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The 2014 IX Estate is deep garnet-black in color. Scents of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and blackberry pie jump from the glass, followed by suggestions of incense, iron ore, and camphor with a waft of dark chocolate and Morello cherries coming through after a few moments. The medium to full-bodied palate is vibrant and refreshing, thrumming with mineral-sparked energy and supported by firm, grainy tannins, finishing very long and earthy.The Wine Independent | 99 TWIFrom their steep hillside vineyards on Pritchard Hill, the 2014 Proprietary Red IX Estate is an old-fashioned Médoc blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some Cabernet Franc (rarely seen in the Médoc these years) as well as Merlot and Petit Verdot. Striking aromatics of violets, forest floor, loamy soil nuances, blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry soar from the glass of this spectacular 2014. The acidity seems reasonable but on the lower side, the texture is magnificent, and the overall purity and equilibrium flawless. This is a wine pushing, even demanding, a three-digit score once again, but I’m holding back – at least for now. This magnificent effort from Colgin should drink beautifully for 25-30 years.Robert Parker | 98+ RPThe 2014 IX Estate is a normal blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. From a consistently warm, moderate growing season, this has a layered, forward style in its ripe black and blue fruits as well as loamy earth, tobacco leaf, and graphite, with perfectly integrated background oak. Full-bodied, supple, and utterly seamless on the palate, it’s another wine from Tauziet that delivers sensational richness and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Drink bottles any time over the coming two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDGorgeous aromas of lean pencil, blackcurrants and raspberries. So perfumed and glorious. Full-bodied, chewy and intense with great length and intensity. Silky and muscular yet agile and energetic. Needs three to four years to resolve some of the tannins. Better in 2020.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2014 IX Estate is the most vibrant of the 2014s at Colgin. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the IX notable energy, which works so well in conveying the personality of the site in the medium-bodied style of the year. Dried herbs, espresso, crushed rocks, iron and graphite infuse the 2014 with tons of character. This is a terrific showing.Vinous Media | 97 VMRich and broad, this packs an impressive amount of black currant, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes while staying focused and defined thanks to bolts of licorice snap, roasted apple wood and graphite. The winey, sapid, fruit-laden finish won’t quit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. -- Blind 2014 California Cabernet retrospective (June 2024). Drink now through 2042. 1,450 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSA moderate growing season in Napa, with no heat spikes, delivered finely balanced wines with no rough edges. This is no exception, although the black-fruit nose is certainly dense and even now not fully open. The attack is tight, thanks to fine acidity, and the texture svelte and polished. Although no heavyweight, it’s intense and punchy, with admirable elegance and superb length.Decanter Magazine | 96 DEC

Loads of dark tobacco aromas with blackcurrants and black olives. Boysenberries, too. Full to medium body, ultra-fine tannins and lots of flavors of smoke, dried roasted chillis, black truffles, mushrooms and fruit. Bright acidity on the finish. Sexy and subtle austerity. Alluring. Very approachable now but better in 2021.James Suckling | 98 JSComing from their valley floor site in Yountville, the 2014 Dominus is a rich, concentrated red, especially in 2014. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, it sports a deep ruby/plum color as well as a ripe nose of blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, lead pencil, licorice and smoked earth. With a ripe, full-bodied, concentrated style, sweet tannin, and a great finish, it has some similarities to the 1990 and will evolve for three decades or more. There’s 4,300 cases of this beauty.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2014s, where the production of Napanook was only 2,200 cases and Dominus slightly more than the 2015 at 4,000 cases, was another early harvest, although somewhat later than 2015. The 2014 Dominus, which is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot really struts its stuff. Moueix’s belief in dry farming seems to be paying off with stronger and stronger vintages, each successive year, and the 2014 is a sexy, opulent, layered, multidimensional wine with notes of red and blackcurrant, cedar wood, tobacco leaf , spice box and licorice. The color is a dense plum/ruby/purple, much like the Napanook. This is a beauty that is already drinking gorgeously – as most 2014s are – and will continue to evolve for 25 or so years.Robert Parker | 97 RPThe 2014 Dominus is endowed with tons of depth, power and muscle. Black cherry, plum, smoke, menthol, licorice, chocolate, dried herbs and dark spices are all pushed forward. Deep, pliant and exquisitely layered, the 2014 possesses tons of concentration and mid-palate depth. Like