“This is a complex wine that refines itself into a fine beam
as the finish lingers...”
—Harvey Steiman,
Wine Spectator

Flying Pig

Produced: 2001 - present

Professional reviews and tasting notes from prior vintages:

2008

...the 2008 Flying Pig, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, Dried herbs, spice box, mineral, cassis, and black cherry aromas inform the nose of a savory, succulent, layered, lengthy offering that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and provide optimum drinking through 2023. 97 points. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2007

The 2007 Flying Pig is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. Baron’s take on Cheval Blanc, the wine is sourced from yields of 1.3 tons per acre. It offers up a kinky bouquet of liquid rock, Asian spices, incense, and wild berries. Full-bodied but light on its feet, this complex effort is hard to resist now but will easily evolve for another 5-7 years due to its impeccable balance. Drink this pleasure-bent wine from 2015 to 2027. 96 points. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2006

The 2006 Flying Pig is a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. Baron’s take on Cheval Blanc, the wine was sourced from yields of 1.3 tons per acre. It offers up a sexy bouquet of mineral, Asian spices, incense, black cherry, and black currant. Full-bodied but light on its feet, this complex effort is hard to resist now but will easily evolve for another 5-7 years due to its impeccable balance. Drink this pleasure-bent wine from 2015 to 2026. 95 points. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2005

The 2005 Flying Pig is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot aged in 50% new oak. Opaque purple with an exotic perfume, on the palate the wine is mouth-coating and rich with the oak totally integrated. The wine manages to be both elegant and powerful with minerals and spice on the mid-palate and a very long, fruit-filled finish. 95 points. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

Smooth and round, with pleasant mineral and root beer notes weaving through the pretty raspberry, red cherry and currant fruit. Remains silky and seductive as the finish sails on beautifully. Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2013. 92 points. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2004

The 2004 Flying Pig is 57% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak, 60% new. Purple-colored, the perfume is marked by the Cabernet Franc with its herbal/menthol notes. In addition, there is an abundance of pain grille, spice box, licorice, and black currants. Velvety-textured, the wine is super-rich, layered, and showy on the palate. There is plenty of ripe tannin to accompany the sweet fruit, and terrific length. Allow 6-8 years in the cellar and drink this brilliant effort through 2040. 94 points. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

Supple and spicy, with a dill and green peppercorn edge to the silky-textured currant and prune flavors. This is a complex wine that refines itself into a fine beam as the finish lingers well. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2012. 91 points. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2003

Dark red. Deeply pitched aromas of smoke and beefsteak tomato. Fatter and sweeter in the mouth than the Widowmaker, with an impression of smoother acidity. Thick with material but quite meaty at the outset, with the fruit coming up only after time in the glass. In a very round, seamless style, and long on the aftertaste. Like the Widowmaker, this should be decanted for a couple of hours or laid down for three or four years. 90 points. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

Light and refined, with a strong minty note running through the raspberry and cream flavors, lingering endlessly on the polished finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2010. 92 points. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

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