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All Cabernet Sauvignon from specific hillside blocks on the estate, Shafer’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select spent 28 months in 100% new French oak. It’s a big, ripe wine, weighing in at 15.5% alcohol, but it remains harmonious from front to back. Deep, intense aromas of black cherries and cassis are accented by dried spices on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and textural, showing tremendous intensity and length on the finish. Based on how previous examples have aged, this vintage should drink well through 2050.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPAged 32 months in 100% new French oak. It is quintessentially Stags Leap, with grapes grown on Shafer’s famous Hillside estate vineyard, roughly 25ha, with very shallow volcanic tufa soils. It’s a barrel selection of the very best blocks. A total of 2,900 cases were produced. Such a beautifully balanced wine with tremendous staying power and expressive Stags Leap ironstone minerality with heady sagebrush and conifer notes with white pepper and walnut husk. The wine has an impressive depth of red-toned fruit on the mid-palate framed by tannins that practically dance across the palate, exuding length, tension, and power. Huckleberry and black cherry fruits, black truffle, dried violets, graphite, and salted dark chocolate are all framed by racy acidity, which keeps everything fresh and lifted. The 2021 releases mark Elias Fernandez’s 38th vintage as Shafer’s winemaker. He was hired by John Shafer in 1984, two weeks out of UC Davis.Decanter | 99 DECThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a lot of shaking to bring out notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and kirsch, leading to nuances of dried roses, star anise and cardamom with a hint of cigar box. The full-bodied palate is decadently concentrated with firm grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long with loads of exotic spices and mineral sparks.The Wine Independent | 98As always, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 28 months in new barrels. Its deep purple hue gives way to a behemoth of a wine that has incredible cassis, black raspberry, and even blue fruits to go with loads of camphor, minty herbs, graphite, and darker chocolate. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, yet pure, flawlessly balanced, and has a great finish.Jeb Dunnuck | 97-99 JDThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Floral and vibrant, the 2021 sizzles with tension and a level of delineation I don’t remember seeing in the past. Like all the 2021s here, the Hillside Select possesses notable purity of fruit and exceptional balance. The tannins need to soften a touch, but time should take care of that. I don’t see the opulence or inner sweetness of most years, but that is not a negative at all.Vinous Media | 96-99 VMJuicy and direct, with a solidly built core of cassis and blackberry preserves lined with cocoa, singed tobacco and warm earth hints. Leans toward toasty on the finish, but there’s ample fruit. Best from 2025 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,900 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

One of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup, the 2021 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from a high-density vineyard located just beside the cellar and was brought up all in demi-muids. This deeper ruby/plum-hued Syrah boasts a big, masculine bouquet of smoked red and black fruits, sauteed mushrooms, cured meats, iron, and cold fireplace nuances (it almost has a Graves-like character) that flows to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated Syrah with terrific overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with the other 2021s here, it needs lots of air to show at its best and will ideally be given 4-5 years in the cellar. It’s going to hit its 20th birthday in fine form.Jeb Dunnuck | 97+ JDDisplaying a lighter color with a medium ruby hue, the 2021 Syrah Armada Vineyard has a spicy, complex, broad and structured nose, with fresh aromas of black cherries, blackberry skin, violets and rose blossoms. The palate, firm and food friendly, features a distinctive tannic edge that’s meant for red meats. Unmistakably Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, this is a gorgeous beauty, and I’m going back to finish the glass. The wine spent 21 months aging in a combination of new and used French oak. 7,632 bottles were produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPVery structured and firmly tannic, this muscular wine comes from tightly spaced vines that give a low yield and lots of concentration. Floral and spicy aromas lead to rich, dark cocoa, blackberry and baked blueberry flavors restrained by the sandy, full tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best from 2029.James Suckling | 95 JSThe Armada sails into port behind a tailwind of black cherry, wet terra-cotta, cumin and smoked pork-belly aromas. The wine’s mouthfeel is seamless and slick, allowing dried cherry, espresso and roasted red-pepper flavors to glide along. Elevated acidity keeps everything lively. Wine Enthusiast | 95 WE

