The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard comes from a vineyard that contains more river rock. It's very deep purple-black in color and reveals exuberant cassis, black cherries, plum preserves and wild blueberry scents with touches of cedar chest, tilled soil, truffles and pencil lead plus a waft of bay leaves. The palate has an incredible structure of very firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, framing the muscular, full-bodied fruit and finishing on a very long, lingering mineral note. 597 cases produced.

Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard is a huge wine endowed with massive concentration and pure power. Today, the 2016 is raw and not fully put together. It will be interesting to see how the 2016 comes together over the next year or so, and, specifically, if it develops the sensuality that is such a signature of the Helena Dakota. At this stage, the 2016 is decidedly brutish.