2003 Blankiet "Paradise Hills Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Good deep red with a dark core. High-pitched aromas of cassis, blackberry, minerals, flowers, licorice and leather are a bit less fruity than those of the 2002. Juicy and suave in the mouth, with penetrating acidity giving the wine excellent vibrancy for its vintage. Finishes with huge, mouth-saturating tannins that still need time. 'But this wine in 750-milliliter bottles is ready to drink,' noted Claude Blankiet. Drinking window: 2020 - 2030. (ST)