The 2017 Ciel Du Cheval comes from one of the top sites on Red Mountain and is a blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 8% Merlot. Giving up notes of dried tobacco, new leather, chocolate, and dried soil, it has a beautiful core of dark fruit, medium to full body, fabulous balance, and a great finish. This pure, balance, classic Red Mountain Bordeaux blend is going to evolve for 15-20 years.

Cabernet Franc (42%) is in the lead on this wine, with Cabernet Sauvignon (33%), Petit Verdot (17%) and Merlot following. Brooding aromas of black currant, anise, dried and fresh herb, scorched earth and boysenberry lead to a tightly packed, highly structured palate, with mouthwatering flavors. It will be timeless, but best after 2026. SEAN P. SULLIVAN

Bright, dark red. Cool scents of redcurrant, tobacco leaf, peppery herbs and licorice. Fine-grained and concentrated, offering lovely subtle sweetness and spicy lift to the flavors of raspberry, redcurrant, tobacco, menthol and cocoa powder. Much more sophisticated than the Coda, conveying an element of salinity and impressive density. The dusty tannins reach the front teeth. This should deepen in its aromatic character with another five or six years of cellaring and go on for longer than that. A worthy successor to the superb 2016, even if it's a touch more peppery and tightly wound in the early going. In fact, this wine remained stubbornly tight with 24 hours in the recorked bottle, showing a strong dusty herb character but the vibrant primary fruit to support it. -- Stephen Tanzer