Flirting with triple digits and perhaps the best Sorella yet the 2019 Sorella explodes from the glass with a fantastic mineral essence that sways between dark red fruit tones oak essence and freshly opened flowers. Medium to full-bodied... Read More

Leading off the Cabernet Sauvignon releases the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature is a larger production release and is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and nearly equal portions of Petit Verdot Malbec and Merlot. Smoky black fruits graphite... Read More

Another beautiful wine the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Magic Nights checks in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot. Revealing a deep opaque purple color as well as classic Cabernet notes of ripe black and blue fruits... Read More

Blackberries dark wet soil and blackcurrants. Graphite too. So aromatic. Pure fruit. Full-bodied with superbly polished fine tannins that draw you down through the center of palate. Extremely layered and the texture is so curated... Read More

Medium to full-bodied beautiful and restrained with savoury aromatics of fennel black liquorice cedar and black currants. Soft satiny blackberry fruits are lifted by fine-grained yet supple tannins while a purity of fruit guides... Read More

Including 20% Cabernet Franc the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a hidden gem. While the Maya gets all the attention the classic Cabernet Sauvignon from this team is insanely good year-in year-out. The 2019 sports a dense purple color... Read More

Helms vineyard consists of five acres on gravelly loam right on the northern edge of the Rutherford bench planted in 1997 and 1998 to Cabernet Sauvignon clones See and 337. This barrel sample of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel Vineyard checks in as 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a great vineyard on Red Mountain. It spent 20 months in new French oak. Brilliant notes of pure cassis and darker currants fruits as well... Read More

Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored the nose slowly unfurls to unveil... Read More

Aromas of blackcurrants black cherries hints of graphite wet earth and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut... Read More

Aromas of blackcurrants black cherries hints of graphite wet earth and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut... Read More

"Dark red cherry plum spice wild flowers and mint jump from the glass in the 2010 Napanook. Layered and totally sensual the 2010 impresses for its balance. With time in the glass the wine blossoms beautifully filling out its frame... Read More

"Fabulous nose of mushrooms like porcini with black truffle that turns to citrus fruits such as orange and tangerine. Some vine bark. Full-bodied yet wonderfully firm and formed with refined and polished tannins. Super definition.... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is outrageously beautiful. A wine of extraordinary purity the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. The tannins are nearly silky for a young Howell Mountain Cabernet. Red/purplish fruit... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a powerful tannic wine. In some vintages the Napa Valley bottling is quite accessible but not here. Swaths of tannin wrap around a core of dark fruit gravel spice dried flowers lavender... Read More

I was blown away by the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon DVO, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc made as a collaboration between the team at Dalla Valle and Ornellaia. Remarkable notes of red and black currants, spring... Read More

The wines from the extremely hot drought year 2014 were just bottled prior to my visit. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the vintage’s precociousness and front-end loaded flattering style. It is medium to full-bodied shows... Read More

(Enfield Wine Co Waterhorse Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County Fort Ross-Seaview California USA Red) It’s very youthful with grippy tannins but shows excellent potential. Gunpowder slate and brambly berries... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville is a blend mostly from Meteor. A stunning wine the 2019 possesses off the charts richness and tremendous depth that just builds with time in the glass. Inky dark fruit plum spice licorice... Read More

From a north-facing site at elevation the 2019 Cerro Sur is a bold savory wine loaded with energy. This Cabernet Franc-based wine is bursting with tension. Floral spice and mocha accents lend striking aromatic top notes. I am... Read More

The 2019 Gandona is simply magnificent. A wine of soaring intensity and structure the 2019 marries power richness and depth. Inky dark fruit chocolate black cherry leather and torrefaction all race across the palate. There is... Read More

I was able to taste two wines from Grace Family both made by the incredibly talented Helen Keplinger who has been at this estate since 2014. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blank offers a beautifully pure elegant style in its darker... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a quintessential wine from this property. Firm and classically built the 2019 exudes mountain energy. Dark cherry plum grilled herbs bay leaf incense licorice and tobacco all race across the palate.... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is bright focused and nuanced with lovely energy and tons of glass. Perfumed floral and spice accents lift the red-toned fruit nicely. This exquisitely beautiful vivid Cabernet is all... Read More

Shows enticing and mature hints of singed spice dried sage sassafras and bay leaf amid a core of gently mulled blackberry and boysenberry flavors. The long fine-grained finish reveals a fresh edge with the herbaceous side lingering.... Read More

Heitz purchased 40 acres of woodlands on Howell Mountain in 2002 and subsequently planted seven of those acres. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Linda Falls Vineyard is an impressive effort from those vines offering smoke and vanilla-tinged... Read More

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard barely hints at eucalyptus on the nose with much more emphasis given to black cherries and cassis. This is full-bodied and rich nicely balancing richness and texture against linear... Read More

Another beautiful wine f

I always love this Cabernet from this team and while it's never the biggest or richest wine from the Valley it always has a Château Lafite-like elegance and poise. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon... Read More

Including 5% Merlot and checking in at 14.2% natural alcohol the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cuvee sports a semi-opaque ruby hue to go with a classic almost old-school Cabernet nose of red and black currants chocolate sandalwood... Read More

The 2014 Roberta's Reserve comes across as quite soft and sensual in this vintage with less of the drive that is such a signature of the other wines here. This is the only 2014 at Kapcsándy that has not grown meaningfully... Read More

