Meat juice, roasted herb, and charcuterie aromas jump from the glass of the peppery, earthy, potent, almost savage 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Wild Boar. Coming from Pope Valley, this cuvee can have an excess of tannins, but that component has been tamed in the 2007. It is a big, tannic, impressive, full-bodied, muscular example of Napa Cabernet. One of the most impressive portfolios from Flora Springs that I have tasted has emerged from their extensive vineyard holdings. Flora Springs’ single vineyard offerings are all 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with somewhat limited availability production ranges from 370-400 cases of each.Tel. (707) 963-5711; Fax (707) 963-7518

Quite a fine wine, although like Flora Springs’ other ’07 Cabs, it needs time in the cellar to come around. Grown in the Pope Valley section of eastern Napa, it shows ripe, flashy flavors of blackberries, cherries and chocolate, but those tannins are tough and hard. You can decant it now, but better to hold until 2011 or so. ——S.H.(6/1/2010)—— 93