2002 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard

(95 points) There are just over 1000 cases of the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the hillsides of the Blankiet estate. The 2002 possesses floral, blueberry, and espresso roast notes and big, sweet, black currant fruit infused with chocolate, barbecue spice, and meaty notes. The wine is big, rich, and complex, with sweet tannin and a multi-layered, concentrated finish. As I have written before, the only way readers are going to get any of this wine is to be on the mailing list or check out one of the few restaurants that receives an allocation. This is an amazing operation on the hillsides overlooking the huge Dominus/Napanook estate. A complex set of caves and a remarkable, nearly surreal chateau grace the property. Winemaker Helen Turley, working with her viticulturalist husband, John Wetlaufer, is fashioning some spectacular wines from these hillsides of volcanic ash and basalt. These are big, structured, potentially long-lived wines that will need some cellar time for those lucky enough to latch onto a few bottles. Everything to date has been aged in 100% new Taransaud barrels for 18-19 months and then bottled unfiltered. Wine Advocate #162 Dec 2005