Wine Reviews

This is concentrated with cherry, blackberry, plum, iron, sweet spice and tar flavors. Muscular tannins leave a firm grip on the finish, yet overall, this red feels balanced and crunchy.

A vertiginous tight-rope walk between savory and sweet on the nose, from white tea leaf to tart blackberries to bing cherries to damp earth and gunpowder on the nose somersaults into ripe blackberries, black cherries, orange peel then sticks the landing with savory notes of black olives, a hint of grilled meat and mixed bitter herbs. I have always enjoyed Oreno but the introduction of the Cabernet Franc is cataclysmic. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

The 2024 Oreno is one of the finest wines I have tasted here. The inclusion of 20% Cabernet Franc in the blend, a greater focus on freshness and a vintage that also favors vibrancy all come together in a mid-weight, nuanced Oreno that has so much to offer. Crushed raspberry, cedar, new leather, licorice and mocha soar from the glass. I especially admire the energy here. Not only is the 2024 a stellar wine to mark the estate’s 25th anniversary, but it also opens the door to a more contemporary style that is hugely appealing. The blend is 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Very refined and polished, showing currants, orange peel, sandalwood and cedar with some raspberries. It’s medium-bodied, offering ultrafine tannins and a long finish. Chewy yet caressing. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and a touch of petit verdot. Drinkable now but much better in two or three years.

Dark and complex wine, earthy and concentrated yet balanced. Vibrant aromas of cassis, violets, licorice, pencil shavings and graphite. Full-bodied, it displays a dynamic palate with dense, velvety tannins, fruit concentration and crisp, integrated acidity, which keeps it in balance.