2008 was a dramatic year – there were battles with frost at the beginning of the growing season and high heat during harvest in September. This was the first vintage when the hi-tech Mistral sorter was used to eliminate unripe berries (Ste Michelle and Antinori bought Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in July 2007 and immediately began a programme of updating and investment). There are high sweet fresh notes on the nose, and a palate restrained, tightly-wound, with an undertow of herb and and also and fine black fruit. Today, this is closed but when it opens it will be excellent. If you open it now, double-decant.