Burgess Sorenson's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (75cl, 14.5%)

Burgess Sorenson's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a Howell Mountain Cabernet blend from Burgess Cellars. Fruit comes entirely from the Sorenson vineyard, originally planted in the 1870s, on a steep 27-degree slope of compacted volcanic soils. The blend is approximately 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, hand-harvested, fermented in stainless steel, with extended maceration and lees contact. It spent 30 months in oak barrels, 30% new, and was bottled unfiltered. The nose shows dark plum, cassis, graphite, cedar, minty-herbal notes, potpourri and smoldering tobacco. The palate is plush and full-bodied, with blackberry, mulberry and black currant, baking spice, soft tannins and mid-palate density from Petit Verdot and Malbec. The finish is long and graceful, with savory cedar, tobacco leaf, wet earth, lilac and black tea.