Super-restrained nose here with candied lemon and lemon bush, tuberose, peach kernel and integrated toastiness. Full body with amazing weight and concentration, yet with vibrant, lemony flavor, zesty and integrated acidity and a warming but balanced finish. Drinkable now, but with aging potential of more than 10 years.James Suckling | 97 JSFor the first time, Ornellaia Bianco becomes a Bolgheri DOC wine in the 2021 vintage. It’s again 100% Sauvignon Blanc, vinfied in a mixture of 300L and 500L amphorae, barriques and tonneaux, with only 25% new wood. Perfumed, exotic, stony and honeyed, it’s nonetheless a vertical and focussed wine, its structure constraining rich aromas and flavours of mango, peach, white flowers, orange peel, papaya and passion fruit. It does feel like it’s being held back, with a touch of austerity and that stony, mineral authority that makes it a necessity to drink with food. ‘It has much more vibrancy than in the past...a better defined character than when the project began,’ notes Marco Balsimelli.Decanter | 96 DECPreviously a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, the Ornellaia 2021 Ornellaia Bianco is now all Sauvignon Blanc. The estate recently planted Semillon, so it is possible that we will one day see that grape in the blend (especially because it is known to thrive in hot vintages). This wine plays its best cards in terms of texture. It sports broad shoulders and enough texture to support those many creamy citrus and delicately tropical flavors. A dusting of crushed stone adds elegance. The wine should show its best results in five to 10 years from now.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2021 Ornellaia Bianco is alluring. I sense a bit more textural richness vis-à-vis prior editions, a positive in my book. White pear, jasmine, sage, mint, white pepper, peach and apricot fill out the layers. Light tropical accents appear with some aeration, adding a tropical flair that is quite attractive. This is impeccably done.Vinous Media | 95 VMVerging on creamy in texture, this silky white features floral, peach, sage and mint flavors, with a flash of grapefruit pith. Complex, balanced and long, with a salty component on the persistent aftertaste. Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2030. 100 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

A classy wine with a profound and complex profile. The nose is fully focused on tension, with vibrant aromas of pink grapefruit, linden tree flowers, apricots, Mirabelle plums, green apples and toast. Oily texture with zesty, integrated acidity. It’s long, smooth, full-bodied and weighted in the finish. Candied fruit aftertaste. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drinkable now, but it will last for a decade.James Suckling | 96 JSIntense and complex, it displays slightly lifted scents of meadow blossom, bruised apple and lime, with suggestions of creamy pastries in the background. Great energy on the palate, where the youthful fleshiness is supported by firm, tangy acidity. Although still finding its feet, 2021 is a benchmark vintage for Löwengang Chardonnay – a wine with a radiant future.Decanter | 95 DECHints of graphite and smoke underscore flavors of persimmon, plum skin, white cherry and blanched almond in this clean-cut, salty white. There’s textural richness and density on the palate, though this is medium-bodied and elegant overall. Lightly honeyed throughout, with a long, fragrant finish of mountain herb and preserved lemon notes. Chardonnay. Drink now through 2031. 5,800 cases made, 230 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano is one of the best editions of this wine I have ever tasted. Ripe blue-toned fruit, spice, chocolate, leather and licorice fill out the layers in an ample, full-bodied Gran Selezione. Here, too, changes in vinification and aging yielded a wine that marries refinement with textural resonance. Superb.Vinous Media | 95 VMThe Badia a Passignano vineyards, close to the Tenuta Tignanello estate, lie at an altitude of between 250 and 300 metres above sea level and are surrounded by 600-metre high hills to the east and southwest, which form a protective amphitheatre. This area is described by Antinori as a ‘geographical liaison between the UGA of San Casciano and the UGA of Panzano’. It has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and summers that remain fresh and well ventilated. This in turn encourages a longer, slower ripening season. The 2021 has some notes of green herb as well as bitter cherry, orange zest and sweet vanilla. There is a touch of forest greenness and a balsamic note, as well as spicy black pepper. On the palate the tannins are firm, upright and assertive but always refined. There is a beautiful soft, enveloping texture and weight, and the acidity gives mouthwatering freshness on the finish. It is a little oak-dominant at present, but is still young and needs time. A beautifully made wine that expresses a strong identity.Decanter | 95 DECI had previously reviewed this vintage closer to its commercial release. Tasted seven months later, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano has fleshed out nicely and has successfully shedded its oak signature. What you get now is a pretty mouthful of rich, ripe black fruits with background notes of green spice and smoked bacon. There is a hint of fragrant rose that emerges beautifully at one specific point a few minutes in. This expression from the San Donato in Poggio UGA delivers bright and lively fruit overall. With a storied winemaking tradition and first produced in 1988, you could say that this wine is the control sample against which the three new UGA expressions are measured.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPA deep well of cherry, pomegranate, iron, tobacco and wild herb aromas and flavors highlights this intense red, while a dense layer of tannins provides support. Lively acidity drives the lingering aftertaste of fruit, mineral and herb notes. Best from 2026 through 2043. 12,250 cases made, 833 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Jayson Woodbridge is dynamic, complex, and downright pleasure-packed and one of the stars of the show from his lineup of 2021 wines I tasted in September of 2024. It bursts out of the glass with pure ruby fruit, white truffle, white pepper, black cherry liqueur, and spiced plums layered with delicate cedarwood notes. Full-bodied with the purest of raspberry and blackberry fruit, the wine is framed by a foundation of ultrafine-grained tannins and profound depth on the mid-palate. Nuances of cigar box, saddle leather, and vanilla weave a lattice work around the fruit character, complemented by umami-rich saline minerals. Incredibly precise and pure, it’s further enhanced by blood orange acidity and a zesty, smoky quality, finishing with a hint of salted pink Himalayan sea salt. Just 4.8 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted on this 18.21-hectare property, located on the steep southeast-facing slopes of Glass Mountain in St. Helena. It was purchased in 1999 and’s also home to Woodbridge’s underground Ring winery and caves.Decanter | 100 DEC

