The 2005 Altar is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Tempranillo sourced from a single vineyard and aged for 18 months in new French oak before bottling without filtration. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it proffers an alluring nose of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Mouth-filling, layered, and savory, this Bordeaux-like effort is impeccably balanced with enough stuffing to evolve for another 2-3 years. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2025. Importer: New Age Imports, Verona, NJ; www.newageimports.com