A supple, plush and expressive red, layering currant, plum, sage and white chocolate flavors on a polished frame. Shows tremendous presence, lingering deftly on the open-weave finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Drink now through 2022. - HS

Ruby red core, slight fading at rim. The nose has a lot going on here, with strong aromas of red and black fruit that interact beautifully with savory elements – crushed rocks, herbs de provence, sage and a touch of vanilla. Cherry and blackberry flavors shine through on the polished and modern palate, with a good dose of acidity providing lift and cut. Displays nice weight without being too dense, exquisite structure and a lengthy finish.

This wine is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Syrah. It offers roasty-toasty aromas of dark coffee, bittersweet chocolate, char and cherry. The palate is appealing and silky in texture, showing elegant styling but with a lot of flavor intensity, followed by a lengthy finish. It’s a pleasing mix of grace and power, barrel and fruit.

In the same ballpark quality-wise as the Protagonist release, with probably a longer drink window, the 2012 Conner Lee Vineyard Conflict is made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Syrah. Finishing malo in barrel and aged 20 months in 70% new French oak, it has classic plum, black raspberry, chocolate, lead pencil and spice-laced aromatics. This give way to a full-bodied, nicely concentrated, gorgeously pure 2012 that still has oak to integrate, yet will have over a decade of longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck