2006 Viader^® Proprietary Red – “Rich, Smooth Flavors; Sexy Oak Spices”

(a 66/34 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc) Good deep red-ruby. Subdued but ripe nose offers cassis, black plum, bitter chocolate, rose petal and sexy oak spices. Bigger, broader and lusher than most past vintages of this bottling, with rich, smooth flavors of dark plum and bitter chocolate. For all its weight (this is clearly a larger-scaled wine than the 2005), it manages to retain a light touch. Finishes with big, broad, rich tannins that reach the teeth. Still a bit youthfully musclebound but built for a slow and positive evolution in bottle. This was the first vintage to be vinified by Alan Viader, who does a longer maceration than previously and makes greater use of delestage to aerate the must and extract color and flavor. The flagship wine was macerated for 45 to 50 days in both ’06 and ’07.