2018 Umbriaso Rhondeaux, Cloverdale Peak/Kenwood

SF Wine Panel Score 92+ Points

Elegant and forthcoming, the nose of this sleek yet gutsy bottling marries fruit-dominant scents of violet, blueberry, cassis and dark plum with others of dark rose, licorice root, sandalwood and coriander seed. It proves darkly rich and impressively fruity in the mouth, where it brings tension, zest and grip to otherwise palate-coating flavors of plum, cranberry, red currant, coriander seed, sandalwood, licorice root and peppercorn. The finish is long-lingering and the wine is food-worthy as well as a fine bargain. It should get ever better for the next eighteen to thirty months, but is delicious already. A blend of Cabernet, Merlot & Syrah. 140 cases produced.