2016 The Farm Cabernet Sauvignon Cardinal

Opaque ruby. The impressive array of ripe dark fruit and floral aromas is complicated by suggestions of candied licorice, pipe tobacco and exotic spices. Sweet and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining black currant and cherry preserve flavors and a hint of candied rose. Youthfully chewy tannins frame an impressively long, juicy finish that leaves sappy dark berry and floral notes behind.

Coming all from very old vine Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in the Old Bailey Vineyard in the Adelaida district, the 2016 Cardinal was aged over two years in new French oak. It reveals a saturated purple color as well as powerful notes of black and blue fruits, cedary herbs, menthol, spice box, and dried citrus and orange rind. Exotic and complex aromatically, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, has bright acidity, fine tannins, and outstanding length. It's well-done, will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.