so many wines in this vintage, the 2014 comes across as a hybrid of 2013 and 2012. I very much like the energy and focus in this wine. This is a fabulous wine in every way. With time in the glass, the flavors gain in brightness and focus. There is certainly much to look forward to.Vinous Media | 96 VMAn initially reticent bouquet opens in the decanter and glass to reveal notes of blackberry, rich spice, tobacco leaf, elderberry and lily pollen. On the palate, fine, powdery tannins frame an elegant, deep wine with a lovely core of cool fruit. This will require some time in the cellar to reveal all its potential. Drinking Window 2022 - 2042.Decanter | 95 DECCedar, herb and savory sage open into a strong element of forest floor and rose garden. Tight firm tannin wrap around a robust ripeness that finds balance in accompanying acidity.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WE

A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, there's 928 cases of the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. Blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, graphite, and damp earth all flow from this ethereally textured, seamless, gorgeous wine that has no hard edges, excellent acidity and a great finish. It’s slightly more elegant and polished than the more powerful 2015 and will shine for 20-25 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDFrederick Ammons’ winemaking degree is from the University of Bordeaux, and his wines at Rudd always seem to have a great classicism to them. They are, like their neighbor Screaming Eagle, immaculate Cabernets of great restraint, beauty, and purity. Gorgeously long, they are texturally more like silk than velvet. The Rudd vineyards sit on a sloping landslide of volcanic rock and red iron-rich soil in the eastern foothills of Oakville. The estate is now run by young Samantha Rudd after the unfortunate death of her father in 2018. Drinking Window 2019 - 2045Decanter | 97 DECThere are two reds wines from the estate, the proprietary red wine, which is a Bordeaux blend, and Samantha’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The Rudd Estate Proprietary Red starts off life relatively slowly, and that probably works against it, but the color of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 is an inky purple. The wines display notes of scorched earth, blackberry and cassis, the with 2013 and 2014 both showing more up-front forwardness and a more approachable style, but they are still dramatic, flamboyant and full-bodied. The epic 2013 is not ready for drinking for at least another 4-5 years, but the 2014 can be approached already. Both wines are full-bodied, classic Oakville corridor wines, but made with almost a Bordeaux inspiration, but without sacrificing the extraordinarily rich, concentrated fruit of Napa. The 2013 is a 35-year wine and the 2014 probably a 25- to 30- year wine. The 2013 is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec and Petit Verdot. The 2014 has 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec and Petit Verdot.Robert Parker | 97 RPA hugely promising wine, the 2014 Oakville Estate Red is bursting with energy and class. A classic, focused Cabernet-based red, the 2014 Estate is a bundle of tightly wound energy. The 2014 represents a big departure from previous vintages, yet the oak is well-integrated and all the elements are very nicely balanced for such a big, structured wine. Lavender, graphite and savory herbs add nuance in the finely-cut finish. There is so much potential here.Vinous Media | 96 VMWarm and inviting, with an open, aromatic profile of menthol, sassafras and bay leaf leading to a rich core of cassis, blackberry compote and gently mulled plum fruit flavors. Everything knits solidly through the loam-tinted finish. Solidly built, this is a textbook expression of Oakville. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2033. 927 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Very deep inky-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is incredibly intense and impactful on the nose, revealing notes of crushed black cherries, blackberries and fresh black currants with underlying notions of charcoal, sautéed herbs, black soil, chargrilled meat and pencil lead, plus a waft of violets. Very full-bodied, very rich and wonderfully concentrated, the wall of fruit is well matched by a firm structure of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with great length and depth.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThe 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is a classic wine for the era. It is deep, dark and explosive, with serious depth and tons of texture. Black cherry, espresso, licorice, plum, incense and new leather all come together, building toward its huge, resonant finish. At age ten, the 2014 remains quite youthful. Blood orange, cinnamon and leather linger on the potent, driving close.Vinous Media | 98 VMLastly, the flagship 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (the only vintage where it wasn’t 100% was in 1984, when it included 9% Cabernet Franc) brought up all in high-class French oak. A textbook example of the balanced nature of the 2014 vintage, it offers a complex bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, tobacco leaf, and subtle minerality. Finesse-driven yet powerful on the palate, with full-bodied richness, its tannin structure is perfectly integrated into the wine, it has notable purity and freshness, and a great finish. It’s relatively approachable by this cuvée’s standard but has another 20-30 years of longevity ahead of it.