2008 Hundred Acre, Fortification, Napa Valley

Spicy red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, sweet cigar smoke, chocolate-covered orange, sappy herbs, and floral notes all define the bouquet of the 2008 Fortification, which has a sensational palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, flawless overall balance, and a gorgeous finish. Building beautifully with time in the glass, this sensational complex, layered fortified wine has another two decades of prime drinking.

Pale to medium garnet-tawny colored, the 2008 Fortification opens with flamboyant mincemeat pie, wilted roses, chocolate mint, star anise and mocha scents over a crème de cassis and blueberry pie-scented core with hints of tapenade and smoked bacon. Full-bodied with well-knit sweetness and freshness, the palate is a super concentrated and multilayered powerhouse of flavor, providing a plush texture and compelling brandy-laced finish of epic proportions. Beautiful!