Aromas of raspberries, cassis, forest floor, espresso toast, spices and orange zest introduce the 2021 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, a medium to full-bodied, ample and layered wine with lively acids, ripe tannins and a broad, saline, peony-inflected finish. This is a beautiful middle-weight in the making.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93-95 RPThe 2021 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru sported quite hefty reduction on the nose that made it difficult to read during my visit at the Domaine. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth, slightly lactic entry, powdery texture, tight and firm. Maybe not quite the complexity or amplitude of Dugat’s other cuvées on the finish, but it will evolve with time in bottle. A bit stoic at the momentVinous Media | 92-94 VMFirm reduction. The round and seductively textured medium-bodied flavors are not especially dense, but they do offer excellent length on the balanced finish. As it usually does at this point, this will need to add depth, but more should almost certainly develop as the Dugat Charmes has an excellent aging track record.Burghound | 91-93 BH

The 2021 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, located right above their Caillerets, comprises of a single 600-liter barrel that was racked into an old Stockinger to limit oxygen ingress. It has a taut and focused bouquet with crushed stone infusing the citrus fruit, hints of honeysuckle and pressed white flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with a very subtle reduction on the entry, orange rind and hints of yuzu; the 2021 is quite mineral-driven with a clean and precise finish. Excellent.Vinous Media | 94-96 VM1 x 600 litre barrel! Full lemon yellow. Plenty of weight apparent and a suggestion of class without having found its definition. Actually, it is pretty much complete on the palate, ripe apples, medium plus flesh, a certain juiciness over and above the natural austerity of the vineyard, and very persistent. Drink from 2027-2035. Tasted: October 2022.Jasper Morris | 94-96 JM This is even more floral on the slightly more expressive nose that features notes of Poire William, zest, green apple and soft spice nuances, especially anise. The round but almost painfully intense medium weight plus flavors possess a caressing mouthfeel along with almost as much mineral character as the Caillerets while delivering stunningly good length on the beautifully nuanced finale. This is very classy and somewhat surprisingly for a young Chevalier, not especially austere. With that said, this beauty is built to reward mid to longer-term cellaring.Burghound | 93-95 BH

The 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet from Domaine Sauzet is a brilliant wine in the making. The bouquet is pure, precise and elegant, offering up scents of lemon, apple, a hint of peach, a complex base of limestone minerality, citrus blossoms, vanillin oak and a lovely topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and soil-driven, with a lovely core of fruit, seamless balance, vibrant acids and a long, focused and complex finish that closes with outstanding energy and lift. (Drink between 2031 - 2075)John Gilman | 96 JGAn overtly floral-suffused nose features notes of lilac, carnation and acacia blossom that are trimmed in spice, citrus rind and soft wood wisps. The strikingly pure and beautifully defined larger-bodied flavors are not super-dense but I very much like the texture, all wrapped in a clean, bone-dry and compact finish that flashes plenty of focused power. This could also use a bit more depth but that shouldn’t be an issue. As an aside, for those readers who were Sauzet fans 25-ish years ago, the ’21 Bâtard reminds me quite a bit of the 1993, which is one of Sauzet’s all-time great vintages.Burghound | 93-96 BHPretty pale primrose. The nose has a reductive character than is not displeasing. It feels as though there is something more floral beneath. In any case, a wine of substance. This continues on the palate, with excellent acidity behind. Nothing meagre though, the grand cru character is certainly there. The flavours build to the back. Well done. There is a lot in reserve here. Two barrels made. Drink from 2028-2036. Tasted: October 2022.Jasper Morris | 93-96 JMThe 2021 Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru unwinds in the glass with notes of confit citrus, nutmeg and light reduction. Medium to full-bodied, ample and satiny, with racy acids and a saline finish, this is another old-vine cuvée that’s a stalwart chez Sauzet, no matter the vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RPThe 2021 Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru had quite a lot of reduction on the nose that made it difficult to read. The palate is quite powerful, weighty and slightly creamy in texture, perhaps requiring a little more tension on the pithy, pear and nectarine-tinged finish. Fine, but a little outclassed by Sauzet’s best Premier Crus.Vinous Media | 91-93 VM