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDA fascinating nose of licorice, tarte tartin, blackcurrant compote, orange rind, ivy, holly, pine needles, ash, Christmas cake and even raspberry cheesecake as well as a slight minty/herbal note. The palate is so well-knit but powerful; it’s the sort of wine that takes no prisoners. Yet the vintage shines through, and it remains always fresh and balanced. Layers upon layers of fruit and a long, decadent finish. Drink in 2022.James Suckling | 97 JSThe famous wine lives up to its mighty reputation in this vintage. Densely packed in tones of red currant, cassis and cocoa powder, the palate offers a sublime texture that lingers despite an overall powerful punch of structure and tannin. Elements of crushed rock and black licorice unfold on the finish. Enjoy from 2024–2034. Wine Enthusiast | 97 WE

The spice and walnut aromas are so enticing. Undertones of blackberries and black truffles. Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic tension and seamless tannins. It goes on for minutes. All about classic structure and beauty. Try in 2021.James Suckling | 99 JSI was able to taste to two vintages of the Private Reserve, and the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve comes from a vintage loved by the estate. The final blend is the normal 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up in 85% new French oak. This full-bodied, ripe, voluptuous beauty shows the vintage to a T, offering a blast of sweet blackcurrants, licorice, ground herbs, and graphite aromas and flavors. Blockbuster styled, with full body and an expansive, sexy texture, it has the depth and density to continue drinking brilliantly for 20+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDContaining the tiniest splashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of plum preserves, baked blackberries and cassis with hints of menthol, sandalwood and chocolate box. Full-bodied with soft, seductive tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous, ripe, opulent fruit, it has a decadent spiciness and great length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPBeringer's flagship 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is tannic, unyielding and not fully put together. I suppose that is not entirely surprising, as most of the fruit was sourced from sites on Howell Mountain. Time in the glass brings out an attractive floral upper register, along with brighter notes in the fruit. Even so, the tannins remain forbidding. There is plenty to look forward to, but readers will have to be patient. The 2015 has been very tight on both occasions I have tasted it so far.Vinous Media | 93+ VMBeautifully proportioned for the long haul, this is deep, complex, firm, focused and structured, showing tiers of savory herb, dark berry, cedar and sage flavors, ending with ripe, chewy tannins. Best from 2020 through 2032. 7,716 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSRelatively recent changes in winemakers has Beringer's flagship wine in transition, it seems. The 2015 is riper and noticeably sweeter than previous vintages of Private Reserve, and there's a heavy reliance on chocolatey oak. It's a style that's quite popular in the States, and this is well-crafted with that intent in mind. 85% new French oak. Drinking Window 2019 - 2025Decanter | 91 DEC

Amazing aromas of blackcurrants, forest floors, dark tea and wet earth. Rose petals and leaves. Licorice undertones, too. Full-bodied, tight and precise with hazelnuts, rose petals and dark berries. Sea salt and a savory finish. A serious yet joyful, young red. Better in 2021 but already a fantastic wine to drink.James Suckling | 99 JSA blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine sports a very deep garnet-purple color and boasts a very savory nose of chargrill, roasted nuts and yeast extract over a core of blackberry pie, blueberry compote, menthol and Indian spices with wafts of violets and underbrush. The palate has very firm, beautifully ripe tannins with a muscular core of black fruits and black licorice, featuring seamless freshness and amazing length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThe highlight among these 2015s, the Cariad is a total knock-out. Dark, vibrant and powerful in the glass, the 2015 offers notable energy to balance the bold flavors of the year. In this vintage, the Cariad has quite a bit more Franc than is typically the case, a decision that has paid off beautifully. I very much like the sense of energy here.Antonio Galloni | 98+ AGReminding me of a Pessac-Leognan (although the style they’re going for is more Pauillac), the 2015 Cariad offers full-bodied, opulent, expansive aromas and flavors of tobacco leaf, cigar-box, earth, and crushed rock to go with a sensational core of ripe black fruits. It has the terrific complexity of the vintage as well as a deep, concentrated style, ample tannin, and while no doubt a sexy drink today, will be better with 4-5 years of bottle age. I continue to be blown away by what winemaker Allison Tauziet accomplishes with these releases from Colgin. Year in, year out, these are some of the most spectacular, singular, and compelling wines made in the world. The 2015s are slightly in the style of her 2013s and aren’t blockbusters, yet have an elegant, detailed style that builds with time in the glass. There’s nothing over the top and they shine for their elegance, complexity, and nuance just as much as for their considerable richness and power. Life is too short to not try these wines at least once! (Drink between 2018-2043)Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDYoung and massive, with a strong flex of tannic strength amid oak, extracted dark berry, cedar and spice flavors. For now the tannins are a major concern, as they are assertive, if not aggressive. