Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

wines

Aromas of blueberries, tar and cherries follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a chewy finish. Shows structure and composure. Better in 2019.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa is a beauty, with loads of graphite, white chocolate, crème de cassis and blackberry fruit are present in this medium to full-bodied wine with excellent texture, length and personality. The wine tips the scales at 14.7% alcohol, and was aged 24 months in one-third new French oak. Stylistically it reminded me of a hypothetical blend of a Bordeaux-Medoc and a ripe Napa Cabernet. It’s dark ruby purple and should drink well for 15 or more years.Robert Parker | 92 RPBlackberry, cherry and plum notes form this estate wine’s fruity core, complemented by an earthy thread of cedar, pencil and tobacco. Dry, firm tannins give it a structure that takes time to unwind, the finish marked by powerful grace and spicy clove.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

Dunn’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a pretty, easygoing wine that readers will be able to drink with minimal cellaring. Medium in body with good brightness, the 2016 has quite a bit to offer. Sweet red fruit and floral notes add perfume to the nicely lifted finish. The Napa Valley Cabernet was bottled recently and is a bit reticent, but it offers fine potential. Pretty savory and floral notes extend the finish nicely.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGFeatures solid blackberry and raspberry compote notes mixed with red and black licorice and fruitcake flavors. Youthfully packed now, this offers a well-buried juicy spine and an engaging briary edge on the finish, while the fruit easily keeps pace. Will age well. Best from 2021 through 2032. 1,350 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS(Cabernet Sauvignon “Napa Valley”- Dunn Vineyards) I had not tasted a young vintage of cabernet from Randy Dunn in a month of Mondays and was delighted to find the 2016 Napa bottling included in a recent delivery of samples. The wine comes in listed at 13.9 percent octane and offers up a fine young nose of cassis, sweet dark berries, cigar wrapper, a fine base of soil tones, a discreet framing of spicy new oak and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, ripe, full-bodied and nicely chewy (in that inimitable Dunn style), with a superb core of fruit, firm, well-integrated tannins and a long, nascently complex and promising finish. There is just a whisper of backend heat here that suggests the octane is a touch higher than reported, but the wine remains well-balanced and will age very nicely. Like all proper vintages from Dunn Vineyards, it will want a wee bit of bottle age! (Drink between 2030-2080).John Gilman | 92+ JG

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estate Vineyard (84% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Petit Verdot) spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. It has a more mineral-laced style as well as dark currants and cassis-like fruits, notes of smoked herbs and graphite, full body, building tannins, and a great finish. There’s a touch of this liqueur of rock like minerality that comes out with air and it’s a powerful, structured wine that reminds me of what Leoville Las Cases would make from Napa. Hide bottle for 4-5 years and drink it over the coming two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estate Vineyard is a dark, brooding wine. A terrific example of Sonoma Cabernet, the 2016 possesses superb textural richness and intensity to match its dark, somber profile. An infusion of inky dark fruit, gravel, smoke, iron, game, dark spice, leather and licorice runs through this super expressive, rugged Cabernet Sauvignon from the Fisher family’s Spring Mountain estate.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGA tight, chewy red with blackberry and dark-chocolate aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, layered and rich. Flavorful finish. Shows mountain firmness. Drink in 2022 and onwards.James Suckling | 94 JSDeep ruby-purple, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estate Vineyard opens with gregarious crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, graphite, leather and spice box with notes of thyme, turned earth and eucalyptus. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with intense, youthfully wound fruit, framed by grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing very long. This is vibrant and intense and will require another 3-5 years of bottle age. 952 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93+ RP

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is plush and super-expressive right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, gravel, spice and juniper berries. There is a ton of character here. Black cherry, game, smoke, licorice, tobacco and incense all build in a potent, savory Cabernet that delivers the goods. This is one of the most distinctive Howell Mountain Cabernet wines I have tasted in some time.Antonio Galloni | 94 AG

I loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder from barrel and it showed beautifully from bottle. Deep purple-hued, with powerful notes of blackcurrants, leafy herbs, tapenade, chocolate, and bay leaf, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a lush, sumptuous texture, awesome tannins, and a finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. This beautiful Mount Veeder Cabernet will evolve for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon emerges from a new site on Mt. Veeder that is just beginning to enter production. Inky and explosive, the 2018 possesses off the charts richness. The 2018 captures all the intensity of Veeder, but without the tannins and harsher elements that can penalize Cabernets here. The 2018 is a total turn-on. It is a remarkable effort for a vineyard that was only planted in 2014 and 2015. Don’t miss it.Antonio Galloni | 95 AGOffers a mix of melted licorice, sassafras and sweet bay leaf notes, with a core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit. This has depth and muscle, but also the cut for balance, with a zesty underlay driving the finish. Drink now through 2032. 190 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Gorgeous aromas of blackberries, currants and plums with some spices. Walnuts and chocolate, too. Full-to medium-bodied with very fine tannins and delicious, succulent fruit, as well as hints of herbs. Some stemmy character. So balanced and delicious. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 4% malbec and 1% petite verdot. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso is cut from the same cloth, offering beautiful purity and richness. It’s slightly more pure and darker than the spicier 2017 and has notes of cassis, redcurrants, dark chocolate, tobacco, and violets. Full-bodied on the palate, it has silky tannins, terrific overall balance, and just loads of character and charm. It’s in the running for the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under $100.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso is a potent, somewhat burly wine. It will need a few years to help the tannins soften. There is plenty of weight and power. Time in the glass helps the aromatics open, but the 2018 is not an easygoing wine from Dana. It needs a bit of time.-Antonio Galloni | 90 AG

Deep ruby-purple, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena offers tones of cassis and blueberries, with slowly emerging accents of dark chocolate, aniseed, vanilla and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, it has lush fruits, a plush, rounded frame and bursts of fresh acidity highlighting its spicy accents on the long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is racy and expressive in the glass. Super-ripe red raspberry, spice, vanillin and a hint of chocolate add a pretty touch of flamboyance to this open-knit, silky Cabernet Sauvignon. Supple and inviting, with no hard edges, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. Best of all the 2018 is a fabulous value.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGNicely packed with plum, currant and blackberry purée flavors laced with black licorice and framed by a perfectly integrated alder note. Flash of sweet bay in the background, too. Drink now through 2026. 1,575 cases made. Wine Spectator | 92 WSWith a sumptuously inviting nose of nutmeg, clove and dark chocolate, this rich wine is blended with 14% Malbec and 2% Merlot. Dusty texture gives in to a core of soft, supple tannins that melt on the palate, finishing with length and breadth.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEA very rich, opulent nose with aromas of sandalwood, nougat and grilled plum. It’s full-bodied with a firm tannin structure. Stewed fruit flavors lead to a warm, toffee and chocolate-infused finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 91 JSThe base appellation 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley checks in as 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot. Solid mulberry and blackberry fruits as well as ample earthy tobacco and leather notes emerge from the glass, and it’s medium-bodied, with a rounded, elegant texture and ripe, polished tannins. I don’t think it’s going to make old bones, but it should deliver the goods for at least 8-10 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

All Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (78% new French oak), the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags showed brilliantly, offering a Pauillac-like nose of smoky red and blue fruits, lead pencil, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and concentrated, it has lots of velvety tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It ranks with the top Cabernets from the appellation and is a stunning wine. Drink bottles over the coming 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDHeady dark kirsch and boysenberry flavours work beautifully with the seamless texture and sense of verve. Full-bodied and very elegant, enjoy this beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon over the next 15 years. Drinking Window 2021 - 2035.Decanter | 94 DECDisplaying a magenta core, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags blossoms in the glass with elements of cinnamon-spiced cherries, crème de cassis and plum reduction with a floral and dusty essence. Medium to full-bodied, this 100% Cabernet is ripe with a firm tannic edge while offering flavors of blackberry jus and a steady mineral-laced sensation across the mid-palate. The wine glides to an elongated finish with lasting flavors of graphite, black plum and dusty flowers. Only 1,800 bottles were filled after the wine rested for 20 months in French oak, 78% first fill. Give it a try.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPAlready quite nicely evolved, the 2018 Four Flags evokes black tea, exotic spice and chocolate aromas alongside a great wall of dark fruits. Full-bodied and intense, with sagebrush and scorched earth undertones, this is drinking beautifully right now and will continue to cellar well for another 15 years - or more!Vinous Media | 94 VMThe pillars of this wine are top sites Ciel du Cheval (39%), Grand Ciel (30%), Upchurch (21%) and Klipsun (10%). Aromas of black currant, licorice, cocoa and spice are followed by action-packed dark-fruit flavors. This appellation’s intensity, structure and freshness are there in abundance. Yum.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEAttractive aromas of currants, baked raspberries, brambleberries, rosemary, black licorice and nutmeg. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins and bright acidity. Structured, wild and racy. Flavorful finish. Drink from 2022.James Suckling | 93 JSTaut and concentrated, with black currant, tobacco and dusky spice flavors that build toward grippy tannins. Needs time. Best from 2023 through 2031. 1,700 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) is fabulous. Moreover, it shows the important strides that have been made here in recent years. A wine of depth as well as energy, the Oakville Cabernet is both complete and absolutely delicious. Time brings out a whole range of leather, spice and chocolate notes to play off a core of intense, dark-fleshed fruit. I would prefer to cellar the 2018 for at least a few years. In a word: impressive.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGShows intense raspberry and black currant fruit flavors with a good racy edge to match their concentration, while lively anise, black tea and savory details fill in throughout. This also has a nice mineral thread on the finish, which extends nicely as the fruit lingers. Best from 2023 through 2035. 24,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSReally intense scents of herbs, ripe black fruit, boysenberries, leather and wood smoke. Spicy palate with a vibrant acidity, balanced and layered. (Drink between 2022-2035)Decanter | 92 DECLots of dark chocolate, blackberries, blackcurrants, tar and dark spices on the nose. Violets and licorice, too. Medium-to full-bodied, dark and spicy with medium tannins. Drink after 2022.James Suckling | 91 JS

A killer wine as well as a smoking value, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon comes all from the estate vineyard outside of St. Helena and spent 20 months in 70% new French oak. Loads of crème de cassis, blueberries, toasted spices, and flowery incense make up the bouquet, and it hits the palate with a ripe, round, sweetly fruited, perfectly balanced style that’s already impossible to resist.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 20 months in oak, 70% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it offers up fragrant notions of minted cassis, blackberry compote and spice cake with suggestions of cardamom and chocolate box. The full-bodied palate is rich and plush, packed with spicy black fruits and finishing with great length. 950 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard is a smaller selection from the estate vineyard, and it spent 20 months in 90% new French oak, of which it shows not a trace. Beautiful cassis fruits, notes of smoke, tobacco, and chocolate, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and a blockbuster style all define this gorgeous 2018, which offers both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure. It has another two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDMade from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard was aged for 20 months in oak, 90% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it rolls effortlessly from the glass with seductive scents of crème de cassis, stewed black plums and boysenberries with hints of spice box and cedar chest. The big, blockbuster, full-bodied palate has a rugged, rock-solid structure with chewy tannins and good persistence, although it is just a little warm at the back palate. 600 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91+ RP

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.Vinous Media | 97 VMLots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a plush, layered texture, beautiful tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Another head-turning wine from this label, it’s a candidate for the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there at the price point.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDA blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was aged for 22 months in oak barrels, 82% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant crème de cassis, baked plums and Morello cherries scents, followed by nuances of sautéed herbs, clove oil, mocha and scorched earth. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black and blue fruits, sporting a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and minerally. 6,753 cases were made.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThis packs in lots of dense yet sleek blackberry, mulberry and black currant fruit flavors, while anise, sassafras and violet notes add range throughout. There’s plenty of structure embedded as well, though it tilts to the zesty, acid-driven side of the ledger, further enlivening the fruit. This has a serious oak treatment, but it’s very precise and fine-grained. For the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2038. 6,753 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WSBlackberry and chili with hints of cloves and graphite. Bitter chocolate, too. Full-bodied, very linear and tight with intense tannins that lead you down the finish. Solid structure. Needs four or five years to open up. Better after 2025.James Suckling | 95 JSReductive on the nose, this age-worthy wine shows a ton of structure and elegant power, finessed in tight, youthful tannin and earthy underbrush. Sage, dust and oak support a framework of dense red fruit that should develop further in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2028–2035.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEDelicate nuances of clove, thyme, ripe red and black berries and hints of smoke. Vibrant and mineral, with grainy tannins. Lovely.Decanter | 92 DEC