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard ratchets up the intensity and is a blockbuster styled effort in the vintage. Blackberries, plums, roasted herbs, chocolate, and flowery incense notes all define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, with a plush, seamless mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It benefits from air and should be given just 2-3 years of bottle age. This ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy 2021 will evolve for 2 decades if well stored.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JD

A gorgeous intensity of graphite and grilled seaweed with blackcurrants, black cherries, peaches and pine. Complex, full-bodied and very structured with slightly chewy tannins, yet not overpowering. Muscular and well formed. Beautifully textured. This will age wonderfully. Second release, mostly from hillside vines. Made by Helen Keplinger. Drink after 2027.James Suckling | 100 JSThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cornelius Grove is a big, big step up from the 2019. It offers a combination of mountain freshness with notable mid-palate intensity and volume. Dried herbs, menthol, crushed rocks and spice meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit in this powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon. Exceptionally vivid and explosive, the 2021 possesses tons of intensity to match its wonderfully complex, dynamic personality. Magnificent.Vinous Media | 97+ VMThis is saturated with cassis, plum puree and linzer torte notes riveted with a cast iron spine that runs from start to finish. Flashes of violet, hibiscus, licorice snap, white pepper and ink fill in all of the available space as this cruises through an authoritative finish. With a terrific mineral-fruit interplay, this vivid wine requires patience. Best from 2028 through 2044. 262 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WS

Ashy graphite, cassis, iron, blackberries and a hint of cigar box and chocolate. Lots of violets, too. Rich and intense with a full-bodied palate. Showing density and very fine but structured tannins. Long and intense finish with lots of flavors. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. One of the best over the last few years. Drinkable now, but will fledge and hold very well in the next 20 years.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Don Melchor is dark garnet red in the glass. The restrained nose offers pure fruity notes such as blackcurrant with hints of leaves and black tea, refined woody aromas, and gentle touches of plum and red bell pepper. In the mouth, it’s intense with mild juiciness and rounded tannins. The taut palate gradually grows more profound as it develops cedar flavors at the back of the throat before the long, rewarding finish. A wine that is more suggestive than explicit as it slowly envelops you in its different layers. The added freshness brings out the clarity of the fruity flavors.Vinous Media | 97 VMA remarkable effort that channels the finesse of the vintage with rich, muscular edges, offering a base of graphite and cassis notes that gather around elegant layers of dried rosemary and white pepper. The richly textured core of raspberry and plum flavors show precision and just enough acidity to keep things sailing onto the finish around well-integrated tannins and touches of cocoa. Best from 2026 through 2040. 18,300 cases made, 5,000 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 96 WSCombining older vines (planted 1979) with new vines from their acclaimed Puente Alto vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon blend with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Merlot shows great balance and persistence in this stellar vintage. Long and fine, the nose is redolent of red bramble fruit, forest floor, cedar, exotic spice and a touch of mint.Decanter | 94 DEC

