Behrens & Hitchcock Red Bordeaux Blend Napa Valley Cuvée Lola 2001

Bright ruby-red. Aromas of crushed blackberry, raw cherry, licorice and tar. Lush black fruit and licorice flavors complicated by notes of leather and loam. Finishes with fairly soft tannins and a hint of nut skin. Doesn't quite have the verve for 90 points.

A Bordeaux blend based on 75% Cabernet Franc. Good bright ruby. Supper ripe aromas of black fruits, chocolates, flowers, mint and pepper, with a distinct raisiny note. Very sweet and ripe, with distinctly porty tones of medicinal black cherry, dark berries and dark chocolate. The alcohol here is in the 16% range. A bit extreme to my taste and the tannins seem a bit dominant, but some tasters will love this style. This was much fresher when I tasted it in barrel last year. Drink this soon.

The 2000 Cuvée Lola (a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot) is one of the vintage's superstars. It is thick and juicy, with great fruit, fabulously complex aromas (Asian spices, coffee, chocolate, black cherries, blackberries, and cassis), and a dense, vibrant (because of the high percentage of Cabernet Franc) personality, it gracefully conceals its 14.5% alcohol. Sadly, there are only 250 cases. My apologies to Bob Hitchcock and Les Behrens for writing a year and a half ago that this wine was named after their dead cat (that's the Ode to Picasso). As they reminded me, the Cuvée Lola honors "a live daughter." It should drink beautifully upon release, and over the following decade.

The brilliant 2001 Cuvee Lola (sadly, there are only 214 cases of this 75% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petite Sirah blend) is what Bordeaux's famed Cheval Blanc might taste like if it were a dry vintage port. This is a totally dry wine, but the glycerin levels are off the charts (give credit to the 16.1% natural alcohol). Inky/purple, with a gorgeous floral, blueberry, graphite, and smoky scented perfume, this spectacular, unctuously textured 2001 is an extraordinary expression of Cabernet Franc. I didn't ask Les Behrens or Bob Hitchcock where they got the Cabernet Franc, but my guess would be somewhere near heaven. This wine should drink well for 10-15 years, but only a fool would allow it to sit unconsumed that long. Amazing! Drink 2003-2018.

Bright ruby-red. Aromas of crushed blackberry, raw cherry, licorice and tar. Lush black fruit and licorice flavors complicated by notes of leather and loam. Finishes with fairly soft tannins and a hint of nut skin. Doesn't quite have the verve for 90 points.

The brilliant 2001 Cuvee Lola (sadly, there are only 214 cases of this 75% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petite Sirah blend) is what Bordeaux's famed Cheval Blanc might taste like if it were a dry vintage port. This is a totally dry wine, but the glycerin levels are off the charts (give credit to the 16.1% natural alcohol). Inky/purple, with a gorgeous floral, blueberry, graphite, and smoky scented perfume, this spectacular, unctuously textured 2001 is an extraordinary expression of Cabernet Franc. I didn't ask Les Behrens or Bob Hitchcock where they got the Cabernet Franc, but my guess would be somewhere near heaven. This wine should drink well for 10-15 years, but only a fool would allow it to sit unconsumed that long. Amazing! Drink 2003-2018.

A Bordeaux blend based on 75% Cabernet Franc. Good bright ruby. Supper ripe aromas of black fruits, chocolates, flowers, mint and pepper, with a distinct raisiny note. Very sweet and ripe, with distinctly porty tones of medicinal black cherry, dark berries and dark chocolate. The alcohol here is in the 16% range. A bit extreme to my taste and the tannins seem a bit dominant, but some tasters will love this style. This was much fresher when I tasted it in barrel last year. Drink this soon.