Tight, dry, and tart, the dominant notes of lemon verbena and tangerine in the 2018 Spring Mountain sauvignon blanc evoke poolside summer sipping. It would do very well for that purpose.

More than any other wine at our Spring Mountain tasting, the 2006 cab evolved through multiple characters while sitting in our glasses for 90 minutes. At first very fruity, it eventually gave way to a more secondary/tertiary profile of dark herbs, sandalwood, stone, and saline. The only constant was a high alcohol burn. The drinking experience was a fascinating intellectual exercise, but for me, it failed to spark joy. The 750mLs do have a few more years of prime drinking in them.

To an only slightly lesser extent than the 2006, this Spring Mountain cab evolved over 90 minutes in our glasses. At first thin bodied, it seemed to put on weight. Initially tasting and smelling strongly of bing cherry, raspberry, and rhubarb, the fruit mellowed and wet stone and pepper took over. Though these mountain vines fared better than the valley floor in 2011, I don't think there's much upside to additional aging. Drink over the next several years.

Of all the wines in our tasting, the 2008 Elivette was the most open-knit and immediately enjoyable. It really sang by the end of our time on the mountain. Bushels upon bushels of cherry, menthol, bay leaf, smoke, and spice from the petit verdot and cab franc that feel very present in this Left Bank blend. It finishes short-to-medium, likely due to either the dry tannins or slightly high alcohol. Ready to drink now, this Spring Mountain will continue to evolve through the decade.

The 2014 Elivette is still SO young. Its profile may evolve similarly to the '08, but for now, any complexity is overwhelmed by tannin and alcohol. Perhaps that's a promising sign for those who enjoy long, long term aging for the Spring Mountains? I'd give it at least another five years, maybe ten before trying again.