The wine from Larkmead is always good, and sometimes great. It comes from Calistoga, which would be an AVA (American Viticultural Area) if wine drinkers, farmers, geologist, meteorologists, and soil scientists made that call. It's not my battle, and so I enjoy lots of wine from this maker that is a tad high priced on average, and I am rewarded with the occasional bottle that is a steal for the $. This bottle is the latter,,if you like modern day (1982 and onward) Cabernet blends. This is a stand alone wine that if you were having a steak, you might have a sip or two, and you would be best served having a back up acidic wine with your fatty dish. This one is ripe, not rotten, or overly ripe. It reminds me of poppycock (thanks mona lisa vito for that descriptor) i.e. popcorn that is glassed with the thinnest coating of crisp caramel that retains a hint of butter that cracks when you bite it releasing its aroma; there is the smell of the Bordeaux in September, burning vines and charring barrels, and balance. Too cold, and it is grapey, too warm and it is overripe and ethanolic, if you find the right T-spot (temperature), it's good, really good, and balanced.
Drink or Hold, this is good now if you like the aforementioned, and it likely will evolve into more, correlate with your taste buds and bottle volume when you decide.
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