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 11% Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Franc that’s from a mix of sites outside of Walla Walla. Aged 22 months in 57% new French oak, its deep purple hue is followed by a great nose of ripe cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and spicy oak. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced with ripe tannins, this is a terrific Cabernet readers will love. It will benefit from just a few years in the cellar and keep for 15-20 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDAromas of cedar, tilled earth, coffee, black cherry, herb and spice lead to an explosion of fruit flavors. The palate is intense but possesses compelling freshness. There’s a whole lot of tannic heft behind it. Give it time in cellar or an extended decant. Best from 2028–2035.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEDark magenta in the glass, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is broad and generously layered with a dense core of dark red and black fruit essences. Full-bodied, the wine is juicy yet firm with fine-grained tannins that grip the gumline before lingering long over the spicy, focused finish. It’s a broad-shouldered wine that will drink better with additional time in the bottle. The wine rested for 18 months in barrel, 50% new French oak, and will please Napa Cabernet drinkers. Only 2,000 cases were produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPA nice mix of stone and ripe red fruit on the nose. Medium-bodied with pleasant black-tea complexity. Nicely soaked, silky tannins. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 11% malbec and 1% cabernet franc. Drink now.James Suckling | 91 JS

Very intense aromas of blackcurrants, violets, flower stems, bark and wet earth. Very perfumed. Mushrooms, black truffles and tobacco. Great cabernet sauvignon aromas. Medium-to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and lovely integration. Opens and grows. Goes on for minutes. So fine. This is a terrific, new pure cabernet sauvignon from Montes from the Maipo Valley and made at their wine in the Apalta Valley. September 2022 release. 6,000 bottles made. A new classic in the making and neoclassical in nature. Very drinkable now yet it will be so much better in 2025 and beyond.James Suckling | 98 JSThe first vintage of a brand new wine from Montes - that was 10 years in the planning - and new to the Place de Bordeaux in 2022. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine from vines on alluvial terraces 460m above sea level at the foothills of the Andes in Alto Maipo. A gorgeous florality and blackcurrant fruit notes on the noes, you get wonderful freshness from the aromatics alone but also the depth, such a pristine quality with unmistakable New World Cabernet markers. The colour is also so bright and vibrant, a combination of fuscia and scarlet in the glass. Crunchy and crisp on the palate, this has real bite but with a texture that is so velvety soft giving a perfect weight in the mouth. The blackcurrant and red cherry fruits with plum, molasses and a soft balsamic touch expand outwards and vertically giving layers of tension, texture and concentrated flavour. You get the sunkissed fruit and subtle clove spice but all supremely balanced and harmonious. This is effortlessly stylish with glamour but also sophistication. I wasn’t expecting to like this so much but the whole package is very impressive and pleasurable - imposing and structured but graceful and refined at the same time. Give this a quick air in a decanter if you’re going to drink it soon. A yield of 35hl/ha. 3.65pH. Ageing 18 months in 80% new French oak barrels plus two years in bottle. 5,000 bottles released on the Place with the rest reserved for Chile and Argentina. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2035Decanter | 97 DEC

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch comes from a parcel in the center of the valley, but it’s one that is relatively rocky and well drained, according to winemaker Joe Harden. Apparently, the vineyard is now owned by Thomas Keller. Delicate hints of sage and mint accent black cherries and blueberries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is defined by softly dusty tannins and ample, mouthwatering length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPI loved the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch. This Yountville beauty has a great nose of pure cassis and blackcurrant fruits as well textbook Cabernet notes of lead pencil shavings, chalky mineral, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, it has fine tannins and the class to evolve for 15 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDStewed blackcurrants, cassis, smoked meat, toffee and walnuts on the nose. Full-bodied with fine, sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Succulent and polished with a juicy, flavorful finish. Drink from 2023.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon State Ranch offers good upfront intensity, but it is ultimately just a bit lean. There is good energy though. Dark cherry, tobacco, licorice, leather and dried herbs build with a bit of time, and yet the 2019 remains a touch nervous and compact. Perhaps it will flesh out more with some time.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGA sleek, refined style, with ample density to the core of cassis, plum and dark cherry compote notes but without overt muscle or heft, picking up light cedar, alder and savory accents along the way. Shows a subtle iron twinge at the very end. Best from 2023 through 2035. 5,300 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThis is a soft, herbal and pillowy wine, 100% varietal and made from one of the cooler climates found in the valley. Ethereal and earthy, it shows secondary characteristics of sage, rock and cedar, never losing its full-bodied plushness along the way.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

