This is quite attractive on the nose with a floral base note framing the cinnamon dusted plum and black cherry notes on the nose, and picking up a bit of dried herb with air. Round and plump up front, the rich plum and blackberrry fruit is nicely supported by integrated acids and rounded tannins. There’s some obvious wood on the mid-palate acting as a bit of a spice accent to the fruit, and the wood tannin shows through on the moderately long finish but the fruit here is quite bright, fresh and persistent showing off flashes of herbs and a licorice note. This has fine fruit and complexity and a lovely, inviting texture supple, smooth and yet innately firm. 92pts
 
 
Intensely aromatic on the nose with imposing aromas of  dried herbs and dried blood orange peel along with inky notes and hints of diesel and stone all layered over a base of black currant and blackberry fruit with bitter chocolate shavings over them. Another wine that is so smooth, and polished in this case but not without life in the mouth. There’s a nice edge to the acidity and it helps to highlight the mineral streak that runs through this herb infused and slightly amaro tinged wine. The fruit is dark, mulberry and dates along with a rich, slightly chewy core of black currants all coming together with nuanced tobacco and oak notes on the backend and then turning chocolaty on the long and attractively wild raspberry tinged finish. A bit of a powerhouse but very well made. 91pts
 
 
Very aromatic with lots of sweet toasty oak and super-ripe fruit lending a really sweet impression to the nose here, filled as it is with candied blackberry, orange peel, and chocolate covered black cherry studded with clove, vanilla and allspice. Seamless in the mouth this is rich and powerful but not as large scaled as one might expect from the nose. It’s a little chewy and while it is frankly oaky the oaky is well done and balanced by the intense black cherry skin, mineral and mulberry flavors that gain a hint of green anise seed and herb on the backend.  The acid and minerality op on the finish, which is cut short but it’s relatively heavy load of tannin. This is intense and a powerhouse that sacrifices nuance for intensity.  91pts
 
 
Dry, earthy and herbal on the nose which is quite pronounced and distinctive. There’s a lot of spice action emerging with air and a fine core of candied black fruits. Matte on entry, and low in the mouth, this shows a tight core of fresh black raspberry and blackcurrant fruit framed with nuanced green herbal tones and topped with well judged oak. The green herbal aspects add attractive freshness in the mouth and highlight the acids which add some lift to the backend before reintegrating with the tart berry fruit on the modest finish which ends with a bit of sweet oak spice. For a big wine this shows some restraint and has some old world character with a fine mineral note coming out with air. 91pts
 
 
70% Malbec, 30% Bonarda
 
Fairly vanilla oaky on the nose but also nicely rosemary stemmy with intriguing herb notes helping to add complexity to the plummy and candied black cherry fruits of the nose. This is very broad on entry, and shows attractive transparency on the palate with modest tannins and well integrated acidity supporting fresh plummy fruit. There’s a nuance of chocolaty oak here but it’s really very well integrated, and while the tannins build on the palate they remain within the rich if simple fruit. The finish is a bit subtle and shows good persistence to the dried herb, mineral and older wood flavors that help to carry a kernel of red cherry fruit right through to the finale. Rather juicy and perhaps a touch simple but also quite satisfying on a hedonistic level without crossing the fruit bomb line. 90pts