Leading off the 2021s I was able to taste from Maybach, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus is flat-out brilliant and has a layered, perfumed, almost exotic style in its black and blue fruits as well as spicy, floral, incense, orange blossom, and gravelly earth-like aromas and flavors. It shows the concentrated yet vibrant, focused style of the vintage, has full-bodied richness, beautiful tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This powerful, structured, incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon deserves 4-5 years in the cellar and will evolve for two decades at a minimum.Jeb Dunnuck | 97+ JDFrom a cool pocket in otherwise warm Calistoga, Maybach’s 2021 Amoenus Cabernet Sauvignon features aristocratic notes of crushed stone, cassis, black cherries and cedary overtones. A marked contrast to the sumptuous, seductive 2019, the 2021 is also full-bodied and concentrated but with a firm structure and plentiful tannins. It’s even rather stern at this stage of its development but should be fine with some time in the cellar.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPAmoenus Vineyard is a rugged 19ha site of volcanic soils planted in Calistoga and owned by Turnbull. Thomas Rivers Brown has done well by the grapes from this site. This is one of his brightest wines of the 2021 vintage, with pronounced acidity that raises the bar on Napa Valley Cabernet freshness. Its decisively red-fruited nose is quite floral-driven, which carries through on the wine’s medium-bodied palate. A floor of racy acidity provides lift to the red currant and raspberry fruit, with nuances of white cherry and cherry pit. Angular, grippy tannins need some time to mellow. One to enjoy with a burger or pan-seared salmon. Certainly a wine to cellar and pull out now and again over a decade.Decanter | 94 DEC

The perfect 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot, all of which spent 22 months in 80% new French oak. The idea of this release is to showcase fruit from throughout the valley, and to say that winemaker Chris Carpenter succeeded would be an understatement. It boasts off-the-charts richness and depth as well as notes of cassis, toasted spices, graphite, tobacco, and espresso, with perfectly integrated oak. Inky purple-hued, full-bodied, voluptuously textured, and flawlessly balanced, it can be drunk any time over the coming 25 years or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDLovely purple fruits with violets, lead pencil, mint, crushed stones, pine needles, resin, and ceramic. Medium to full body with ultra-fine tannins that show a silky beautiful texture. Blend of Stags Leap, Saint Helena, Yountville, and Atlas Peak plus all the mountain vineyards of Cardinale. A blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon and 9% merlot. 3,500 cases produced.James Suckling | 99 JSThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 9% Merlot in the blend, came from eight different appellations this year. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of warm cassis, fresh blueberries, and Bing cherries plus suggestions of lilacs, wild sage, allspice, and dark chocolate. The full-bodied palate has an impressive frame of wonderfully-ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely tension supporting the generous black and red berry layers, finishing long with a fragrant lift.The Wine Independent | 99 TWIIn my tasting with winemaker Chris Carpenter, we talked at length about differentiating sub-appellations of Napa in the Lokoya wines. Still, with Cardinale, the Oakville-based crown jewel in the Jackson Family portfolio, the idea is the sum must be greater than the parts. This is not an estate wine. It is culled from multiple appellations, typically between three and nine, depending on the vintage. Sources have been Vine Hill Ranch and To Kalon in the past. The 2021 is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap, Rutherford, and St. Helena, with 9% Merlot from the 24ha Keyes Estate Vineyard on Howell Mountain, aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. Super savoury aromatics of black cherry, cedar, black liquorice, graphite, black tea, tobacco leaf, rose petal and sagebrush. Full-bodied with all those aromatic qualities making appearances on the full-bodied palate, framed by a soaring tannin profile that resolves with beautifully crisp and mouthwatering acidity, which is so impressive given the density of the wine. The acidity is so pure and cleansing it gives the sensation of fresh, crisp mountain water washing away the deeply robust and powerful tannins that frame this powerhouse wine, readying you for another sip.Decanter | 98 DECThe 2021 Cardinale is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon from nine different AVAs, plus 9% Merlot from the Jackson Family’s Keyes Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Scents of black cherries, cassis, graphite and crushed stone appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, generous, concentrated and expansive, then tightens up and becomes more classically structured and dusty on the lingering, mouthwatering finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPOffers a frankly toasty frame of licorice and apple wood wrapped around a more than adequate core of plum and black currant preserves, all laced with a violet note. Sleek and reserved through the finish, with an iron hint peeking out amid the fruit, this offers length and a lovely mouthfeel and should develop well in the cellar while soaking up its toast. Best from 2026 through 2038. 3,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.Jeb Dunnuck | 98 JDThis 2021 La Jota combines 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 2.5% Petit Verdot. Grapes are sourced from the 8ha La Jota vineyard and 24ha Keyes Estate Vineyard, both atop Howell Mountain. Winemaker Chris Carpenter begins with native yeast fermentations after optical sorting, then pump-overs by hand and pressing at alcohol dryness. The wine goes into a barrel where malolactic fermentation takes place—aged 22 months in 75% new French oak. All of La Jota’s barrels are culled from the centre of France and Navarre, and eight different coopers provide barrels that have mostly medium-plus toasts, with some medium-range toasts for Merlot. After every pressing, Carpenter fills in whatever gaps he feels need filling by leveraging the various oak characters in his barrel toolkit. Readers should note that by the time I tasted the 2021 wines with Carpenter (including the Mt. Brave, Lokoya, and Cardinale wines), they had been decanting for about 5.5 hours. A necessary step if you’re popping corks on this within five years of their release. In 2021, with yields down 30-35%, the La Jota was very precise and focused, with saturated layers of extremely dark fruit nuanced by very expressive ironstone minerality and fresh garrigue. Full-bodied with robust, broad-shouldered tannins that are chocolaty. More of that iron minerality is layered throughout, and for all the fruit density here, there is a balance of freshness that is almost hard to imagine. So, don’t imagine it; snap these up and see for yourself. When I visited with winemaker Chris Carpenter, who oversees production for La Jota, Mt. Brave, Lokoya, and Cardinale, he took the time to explain the distinct difference in his approach to crafting the La Jota and Mt. Brave wines in comparison to the Lokoya single vineyard Cabernets. ’The single-vineyard Lokoya wines are mountain wines that have a good amount of tannin and are in pursuit of the expression of their individual AVA. The tannin is concentrated and differentiates each mountain expression of Cabernet. With La Jota and Mt. Brave, I’m aiming to give the drinker of these wines an understanding of how the mountain expresses itself from an acid, weight, and fruit standpoint without those powerful and ponderous tannins. These wines are culled from blocks in each of the single vineyards that typically have softer tannins, so these are ideal for restaurants or earlier drinking wines. La Jota is owned by the Jackson Family.Decanter | 97 DECSo much black currant, dark fruit, pine cone, bark and pine needle aromas that show a depth and intensity with round, polished and creamy tannins. Medium to full body, with a complex and gorgeously flavored finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 6.5% cabernet franc, 5% malbec, 4% merlot and 2.5% petit verdot. Over 3050 cases produced. Give this three to four more years to come around.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon has 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 2.5% Petit Verdot in the blend. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a lot of shaking to wake up scents of blackcurrant preserves, plum pudding, and mulberries giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of licorice, charcoal, violets, and menthol. The big, rich, full-bodied palate is completely packed with black fruit layers supported by very firm yet ripe grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick.The Wine Independent | 97 TWIA blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot and 2.5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain delivers scents of cedar, pine, black cherries, blueberries and cassis. According to winemaker Chris Carpenter, the blend was necessary to ameliorate the tannins for the restaurant trade, a major market for the wine. It’s medium to full-bodied, fresh, smooth and silky on the mid-palate, then firmer and more structured, with dusty tannins on the lingering finish. While it should age well for 20 years or more, I suspect much of it will be consumed on the young side, with a thick, well-marbled steak.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPA fruit-laden red, with glistening mulberry, cassis and plum puree notes that drive through gleefully, flanked by violet and iris hints, plus a light sheen of anise and apple wood on the finish. Offers latent grip for the cellar. Drink now through 2040. 3,051 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

