01 Bennett Lane Winery, Napa Valley Maximus

This is a terroir free zone. 44% cabernet sauvignon, 44% merlot, and 12% zinfandel, the Maximus is a lush wine that shows finesse and hedonism, like Sinatra walking through the park after dinner. The bouquet is increasingly powerful as the wine sits open in the bottle. In its 5th day, it's ripe with plums and creme de cassis. It smells like the world's greatest Kir Royale. The taste is fleshy, with more plums and brambly blackberries, but countered well by tannins that stay dry for days. There's nothing overtly aggressive about this wine. It's a cocktail party of heavyweight boxers, mingling as they eye their next knockouts. The finish is full of cinammon and chocolate. See comments for more recent notes.