From Vine Hill Ranch south-west of Oakville, California, this 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully refined expression of Napa Valley Cabernet.

The estate’s distinctive Benchland vineyard sits against the Mayacamas foothills, with its individual blocks contributing different facets to the wine; from dark fruit and fine tannin to bay leaf, petrichor, graphite and mineral notes. The wine opens with ripe blackberry, blackcurrant and dark cherry, layered with violets, cedar, cocoa, graphite and subtle forest floor notes.

Powerful yet graceful, it has a plush, silky texture, bright acidity and fine-grain tannins that have softened beautifully with bottle age. There is an appealing savoury edge beneath the generous fruit profile, giving the wine a sense of complexity and place.

Now drinking with considerable maturity and poise, this is a superb example of the elegance and longevity possible from top-tier Oakville Cabernet.