Cakebread Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

Full-bodied and lush on the palate, its deeply concentrated boysenberry, blackberry, cassis and dark chocolate flavors have a wonderful freshness and purity that extend into a long, savory finish framed by ripe, supple tannins and sumptuous toasted oak tones.

The star here is the beautiful 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select. Its dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by aromas of gravelly earth intermixed with notions of lead pencil shavings, blue as well as blackberries, and spice. Medium-bodied with solid yet ripe tannins, good structure, a Bordeaux-like weight, and a clean, pure finish, it displays admirable purity and texture. It will benefit from 2ndash;3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for two decades.

Wonderful integration of ripe, spicy black cherry, plum, currant, and notes, picking up a candied cherry and mocha nuance, before firming on the finish. Best from 2002 through 2012.

This is rich and plush, supple and harmonious, with generous plum, black cherry and wild berry fruit that runs deep and persistent, repeating the dark fruit themes and ending with firm yet gentle tannins. Drink now through 2014.

The 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Selectrsquo;s dark ruby/purple-hued color is accompanied by closed aromatics consisting of compost, damp earth, underbrush, spice, licorice, cherry, plum, and currant fruit. This earthy, terroir-driven, medium-bodied 1999 displays abundant tannin in the finish.

Displays a complex, seductive aroma of ripe blackberry and plum fruit augmented by scents of tar, coffee and sweet oak. On the palate, the wine is full-textured and lush, with rich plum, black fig and cocoa flavors supported by smooth tannins. Boasting excellent structure and balance, this delicious Napa Valley Cabernet is delightful to drink now, but will handsomely repay another 7ndash;10 years of cellaring.

This immediately tastes like an expensive Napa Cabernet, stylized by oak that coats everything. But take a step back and look at the color, consider the sweet fruit, plump, soft and round; and then therersquo;s the dusty tannin of Napa benchland soils. Perhaps therersquo;s more to it than just the flash of oak, and therersquo;s plenty of fruit to absorb that oak in the winersquo;s maturity.