There is a kind of greenness here and that’s not totally surprising … this vintage might be loaded with it depending where the grapes were grown, but to try and keep that note at bay at Back 10, 25% of the crop was green-harvested: dropped to the ground to keep the yields lower and the vines concentrating only on producing the best fruit. It also saw 20% new American oak to develop a richness; but there is also some lovely ripe raspberry, tobacco and sweet cherry to go along with it, and that’s just the mid-palate … the finish is a whole host of fun with its spiced-raspberry-cherry-tobacco meld. Price: $28.95 – Rating: ****