Creekside has made quite a few HS (“Holy Shit”) wines from the 2012 and here is the latest and possibly the last, and it’s a doozy. 32 months (just shy of 3 years) in oak, of which 11 barrels were chosen for the final blend and bottled August of 2015 – and there it rested till now. The result is a powerful Cabernet that’s big, meaty and oak driven but with so much spice, cassis, blackberry, mocha and more waiting in the background for its moment in the sun – the finish has big tannins, black pepper and great acidity for balance – and the linger of cassis, blackberry and baker’s cocoa on the tongue will keep you coming back for more. This one’s a bruiser, but one that’ll stand the test of time … hold 2-5 years, drink 2020-2030. Price: $34.95 – Rating: **** ½+