. For fans of the style. Drink now through 2028. 125 cases made. — JM