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2030. 700 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2015 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine is blended of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with stunning black and red plums, cassis and mulberries scents with loads of redcurrant sparks and compelling wafts of lilacs, pencil shavings, black olives and tilled soil plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with red and black currant fireworks plus some exciting mineral nuances coming through, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and beautifully layered. 12,400 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2015 Insignia is a fleshy, flamboyant vintage for this wine and reminds me of the 1997. Tons of dark fruits, tobacco, cedar, and dried flower notes all give way to a full-bodied, seamless 2015 that has remarkable purity and elegance, yet still shows the vintage’s sexy style. Drink it any time over the coming two to three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThis shows finesse and beauty with dark berries and wet earth. Subtle. Very fine-grained. Medium to full body. Bright and vivid. Lovely length and intensity. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 97 JSThis vintage of the perennial knockout is exceptional—a concentrated blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec. Pencil shavings, red currant and red plum are complemented by hints of crushed rock and cocoa, with persistent acidity maintaining balance. Like so many of its forebears, this is a wine well worth cellaring; enjoy 2025–2035.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEAmple and perfumed, with tons of richness, the 2015 Insignia has a lot to offer. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice, plum, dried herbs and licorice add aromatic nuance to this decidedly extroverted, flamboyant wine. Even all of the wine's richness can't fully cover some rough edges, especially in the tannins, and a feel of stress that runs through the wine. It will be interesting to see if things smooth out in time, as there are elements of real contrast in the 2015. In the end, though, that is not entirely surprising given the challenges of the growing season. In 2015, Insignia does not contain Merlot, which also contributes to its feel relative to recent vintages.Vinous MediaVinous Media | 93 VMThis red offers lots of spice, cedar, gravel and lead pencil flavors, with the woodiness overshadowing the trim fruit. A Bordeaux-style version that begs for cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2022 through 2032. 12,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 J Daniel Cuvee bursts forth with gregarious blackcurrant pastilles, black cherries and warm plum notes backed up by notions of spice cake, mocha and licorice. The full-bodied palate is powerfully fruited with opulent exotic spices accenting the black forest cake notions, framed by plush tannins and finishing with epic length. A beautifully buxom showstopper!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThe 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is an inky, full-bodied, majestic Cabernet Sauvignon that should be a candidate for perfection in a decade. Black currants, the essence of blackberries, crushed rocks, gravely minerality and charcoal all emerge from this incredible, full-bodied, massive wine that’s still backward and tight. Brought up in 80% new barrels, forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 98+ JDThe 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée is every bit as compelling as it was last year. Powerful and dramatic, the 2015 bursts from the glass with tons of intensity. The black cherry, chocolate, plum, mocha, licorice and new leather flavors are all amped up. Even with all of its overt richness, the 2015 shows quite a bit of detail in its layered personality and feel. All the elements simply meld together effortlessly. Antonio Galloni | 97 AG

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard opens with wonderfully expressive crème de cassis, plum preserves and mulberries notes over suggestions of chocolate-covered cherries, underbrush, exotic spices and lavender. The full-bodied palate struts all the opulence and seduction that exemplifies To Kalon, with multilayered black fruit preserves and spicy layers accented by earthy nuances and framed by plush, velvety tannins, finishing with epic length.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RP

