2008 & 2009 Relic "Artefact" Cabernet Sauvignon, "Avion" Pinot Noir, "Old Vines" Petite Sirah, "Scarpa" Syrah & "Ritual" Red Blend Tasting Lot

“Bright medium ruby. Blackberry, blueberry, licorice and menthol on the rather cool nose, lifted by a violet topnote. Moderately dense and juicy but a bit clenched and evolving very slowly. Intense black cherry, cassis, menthol and herb flavors show a medicinal cast. A bit unyielding, with tongue-dusting (oak-driven?) tannins giving the finish a dry edge. I'd still wait a couple years before pulling the cork, but it remains to be seen if this wine has the sweetness and mid-palate flesh to support its structure? One is aware of the small Syrah component on the nose but the palate is very Cabernet. (ST)” (05/2018)

“Deliciously complex, dense, deep and focused, with an array of beefy wild berry, mineral, black licorice, graphite and raspberry. Full-bodied yet graceful, elegant and beautifully proportioned, ending with a long persistent finish. (JL)” (02/2012)

“(from vines on Pritchard Hill; vinified with 20% whole clusters): Bright medium ruby. Perfumed nose melds blackberry, licorice and violet, complicated by black pepper and an exotic suggestion of white fruit. Dense, intensely flavored and vibrant, with a saline quality adding complexity to the dark fruit, spice and pepper flavors. Finishes sweet and long, with solid tannic support. I like what the stems provide here. (ST)” (05/2011)