2006 Cimarone "Le Clos Secret" Three Creek Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley Red Blend (Previously $45 elswhere)

The "Le Clos Secret" is a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec that really shows its Right Bank roots. It comes from Cilla and Roger Higgins'organically-grown Three Creek Vineyard in the Happy Canyon sub-appelation of the Santa Ynez Valley, which was planted in 2001, and is made by Happy Canyon champion Doug Margerum (Margerum Cellars, Happy Canyon Vineyard). The big chunk of Cabernet Franc makes this wine stand out instantly, with evergreen, lavender and fern notes on the nose that make you think: there is something wonderfully different about this wine. While bigger and richer than its litter sister, 3CV Bank, it has a similar concentration of fruit, with a bit more upfront oak adding dimension and potential for aging. The flavors of blackberry, cassis, mushroom and redwood are excitingly refreshing for a domestic Bordeaux-style blend. I think this is as good as any $30 wine we have in the store right now, even those from a more "prestigious" region. (Bryan Brick, K&L) According to WIne Spectator: "Firm and spicy, with zesty wild berry and black cherry notes that are vibrant and intense, ending with full-bodied tannins and a rich aftertaste of loamy earth. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2014. 215 cases made." (Web only, 2009)