Very deep purple-black in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select comes bounding out of the glass with gregarious scents of crème de cassis, warm black cherries, plum preserves and Indian spices with hints of lilacs, garrigue, stewed tea and cigar box plus a waft of charcuterie. Full-bodied, rich, boldly fruited and wildly decadent, it has a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing with loads of earthy and savory layers.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPI was able to taste four vintages of the estate’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, their Hillside Select. This first growth-like cuvée was first made in 1978 and always comes from their estate Hillside Vineyard just above their estate in Stags Leap. This is a 54-acre south-facing, amphitheater-like vineyard of thin, rocky, volcanic soils. Today the cuvée is always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spends upwards of 32 months in new French oak. It is consistently one of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons in the world. Starting with their 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, it boasts a deep, saturated purple hue as well as a heavenly bouquet of sweet blueberry and cassis fruits interwoven with plenty of graphite, tobacco, and lead pencil notes, with ample minerality emerging with time in the glass. This was a hot, low-yielding vintage for Napa, and while this beauty is massively concentrated, it’s also silky and seamless, with great tannins, no sense of over-ripeness or heaviness, and a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. This is a brilliant, incredibly sexy wine to enjoy over the coming 30-40 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThere’s an intensely ripe, fresh and vibrant edge to this focused, elegant and assertively pure cabernet that delivers attractive blueberry and cassis aromas in stylish form. The palate arrives as a precise and focused suite of ripe blueberry and blackberry flavors, building smoothly to an attractively crisp and even-paced finish. Another superb edition of this wine. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 98 JSThe 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another superb wine from Shafer in this vintage. Dark and brooding in the glass, the 2015 possesses fabulous textural intensity and overall power. Blackberry jam, espresso, bittersweet chocolate and licorice are all dialed up to the maximum. The 2015 has aged impeccably, even though it very much carries the strong oak imprint of this era.Vinous Media | 96 VMThis is very solidly built, with a core of red and black currant and blackberry fruit that still shows some youth as well as serious density. That’s flanked by singed apple wood and alder notes, while savory, tobacco and warm earth aspects flicker throughout. Still has grippy structure, too, with a walnut husk echo lingering. No hurry. -- Blind 2015 California Cabernet retrospective (July 2025). Best from 2027 through 2045. 2,400 cases madeWine Spectator | 96 WSHaving spent three years in barrel, this 100% varietal wine (from the producer’s famous hillside) is brawny in concentrated black fruit, Christmas spice and thick, firm tannin. A dusty thread of crushed rock, black licorice and flint provide exotic accents to the velvety thick grip. This will do well over time; enjoy best from 2025–2030.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

Mount Eden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon represents the essence of what Cabernet Sauvignon is all about in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2016 simply has it all. A wine of tremendous depth and intensity. Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much. Savory and expansive, with tons of mountain character and remarkable richness from low yields in 2016, the Cabernet Sauvignon is simply off the charts. It’s another utterly breathtaking wine from Mount Eden.Antonio Galloni | 98 AGThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is blended with 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The nose offers pure cassis finely layered with Chinese five spice, dried rose petals, graphite and pipe tobacco with a wild, game-like undercurrent. The palate is seamless, opening to an array of detailed fruits and spices, with a silt-like structure and expansive juicy uplift. It's a wonderfully balanced Cabernet that offers immediate appeal plus everything it needs for a long life in the cellar. 1,582 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97+ RPThe combination of high-elevation vineyards, oceanic influence and surrounding coniferous forest give Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet a singular profile, and few show it off as well as Mount Eden. Aged 22 months in 50% new oak, a mixture of French and American. Contains 12% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. American wood instils notes of candied orange rind and coconut flakes into an otherwise gravel-driven nose. The palate has a graceful, buoyant quality that gently floats across the palate. The finish is very dry and wound up like a spring, which will continue to be the case for the next several years. This is a wine to slowly let unfurl, both when ageing and consuming; open several hours in advance. Drinking Window 2024 - 2054.Decanter | 96 DECt’s rare to find joyous Cabernet: This is a wine with bounce to its black raspberry and red currant fruit, as if that succulent fruit were rising directly out of the warm, earthy tannins. Jeffrey Patterson grew this at his historic