One of the most elegant Cabernets of the 2019 vintage. Sourced from various Coombsville sites, this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot is teeming with minerality, baking spices, toasted cedar and rich red berry aromas. Impressively vibrant, unfolding with fragrant rose petal contrasted by fresh gravelly tones. A dusty tannin backbone is framed by firm acidity, while the round fruit profile is almost buoyant. This will develop lovely complexity over time.Decanter | 96 DECFresh, with eucalyptus and menthol to the blackberries and raspberries. Medium-bodied, bright and crisp with fine tannins and pretty length. Cabernet sauvignon with 10% cabernet franc and a touch of petit verdot. Drink now.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Coombsville) is a fabulous introduction to the range. This is the first vintage the Napa Valley Cabernet becomes a pure Coombsville AVA wine from the Nathan Coombs Estate. Dried herbs, coffee, chocolate, spice and new leather add layers of nuance to a core of dark-fleshed fruit. The 2019 is beautifully done. Dollops of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot round out the blend, with the Franc and PV very much in evidence.Vinous Media | 93 VMRipe and vivid, revealing a long beam of açaí, blueberry and blackberry puree flavors that are polished in feel, with subtle cast iron and savory accents through the finish. A light hand with the toast allows the fruit to sing in this version. Drink now through 2035. 6,083 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe second vintage of this wine, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville comes entirely from Hobbs’s Nathan Coombs Estate. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot, it offers dark fruit notes of blackberry and blueberry, plus hints of graphite and cedar. Full-bodied and rich, it has enough soft, dusty tannins to make it a solid steakhouse option, while the finish is long and tinged with licorice. With just over 6,000 cases produced, it’s the one consumers are most likely to encounter in the market.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92+ RP

Throws off some pretty gorgeous aromas of violet, anise and sweet bay leaf, with a core of ripe, streamlined boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors following closely. The finish has a racy graphite edge, while the fruit and aromas just spill through. Approachable now, too. Drink now through 2034. 13,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSAromas of lead pencil, redcurrant, gravel, blackberry and sage. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Lovely depth and complexity here, with a wash of black fruit. Powerful, without being overdone. Delicious. Best after 2024.James Suckling | 93 JS

Aged in 50% new and 50% second-use American Oak from the Duncan family’s The Oak cooperage in Higbee, Missouri. Matt Duncan joined me for my tasting, and he says the Petit Verdot in the blend, of which there is 0.4%, is co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon, intended to bring focus to the Cabernet fruit. A compelling, brooding, muscular rendition of Cabernet from Alexander Valley with gorgeous boysenberry notes, black currants, and rose petals laced with vanillin notes and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied with black currants, ripe blackberry and black cherry notes framed by velvety tannins laced with that irresistible vanillin note. Toasty oak spices lend a hint of sweetness, balanced by grippy acidity. Long and complex, revealing umami, garrigue, and crushed slatestone on the finish. It’s a terrific wine from the Alexander Valley.Decanter | 95 DEC

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. A deep, potent wine, the 2019 possesses tremendous density, not to mention tons of pedigree. Deep red fruit, white pepper, chalk, blood orange and mint lend notable depth to this powerhouse Cabernet. The tannins are pretty imposing, but there is plenty of fruit to keep things in balance. What a gorgeous, gorgeous wine this is.Vinous Media | 94 VMAromas of mulberries, dark plums, dried herbs, lavender and cedar. Medium-to full-bodied with chewy tannins. Structured, with a fresh, firm finish. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 91 JS