Fresh blackberry, young rose, wild blueberry. Ripe black currant, French vanilla, juicy damson plum. Walnut shell and gravel, rolling tobacco and earl grey tea. Lean yet succulent dark cherry and black raspberry cascade through a maze of blooming flowers, cool eucalyptus, shaved graphite, and gravel. Pretty oak adds touches of nutmeg and espresso, softening up the deeply ingrained notes of iron, iodine, and volcanic sand. Balanced, restrained, and terroir expressive. This 2007 Knight's Valley Anagram Red Blend by Moran Manor is a beauty drinking in its prime.

Great values can be tough to find in Napa Valley, and the tremendous success this region has enjoyed over the last half-century is unfortunately reflected on the price tag of many of the area's once-affordable offerings. However, just to the northwest of Napa Valley in the Knight's Valley appellation of Sonoma County, there are often tremendous values hidden in plain sight. This bottling, crafted by Moran Manor using fruit from Knight's Valley, is one of the best value wines we have encountered in a long time. It is comprised of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 7% Syrah all coming from the legendary 2007 vintage, and right now this wine is absolutely brimming with character and poise. Expressive fruit is perfectly integrated with clean earthiness and balanced oak, and the additional bottle age has added a level of complexity and cohesion rarely possibly in a younger wine. This stuff might not come from a fancy Napa address, but it has all the guts without the glitter. Really unique and impressive - especially considering the price and vintage.