vineyard, where Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (22%) and Franc are rooted in shale soils 15 miles from the Pacific and 2,000 feet above it, the vine selections tracing their lineage directly back to 19th-century Bordeaux. The 2016 is compressed as a young wine, needing four days after the bottle is first opened to fully show itself, when it will turn your head with its lovely weight of sumptuous fruit. (JG) Wine & Spirits | 95 W&SDried dark fruit, toasted cedar, shaved cocoa and sappy redwood tones make for a very dry expression on the nose of this classic bottling. Those elements meet with dense and dry blackberry and black plum on the sip, where dried herbs, black-pepper and soy flavors also arise. The elegant structure is such that this wine just doesn't die, even after more than a week of sitting open. Drink 2022–2046.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThis shows a zesty mix of sage and grilled savory notes, backed by a sleek black currant, plum and black cherry core. The singed alder and mesquite frame shows on the finish, which is tightly focused and youthfully closed for now, with just a bolt of iron showing. When this rounds into form, it will be a winner. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,259 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer Vineyard struts flamboyant notions of chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries, kirsch and plum preserves with an undercurrent of blackcurrants, cedar chest, wilted roses and mossy bark plus a touch of espresso. Full-bodied, super concentrated yet perfectly balanced with a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, the palate reveals layer upon layer of black fruit and savory flavors, finishing with epic length and depth and imparting an overall satisfying sense that defies descriptors. Just magic.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Teucer has really come together beautifully over the last year. Rich and sumptuous in the glass, the 2016 exudes tons of textural richness in all of its dimensions. The oak has now integrated well, which allows the dark, jammy fruit to be super-expressive. This is an especially concentrated style, much of that the result of picking on the later side to ensure full physiological ripeness.Vinous Media | 93 VMThis is laden with dark fig, blackberry and açaí berry reduction flavors, while notes of tobacco, graphite and ganache fill in throughout. Delivers ripe, juicy energy on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 185 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

A selection of the top terroirs on the property and a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was brought up all in new oak. Deep purple-colored, with a rocking bouquet of black fruits, espresso, graphite, and crushed rock, this borderline perfect wine has full-bodied richness, a seamless, seamless texture, plenty of tannins, and a monster finish. This is an absolutely killer Napa Cabernet! It’s already hard to resist, yet it’s capable of evolving for 2-3 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDBlended of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has a profound nose of crème de cassis, baked cherries, earth, cigar box, charcuterie and menthol. The palate is full-bodied, rich and concentrated with firm and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and layered.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Vertical in feel and construction, the 2016 possesses terrific depth and tons of energy. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 has plenty of backing structure. The new oak, which was a bit prominent a year ago, has really integrated nicely. The 2016 was mostly fermented in oak puncheon, with a touch of stainless steel.Vinous Media | 97 VMSome lightly tarry nuances across ripe dark plums, chocolate and earthy black truffle, leading to a flavorful and attractively concentrated, dark-berry and chocolate-flavored palate. A blend of 83 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 10 per cent malbec and seven per cent petit verdot. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

Moving to the grand vin, the 2016 Proprietary Red is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Tasting like a mix of the 2013 and 2014 with its incredible elegance and power, it reveals a deep purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of crème de cassis, crushed violets, lead pencil, and unsmoked tobacco. Ethereally textured, seamless, and full-bodied, it builds incrementally on the palate and is a monster of a wine that somehow stays light, graceful and elegant. It should hit maturity after a decade of cellaring and be a 40- to 50-year wine.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThis is a barrel sample blended of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, to be bottled the first week of February 2019. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Proprietary Red opens with fragrant notions of candied violets, chocolate box and baking spices with a core of blackcurrant cordial, preserved plums and blackberry compote with touches of garrigue and menthol. Full-bodied, rich and packed with black fruits sparked by tons of cinnamon and cloves accents, it has a firm, velvety-textured frame and great freshness, finishing with epic persistence.