California powerhouse on a budget here. This is a pretty impressive wine, especially for its price. Really powerful, with a dense nose of blackcurrant, ripe plums, oak, vanilla, smoke, cigar box-like aromas and dare I say black olive tapenade? On the palate it's lush and fruit forward, with syrupy berry flavours in full bore and notable, but not out of control, use of oak. Nicely balanced acidity, a bit of chewiness from the tannins, and a decent length to its finish. There is a bit of volatility to it but I don't find it too distracting. Quite good for the money, if not totally my style.