2016 Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Classy nose, some developing leafy notes and a rich, ripe cassis and cigar-box nose. A ripe and smooth palate with blue fruit, cassis and quite firm and fine tannins. Plenty of fruit and not short of alcohol but it is well managed. (AC)

Full ruby-red. Crushed blackberry, cassis and minerals on the nose, plus a pungent note of black pepper. Seamless and bright on entry, then utterly smooth in the energetic middle palate, with flavors of black fruits, fruity peppercorn, licorice and graphite given a tightly coiled spring by firm acidity. A classic of its slow-ripening vintage, this very intense, backward wine finishes with serious but utterly suave tannins and slowly mounting floral persistence. A bit more peppery and less spicy than the 2015 release but with terrific energy and similar quality. If anything, this '16 tightened up with extended aeration. Lay it down for at least a few years.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, instantly commands the attention of the drinker. It is generous on the nose, showcasing a dense, chewy core of fruit, exuding bold yet elegant expressions of blackberries, blackcurrant, red cherry and dark, dusty plum. Medium to full-bodied, the palate sings with subtle baking spices—cinnamon and cardamom—and vanilla tones with a complexity that lifts the mid-palate. The focus and purity are captured effortlessly here, ending with a long, drawn-out finish that continues to evolve on the aftertaste well after the wine has left the palate. This bottling deserves to be on your dinner table or in your cellar. It's a stellar wine that delivers pleasure with the purity of expression. 200 cases produced.