All about finesse and flavor, the gorgeous 2021 Asili from Michele Chiarlo offers intriguing aromas recalling blue flower, sun-warmed hay, truffle, new leather and wild berry. On the elegantly structured palate, taut, refined tannins envelop juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and baking spice before the same truffle finish as the nose. It’s delicious and loaded with personality. Drink 2027–2036. Abv: 14% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOHere’s a Nebbiolo with balanced freshness and a fun bouquet that is lifted and bright, showing aromas of redcurrant and dried violet. The Michele Chiarlo 2021 Barbaresco Asili shows the power and elegance of this classic vintage, and it does so with easy confidence. Fruit comes from a site with gray and bluish marl clay soils, and these conditions add to the elegance of the wine. Production is 5,300 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPCherry, raspberry and pomegranate flavors are the hallmarks of this rich, juicy Barbaresco. Earth, mineral and underbrush notes add detail as this builds to a long crescendo. Shows fine harmony, with a mouthwatering finish. Seems more open than its peers from 2021. Best from 2028 through 2045. 400 cases made, 50 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WSEnticing minerality here that makes you think the fruity, savory oranges and plums grow up through the stone cracks. Expressive and ethereal at first, then the thud of fine, chalky tannins give it power and definition. Broad, long and elegant. Drink from 2025.James Suckling | 94 JSChiarlo’s 2021 Barbaresco Asili is rich and enveloping in feel. In other words, classic Asili. Macerated red cherry, spice, leather, tobacco, orange peel, incense, spice and mocha build nicely, framed by a kiss of French oak that is a signature here. This fleshy, inviting Barbaresco will drink well right out of the gate.Vinous Media | 93 VMA rich red color, the 2021 Barbaresco Asili is lifted with mint aromas of medicinal herbs, dried cherries, anise, and spices. Medium-bodied, it has balanced intensity on the palate, with angular structure and good ripeness throughout. As it opens, it becomes more rosy and floral, and it’s zesty with notes of blood orange, saline, and dusty earth, as well as a lovely mineral texture through its rather long finish. I like this one more than I initially thought. Drink it over the next 10 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe nose reveals an abundance of sweet spice, intertwined with the essence of cherries macerating in a bowl, all uplifted by floral notes. On the palate, fine tannins provide a rounded texture, highlighting mixed berry and plum flavors dusted with spices from the cabinet. The finish is a perfect landing, Chiarlo is making it look easy. Drink NowWine Enthusiast | 91 WE

