Rivers-Marie Wines Rivers-Marie Panek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 750ml

I was able to taste two barrel samples from 2017, both showing beautifully, that should satisfy anyone who’s concerned about the overall quality of the 2017 vintage. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard offers an exotic, perfumed bouquet of blue fruits, violets, and blood orange, and it’s flamboyant and sexy on the palate, with its classic rich yet weightless style. It’s unquestionably a beautiful wine.

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard captures all of the exotic richness of the year. Super-ripe dark cherry, red plum and pomegranate fruit make a strong opening statement. Bold and luscious in the glass, this extravagantly ripe, unctuous Cabernet offers tons of immediacy. It is also a terrific example of the vintage. Plush fruit and silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable approachability and appeal. (Antonio Galloni)

A final tank blend ready for bottling, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard reveals a deep garnet-purple color, giving up scents of Christmas cake, plum preserves, potpourri and stewed tea with wafts of dusty soil and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, rugged frame with tons of baked berries and spicy fruit to fill the mouth, finishing with a nice burst of freshness. 300 cases are to be bottled.