The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Revilo Vineyard exhibits a floral/spring flower garden-like character in addition to sweet blueberry and black currant fruit, ripe tannin, medium to full body and a precocious, upfront appeal that makes it irresistible already. There is enough stuffing for 10-15 years of cellaring. These are impressive efforts from proprietor Mark Carter. Tel. and Fax: (707) 445-0311

The 2007s are stunning offerings with the exception of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Revilo Vineyard, which comes across as tannic, monolithic, closed, and one-dimensional. Carter Cellars is a relatively new operation (it began in the late 1990s) run by Mark Carter and Nils Venge. The wines are made at Venge’s Saddleback Cellars in Oakville with some assistance from Fred Schrader. They have some interesting vineyard sources, including the Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard in Oakville, the Truchard Vineyard in Carneros, the Revilo Vineyard in St. Helena, and the Coliseum Block in Soda Canyon. Tel. (707) 445-0311; Fax (707) 444-8067