I am always intrigued with the designs a wine will express on the microscope slide. Considering that there are hundreds of different molecules in a wine, some wines express amazing complexity while others reveal profound simplicity.

Years ago I defined a ‘wine alphabet’ of forms and have often wondered what they mean. Even today, as I focus more on the incredible artistic beauty in wine, I am ALWAYS asked, what are we seeing. What do you think? I will offer some possibilities – aggregates of tannins, molecular groupings or ‘congregations,’ the spirit of the vine. These are all cab blends – from 3 to 17 years old.  Top is 1968 Inglenook Cask cab, the wise elder. Learn more

2002 Kathryn Hall                                                  2006 Frank Family                                   2005  Benziger Oonapais

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