2010 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Darius II

Deep, bright ruby-red. Deep, brooding, even inky aromas of blackberry, blueberry, dried herbs, licorice, pepper and menthol. Denser and thicker on entry than the Signature Cabernet but not heavy or unwieldy. A whiff of violet gives definition and lift to the middle palate but there's also an element of herbaceousness here that some tasters may find excessive for the year. Still, this makes the Signature seem dry and dusty by comparison, as there's clearly more stuffing and sweetness here. And this bottling should continue to evolve positively for at least several more years.