Fair warning: the alcohol level on this wine reaches 18.6%, which really can't help but be felt. It does deliver an impressive array of cherry, plum, chocolate and spice complexity, just don't expect it to age gracefully given its tenuous balance.

The 2007 Island Ebenezer Grenache (250 cases) weighs in at 18.3% alcohol. It offers up an earthy, port-like perfume, the alcohol far more apparent on the nose than on the palate where it is smooth-textured, very ripe, and intense. It is more of a curiosity but an intriguing one nevertheless. How it might evolve is anyone's guess; I'd opt for drinking it sooner rather later, just before bed-time.