The enticingly fragrant 2021 classic Barbaresco from Carlo Giacosa has enticing scents of botanical herb, hay, dog rose, camphor and spice. It’s utterly delicious, with flavors of star anise, red cherry, cranberry and blood orange that race across the palate before a black tea finish. It’s well balanced, with taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. This is an estate that gets better every year. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 93 KO

Intensely floral aromas of iris and violet mingle with baking spice and forest floor on the stunning 2021 Montefico from Giacosa. Juicy and delicious, the palate offers raspberry compote, ripe cherry, cinnamon and ground clove alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced and vibrant. Drink 2027–2036. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 95 KOStunning intensity of lifted fruit with notes of violets, strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Refined tannins, dusty and firm but ripe, with a chalky finish reminiscent of cherry pits. Long and elegant aftertaste. Balanced. Hold for four to five years before drinking.James Suckling | 93 JSA rich ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Montefico is ripe and forward on the nose with notes of red plums, baking spices, and sweet herbs. The palate is fresher and has more energy than the nose suggests, offering ripe, grippy tannins and zesty acidity, with more citrus drive. While the structure is present, the nose is showing some evolution, so it would be best drunk over the next 4-5 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

The 2021 Cariad is another First Growth Bordeaux look-alike from Colgin. Darker currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, and some exotic, meaty notions dominate the bouquet, and it’s massively concentrated on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, polished tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It actually has some upfront appeal due to its incredible balance and texture, yet smart money will still hide these for 5-7 years. It will have 30+ years of overall longevity.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDSo much graphite here with blackcurrants, black olives, black everything. Some orange peel, dried violets and iodine. Volcanic and pumice-like. Amazing aromas. Full-bodied but so tight and polished with crushed stone, iodine and cashmere. Leather undertones. A distinctive masterpiece for the vintage that will age for infinity. Try after 2030.James Suckling | 100 JSColgin’s 2021 Cariad is explosive, effusive and all charm. All the elements are so well put together. Deep, sweet floral and savory spice nuances lift a core of red/purplish fruit, all wrapped together with broad, chocolatey tannins. Elegant, vivid and impeccably balanced, the 2021 has a brilliant future. It will be interesting to see where this goes over time.Vinous Media | 99 VMLike the 2018 version, Colgin’s 2021 Cariad is wonderfully vibrant and fresh, with hints of dried sage accenting purple raspberries and cassis. It’s full-bodied and velvety in texture yet taut and energetic. Nearly indescribable spice and earthy complexities fold in on the long, elegant finish, all wrapped in a cocoon of dry, silky tannins.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 Cariad is just a little bit closed to begin. With patient swirling, notes of cassis, black cherries, and mulberries slowly emerge from the glass, followed by hints of dark chocolate, iris, and spice cake, with a waft of underbrush. The full-bodied palate is jam-packed with concentrated black fruit layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering aniseed note. Tantalizingly decadent!The Wine Independent | 98 TWIThis is dense, fleshy and generous in feel, all while maintaining form, as its core of well-steeped black currant and blackberry fruit rolls through, flecked with charcoal, alder and savory details and supported by a long tug of warm cast iron through the finish. Its grip offers a finishing kick of succulence, which bodes well for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2042. 851 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WS

