Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (75cl, 15.5%)

A Napa Valley red wine from winemaker Julien Fayard, bottled at 15.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle from the 2015 vintage. Fayard trained at Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Smith Haut Lafitte before relocating to Napa Valley, and that Bordelais training informs a Cabernet balancing Napa's generous fruit with restraint. The 2015 vintage brought early budbreak, lower-than-average yields due to drought and concentrated fruit. Black and red currant, kirsch, preserved plums, spice box, unsmoked tobacco and subtle earthiness appear on the nose, with ripe cassis, baked blackberry, mocha, graphite, Indian spice and cigar box on the palate. The finish is medium to long with smooth tannins and graphite mineral notes.