Earlier vintages of the Panek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrate generous valley floor qualities like caramelized sugar and maple syrup, resulting from a mix of red and black fruit. One striking difference is that the 2013 vintage is bigger and more structured, owing to the preponderance of black fruit. This is still very much a fruit-driven wine, but the impact of pure, dark fruit from small, thick-skinned berries is considerable. This wine is the finest expression of the site thus far. We believe it's preferable for young Cabernet Sauvignon to show some tannin, and valley floor wines deliver that in 2013-another hallmark of a best-ever vintage. The Panek Vineyard Cabernet exhibits a bit of grip in the finish that hasn't been apparent before. Though we certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from enjoying it young, the 2013 definitely has a longer cellaring window than its predecessors. While savoring your 2012 wine from the Panek Vineyard, your 2013 will only benefit from a year in the cellar to smooth out its back-end tannins.