Ruby in color. Showcases a lifted and perfumed nose with violet aromas that hover above fresh cassis with hints of mocha and dusty minerality. Fresh on the palate with a core of juicy, ripe dark fruit. The floral notes persist subtly on the palate and add a delicate, sweet edge. A dusty minerality intertwines with the mouthwatering acidity and lasts through the finish. The tannins are soft, fine-grained, and well-integrated. Drinking deliciously well in its youth, this will continue to improve over the next 5-7 years.

Along the same lines as the Perigee, the 2012 Apogee Pepperbridge Vineyard has a slightly darker fruit profile to go with notes of graphite, crushed rock and roasted meats. It too has a full-bodied, structured, concentration and tannic feel, so short-term cellaring is advised. It will have two decades of longevity. The blend here is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 5% Malbec, with aging spanning 22 months in 50% new French oak. - Jeb Dunnuck

Dense and fairly opaque at first pass, this cabernet-driven blend leads with a savory cherry-skin firmness and density. Dominated by tannins, with heady plum fruit pulling into view after long exposure to air, this could use time in the cellar.

The aromas of tobacco leaf, herbs, milk chocolate, vanilla and dark cherries are generous on this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The flavors are equal part rich and restrained, with a delightful sense of balance along with a light grip of tannins.

Firm in texture, with sandy tannins around a spicy core of red berry and cherry flavors, picking up hints of white pepper and cinnamon as the finish lingers. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2017 through 2022. - HS