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Trailer Vineyard exudes serious richness and intensity. Unctuous dark fruit mocha blueberry spice and cloves build as this voluptuous huge wine shows off its personality. The Trailier is an unusually... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is just about pure perfection and another example of Napa Valley magic. All Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 80% new French oak it offers an incredible bouquet of pure cassis and blackberry... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous introduction to the vintage at Larkmead. Pliant and supple the Cabernet offers tons of near term appeal. Sweet red cherry red plum pomegranate spice and blood orange infuse the 2019 with... Read More

The Merlot-dominated cuvee of the estate is the 2015 Firebelle and it checks in as 71% Merlot 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. It offers a terrific bouquet of black cherries... Read More

A dense and layered red with red tile currants and hints of black peppers. Full-bodied and juicy with beautiful density and length. Granular tannins. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Needs two to three years to... Read More

(Lokoya Napa Valley Diamond Mountain California USA Red) Year in and year out Lokoya provides a masterclass in crafting rugged mountain fruit into a svelte package while always letting its essence come through. Their Diamond Mountain... Read More

A luxurious decadent and refined nose.

Moving to the top releases the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier comes from Knights Valley and was brought up in puncheons. A gorgeous bouquet of sandalwood violets loamy earth and incense as well as some iron-laced black... Read More

A wonderful young Napa cab with ultra-fine tannins that go on for minutes. Lots of licorice mint and blackcurrant character. Medium to full body. Reserve and refined finish. Better in 2018.

Leads with a core of steeped black currant and warmed fig fruit backed by loam licorice root and roasted alder notes. The broad grippy finish shows a buried cast iron edge as the fruit and loam notes merge steadily ending with... Read More

"Next to the 1997 the 1998 Opus One is naturally a bit slender but it too boasts striking balance. Savory herbs mint licorice and plums are woven together in a fabric of notable class. Still young and vibrant the 1998 is an excellent... Read More

The 2019 Hexameter is a powerful brooding wine that is going to need at least a handful of years to come together. The aromatics usually so expressive here are quite hushed. Instead what stands out is the wine huge core of fruit... Read More

Including more Cabernet Sauvignon than Cabernet Franc (it swings back and forth), the 2021 Avoyelles Oakville reveals a dense purple hue as well as sensational aromatics of red, blue, and blue fruits, spring flowers, spicy oak,... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon A. Price Vineyard is a clear step up over the The Monarch (which is no slouch) and has a gorgeously polished, elegant profile carrying pure cassis, black cherries, graphite, loamy earth, and baking... Read More

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is cut from the same cloth as the 2019 yet is perhaps richer and more expansive with slightly less elegance. Currants chocolate toasted spices and tobacco all define this beauty and it has full-bodied... Read More

The 2020 Caves Des Lions comes from vines around the winemaker's house and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc brought up in new oak. Its inky hue is followed by a great nose of chocolatey dark fruits espresso... Read More

A blend of Mondeuse Gamay and Pinot Noir. This has some weight and ripeness but it’s still really fresh. Fine grained texture with taut cherries and a lovely spicy quality. Such finesse here. 95/100

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is an outrageously beautiful wine and also one of the wines of the year. A soaring exotic bouquet makes a strong opening statement. Pliant and creamy with mind-blowing textural finesse the 2021... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard checks in as 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that's from 30-year-old vines in the Coombsville appellation in the southern part of Napa Valley. It has a classic old school... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard comes from a great vineyard (which is now owned by Realm) on Pritchard Hill. Lots of gravelly earth and mineral as well as blue fruit chocolate leather and violet notes emerge on the... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hartwell XX is another perfect wine in this lineup. From vines around the estate in Stags Leap, its saturated purple hue is followed by a deep, majestic, massively concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon offering... Read More

The flagship 2021 The Absurd from this team (the blend is never specified) is another absolute monument of a wine from Realm. Incredible blue fruits redcurrants liquid violets dark chocolate and scorched earth all emerge on the... Read More

Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality,... Read More

Aromas of blackberries red and black currants. Green olives too. Dark roses and perfume. Medium-bodied with super crunchy energy and brightness. Very fine tannins. Elegant and precise. So subtle and complex it’s really something.... Read More

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot the 2019 Proprietary Red is a monster of a wine that's unquestionably up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Blackberries truffle earth chocolate... Read More

The 2018 Cabernet Franc is an absolutely gorgeous wine in this range. This is a beautifully layered vertical wine with tons of nuance and complexity. Although the 2018 is naturally very young it has tons of potential. Hints of... Read More

"Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon 8% Merlot and 5% Petite Sirah the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon G.B. Crane Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color and scented of cassis black cherries and warm plums with touches of pencil shavings... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Calarcadia Vineyard is straight-up pure perfection in Cabernet Sauvignon, and I certainly couldn't find anything it could do better. Incredible aromatics of black and blue fruits, smoked tobacco,... Read More

In comparison to the Calarcadia Vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Ridge Vineyard is more inward and backward, with incredible purity in its cassis, scorched earth, lead pencil, graphite, and rocky, crushed stone-like... Read More

Lastly the 2018 La Joie does everything right and offers a Château Lafite-like style in both its aromatics and its elegant seamless mouthfeel. Gorgeous blackcurrants lead pencil shavings damp earth unsmoked tobacco and woodsmoke... Read More

The Cabernet Franc blend of th