Pure Oakville luxury juice, this wine grows at the Swanson estate, where it's crafted by winemaker Chris Phelps. Plush cherry and wild blueberry flavors give it a polished feel, while the savory details of the fine-grained tannin add dimension and energy. This has a long life ahead." 92 points WIne Enthusiast: "Swanson has a great track record with this wine, which is always in need of time on release. The 2005 shows classic Napa structure, with hard but near-perfect tannins and lush, oak-sweetened black currant, cherry and dark chocolate flavors. Brilliant, but will benefit from a good three or four years in the cellar. Should evolve well beyond 2012." (12/08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Delivers subtle, complex black cherry, currant, spice and cedary oak notes that are well-structured and well-proportioned, gaining depth and richness and ending with a nice touch of toasty oak. Best from 2011 through 2017.