Pyramid Valley Howell Cab. Franc 07 1.5L

• Tasting Notes:

  Deep ruby/black, with purple lights. Hugely perfumed: fruit, violets and furred game, and a tapenade-like mix of olive, black pepper, and herbs, especially savory and thyme. Black fruits turn redder with air: blackberry morphing to raspberry. Prettily floral and just slightly feral at the same time: hare served at a table set with irises.

  Layered and lush, both dense and plush: a weighted pile of velvet. Far-reaching flavors of raspberry, clove, bramble and brine; and mouth-coating, powder-fine tannins. Surprisingly fresh and cool, given the ripeness of the fruit. Finishes fine and concise and long, after the almost bawdy mid-palate sweetness.