2019 Sloan, Proprietary Red, Rutherford

Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2019 Proprietary Red sports a deep purple-black color, erupting from the glass with powerful scents of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and preserved plums, plus hints of chocolate box, cedar chest and Indian spices, with a waft of menthol. Big, super-rich and super-concentrated, the palate delivers layer upon layer of black fruits and exotic spices, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length.

Sloan's 2019 Proprietary Red is deep and rich, with scents of dark loam, woodsy notes, hints of cedar and vanilla, plus dark, plummy fruit. It's full-bodied, concentrated, dense and decadently velvety but with a slight dried-fruit character. It's awesome in that idiom but lacks the vibrancy and freshness of the valley's absolute best wines. To this taster, it comes across as impressively complex, concentrated and long but also a bit heavy and warm on the finish. What foods would one pair this with?