2006 B Cellars Blend 26

The deep, full-bodied, rich 2006 Blend 26 (the same vineyard blends as the 2005) offers plenty of cassis and cedary fruit. Long and heady with velvety tannins, it is a seductive red to consume during its first 10-12 years of life. This relatively new producer’s debut vintage was 2003, but these are the first wines I have tasted from B Cellars. Proprietors Jim Borsack and Duffy Keys have hired Kirk Venge as their consulting winemaker, and the wines are clearly made in a fruit-forward style that should satisfy consumers and restaurants looking for immediate drinkability. Two of their flagship wines are their Blend 24 and Blend 25. The Blend 24 is normally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Merlot, followed by Sangiovese and Petite Sirah. The Blend 25 is usually a two varietal blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and one-third Syrah. The third blend, the Blend 26, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three vineyard sites. Two-thirds come from the Stagecoach Vineyard above the Silverado Trail, 23% from the To-Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, and 11% from the Dr. Crane Vineyard in St. Helena. Tel. (949) 348-8820; Fax (949) 348-8821