A blend of 65% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot is the 2014 Proprietary Red Illustration. Like it siblings, this is aged 17 months in French cooperage, of which about half is new. This is a beauty - Old World meets New World so to speak - with good tannin structure and acidity, but terrific ripe fruit of crème de cassis, black chocolate intermixed with licorice and espresso bean. This is a full-bodied, juicy, opulent style of wine to drink over the next 15 or so years.

The 2014 Illustration is soft, open-knit and pliant, with more than enough mid-palate depth to drink well with minimal cellaring. Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco and spice lead into the fleshy, inviting finish.