2001 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep ruby. Aromas of black raspberry and bitter chocolate. Sweet, lush and dense, with powerful flavors of raspberry, blueberry, licorice and dark chocolate. Quite broad but uncompromisingly dry, like a Medoc wine. Finishes with substantial firm tannins. Comes across as distinctly less sweet than the Tychson Hill bottling.

Although the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard is the most developed, it remains a youthful adolescent with exceptional intensity. Notes of tapenade, bay leaf, creme de cassis, charcoal and hints of truffles as well as new saddle leather emerge from this opaque purple-hued 2001. The gorgeous perfume is followed by rich, concentrated, full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin and beautiful intensity, purity and balance. It can be drunk now (although 4-5 more years of cellaring will prove beneficial) and over the next 25 years. May 2011, www.robertparker.com