Background: Arley's Leap is a section of the Abbey Ridge vineyard (located high in the hills north of Dundee) that was replanted about ten years ago with the same clones that John Paul, the winemaker, planted in his Clos Electric vineyard. Some of the clones came from California, while John smuggled others back from Burgundy. Because the vines are young, the wine sells for the mid-$20s, rather than the $35 they charge for Abbey Ridge and Brick House cuvees. For whatever reason, Abbey Ridge wines tend to develop a floral nose over time - primarily violets and lavender.

13% alcohol.

Cherries, oak, and a whiff of stems and barnyard in the nose. The taste is of rich black cherries, with a continuation of the oak and barnyard. The wine grows on the palate to a long lingering finish. Good concentration, and enough acid to carry it for several years. This wine is very young, and while good now, I would expect it to gain in complexity for the next year or two. 89-91 points.