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97-100 RPThe 2016 Sloan is dazzling. Soft and unctuous with no hard edges, the 2016 Sloan is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Sweet red plum, blood orange, spice, menthol and licorice are all melded together in a gorgeous, racy Cabernet Sauvignon that hits all the right notes. Unlike most top 2016s, Sloan can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, although its true potential will only be unlocked with at least a few years in bottle. Spice, star anise, pomegranate and sweet red cherry overtones add an exotic flair.Vinous Media | 97 VMEnormously deep nose with an entire spectrum of black and blue fruit, plus notes of second-flush Darjeeling and mint. Widescreen Napa cabernet with a pronounced licorice note that’s not in the nose. Beautifully integrated, powdery tannins that almost perfectly support the lavish body. Long, plush and graceful finish. You could drink it on release, but this has great aging potential.James Suckling | 97-98 JS

This is the debut vintage of this wine from the esteemed Bordeaux owner, Alfred Tesseron, who bought the property in the Napa mountains in 2016. Aromas of plums, wet earth, fresh herbs and tobacco. Some green olives. Turns to blueberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, yet reserved and layered with chocolate, walnuts and plums. Firm yet polished tannins give a framed sense to the wine. Savory. Racy and beautifully structured, it’s extremely drinkable already. Real wine.James Suckling | 98 JSA blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pym-Rae displays a deep garnet-purple color and reveals wonderfully fragrant notes of candied violets, wilted roses, damp soil and black tea over a core of red and black currants, black cherries and warm blackberries plus touches of cigar box and camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is evocatively singular, offering that rock-solid structure of mountain fruit, yet these are wonderfully ripe, silt-like tannins that beautifully support the elegant red and black fruit layers, finishing very long and very perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RP(Tesseron Estate Pym-Rae) The 2016 Pym-Rae continues to show well, with a rich, meaty, powerful style as well as loads of chocolaty black fruits, tobacco, black olive tapenade, and leather-like aromas and flavors. It’s beautiful on the palate, with massive concentration and depth as well as terrific balance. This gorgeous, deep, opulent beauty is going to benefit from another 4-6 years of bottle age and live for 3-4 decades. (Drink between 2025-2067)Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JD

Incredibly expressive red with crushed blackberries, blueberries and black olives. Christmas cake. Flowers. Full body. Starts off slowly and builds with a superb finish of fine, round and ripe tannins. Goes on for minutes. Needs four or five years to soften. Try after 2024. 600 cases.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is a different beast, yet it ratchets up the quality with its sensational perfume of black raspberries, cassis, incense, fruit cake, and spring flowers. Tor started in To Kolan in 2005 and today they pull from their six favorite blocks, around 10 acres in total. It's full-bodied, has beautiful purity and elegant, the sexy style of the vineyard, and a great finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDBottled in July 2018, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is deep garnet-purple colored, with warm cassis, Black Forest cake, black raspberries and earth with a floral and spicy undercurrent with scents of roses, cinnamon stick and cedar chest. The palate is full-bodied, lively and very vibrant, with firm, grainy, ripe tannins, finishing long and mineral laced. This is a very exciting wine—polished with bags of pedigree and complexity and still so very, very delicious! 600 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is dense, powerful and plush, with copious dark fruit, chocolate, leather, smoke and incense overtones. Rich, textured and layered in the glass, the 2016 has a lot to offer. The To Kalon is one of the most tannic of these young 2016 Cabernets. Accordingly, I would give it a few years to come together.Vinous Media | 94 VMJeff Ames, the Tor winemaker, walks a tightrope here, balancing sumptuous blackberry fruit on the border of over-ripeness. But it's aromatically in check; the palate is rich, svelte, and concentrated, with polished tannins in the background, and a spicy, peppery mid-palate followed by a long chocolatey finish. The alcohol, however, is just about perceptible, muddying the wine's undeniable depth of flavour. Drinking Window 2021 - 2035Decanter | 93 DECRipe and fleshy in feel, with rounded edges allowing the cassis and plum sauce notes to glide along. Anise, apple wood and graphite flavors fill in on the finish, with the fruit strutting beautifully. Shows spine, but this wine is all about the fruit. Drink now through 2029. 625 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Aromas of sweet berries, fresh herbs, currant bush and licorice. Terracotta. Full body, layered and soft, velvety and focused tannins. Breathtaking texture. The focus ad polished is phenomenal. Harmonious. Enticing. Fascinating and thoughtful. