Deep garnet, dense and concentrated to the rim

It smells expensive. Cedar chest, leather book binding, rich mahogany, and high-cacao Tournon chocolate. Black currant and cassis give way to blackberry and dark, dark fruit, framed by a full spice box — pipe tobacco, clove, black peppercorn, coriander and cardamom. Dried herbs add depth and dimension.

Well-structured acid: it starts lean, then broadens across the palate in a very Napa, very Rutherford way. A complete wine — big entry, full mid-palate, and a rich, trailing, lengthy finish. Built for a tomahawk steak, for brisket smoked down to burnt ends, and for a Churchill afterwards.

Dry-aged ribeye · Roasted lamb · Truffle pasta