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Bright, powerful and pulsing with energy, the 2016 possesses stunning textural depth allied to a real sense of drive. Black cherry, tobacco, menthol, sage and licorice give this Cabernet from southern Oakville much of its distinctive personality. In this tasting, the 2016 Ulysses simply towers with pedigree and character. I loved it. Although the track record is short, the 2016 is the finest wine Christian Moueix and Tod Mostero have made at Ulysses.Vinous Media | 98+ VMVery deep purple-black in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon leaps from the glass with exuberant notes of cassis, black cherries and blackberries with touches of bay leaves, lavender, rose hip tea and pencil shavings plus a waft of spice box developing with time. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a well-sustained mid-palate of youthful black fruit, a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a long, lively finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThis is well-built but stays restrained in style, featuring alluring cassis and blackberry flavors, lined with black tea, minerally iron and warm tobacco accents. A late flash of warm paving stone adds depth and range through the finish. Should put on weight in the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2036. 1,300 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon offers more cool blue fruits, violets, and damp rock-like minerality. Similarly styled on the palate, with medium to full body and a classic structure, it reminds me of a great St. Julien. Still relatively closed and backward, yet with tons of potential, hide bottles for 4-6 years and it should evolve nicely for upwards of two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 93+ JDWith small additions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this robust red is herbaceous and earthy in compost and forest floor. Earl Grey tea and red currant continue the savory thread of flavor amidst soft, silky tannins and well-integrated oak.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The 2018 Pym-Rae can be thought of as a hypothetical mix of the 2016 and 2017, with more sexiness and opulence than the 2017 and a touch more elegance and precision than the 2016. Wonderful cassis, violets, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate notes define this beauty, and it’s full-bodied, with a gorgeous sense of elegance and purity, perfect tannins, and an incredible finish. This stunningly majestic, flawlessly balanced Mountain Cabernet already offers pleasure yet will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age, and it should be a 50-year wine. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThe 2018 Pym-Rae reveals a deep garnet-purple color and a slightly reticent, slowly emerging nose of freshly crushed blackcurrants, ripe blackberries and wild blueberries with suggestions of garrigue, red currant jelly, mossy tree bark and truffles plus wafts of bouquet garni and Sichuan pepper. The palate is full-bodied and fantastically concentrated with tightly wound layers of black and red berry notions, framed by very firm yet beautifully ripe tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length and loads of mineral sparks.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98+ RPThis is extremely aromatic with blackberries, black pepper and spice. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied with very tight, fine tannins and a racy, refined finish. Raspberries and currants at the end. Very fine and polished. The center fruit is so pure. Aged in 60% new wood barrels and 40% concrete. Drink in 2023 and onwards.James Suckling | 97 JS

Remarkably pure and fresh. Pristine black cherry and blackberry, layered with beautiful violet aromas. Everything builds with precision and focus, supported by gorgeously firm, taut, mineral-rich tannins that bring energy and drive. The wine is compact and tightly wound at this youthful stage, its intensity truly emblematic of the vintage. Drink: 2026-2060.Decanter Magazine | 99 DECRipe, fresh and focused, with a lovely beam of red currant plum coulis that stretches out alongside hints of savory, violet, tobacco and singed cedar. Finishes with a late twang of iron. Nicely done. Drink now through 2038.Wine Spectator | 94 WSDark fruit aromas of blackberries, bitter chocolate, dried herbs, blackcurrants, black olives and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with a textural, rounded mouthfeel and finely integrated tannins, leading to a savory, fruit-driven finish. Delicious. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 94 JSHeitz is on a later release schedule than most other Napa producers, so the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon was the current release when I tasted with Lawrence Wine Estates CEO Carlton McCoy in August 2025. It’s a classically proportioned wine, with cedar, vanilla and black cherries all delivered via a medium- to full-bodied palate. It shows excellent structure for an entry-level wine, firm but approachable, with a lengthy finish. It should be a steakhouse staple, and while not inexpensive, it is a solid effort for the price.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Plump and vibrant, with good up-front fruit and bright acids, the 2021 captures the essence of modern classicism that is typical of the Heitz wines today. This is a superb entry-level offering from Heitz. Floral overtones brighten the finish.Vinous Media | 93 VM