An elegant style, boasting cherry, strawberry, rose, menthol and iron aromas and flavors. The supple texture transitions to a base of chalky tannins, with vanilla and oak spice accents on the long finish. Patience required. Best from 2028 through 2045. 400 cases made, 133 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 95 WSThe 2021 Barbaresco Bricco di Neive Vie Erte is superb. Bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. This vibrant, sinewy Barbaresco has so much to offer. Its energy is remarkable. The intensely palate-staining mineral finish is a thing of beauty. All the 2021 needs is time. This is super-classic Nebbiolo from Barbaresco.Vinous Media | 94+ VM

The delightful Moccagatta 2021 Barbaresco shows bright primary aromas of redcurrant, rose and wild strawberry, or "fragolino" in Italian. The wine is finely textured and graceful with a medium finish that feels glossy and bright. This Barbaresco sees a brief 12 months in barrique, and production is 10,000 bottles. Fruit is blended from Barbaresco (Muncagota and Ronchi) and Neive (Cottà and Basarin).Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPA tangy Barbaresco that shows pretty notes of sour cherries, orange rind, allspice and ground coriander on the nose. Medium-bodied, zesty and chewy, with firm yet fine tannins. Attractive already but better from 2026.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2021 Barbaresco is superb. Dark and layered, the 2021 offers up an exotic mélange of black fruit, mocha, spice, new leather, cedar, pipe tobacco and incense. This juicy Barbaresco captures the essence of the Moccagatta house style.Vinous Media | 90 VMThis is rich and dense, with plum, cherry, tar and menthol flavors wrapped in an embrace of vanilla, coconut and toasty oak. Balanced and lively, with a firm, lingering finish. Decant now or wait a few more years for this to absorb the oak. Best from 2027 through 2042. 500 cases made, 167 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

The Moccagatta 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin does not quite have the high tones of the Basarin. Indeed, the tenor here is baritone, with dark fruit, spice and iris root. In terms of mouthfeel, this wine offers a very fine and silky texture that gives the wine a polished or glossy feel. Bric Balin is a proprietary name, but the fruit comes from the Muncagota MGA. This is an 8,000-bottle release.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin has shut down a touch since I last tasted it a year ago. It shows good energy and persistence, along with better oak integration than the straight Barbaresco and Basarin. I would give this time in bottle, as it is pretty unyielding today, uncharacteristically so for a Moccagatta Barbaresco.Vinous Media | 94 VMA saturated dark ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Bric Balin reveals a good deal of luxurious oak spice that’s forward in the glass with aromas of black cherry liqueur, toasted baking spice, cedar, dried orange peel, and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, it saturates the palate with ripe tannins, concentrated richness of fruit, and evenly balanced acidity that lasts through the long finish, with lovely undercurrents of dark minerals. A modern style, but with a lot of depth and complexity, it deserves cellaring to see if it will harmonize, and I do think it will. Drink 2027-2047.Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDSpice box, toasted nuts, wild cherries and sandalwood on the nose. Firm and chewy, full-bodied, with broad and muscular tannins. Pretty wood spice. Needs a few years to come together. Try in 2027.James Suckling | 94 JSVanilla and resin aromas complement the plum, cherry and tobacco flavors in this flamboyant red. Clove and allspice chime in as the dense tannins swell on the compact finish. Best from 2028 through 2043. 1,300 cases made, 433 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

This wine comes from a 1.5-hectare plot with white soils and 40- to 50-year-old vines. Pajoré tends to produce austere wines with an etched mineral note and without the glossy softness you can get in some of the other parcels. The Sottimano 2021 Barbaresco Pajoré saw submerged-cap fermentation until January 20, 2022, marking one of the longest maceration times to date for this estate. This pretty wine has a ferrous or metallic note coupled with crushed mineral. These shape an angular, almost cubist personality. However, you also get tart cassis and crushed peppercorn. The wine is indeed more austere, and this bodes well for a long aging window. The tannins are grippy and tight. Production is 6,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96+ RPThe 2021 Barbaresco Pajorè has shut down massively since I tasted it last year. Dried herbs, menthol, incense, game and tobacco infuse the palate with tremendous complexity. Readers will find an austere, classically built Barbaresco for the cellar. Time in the glass brings out the natural breadth and structure of Pajorè. Quite simply, this is an archetype. What a wine.Vinous Media | 96+ VMSo perfumed, the 2021 Pajorè from Sottimano is a stunner, with enticing aromas of mocha, ripe red berry, camphor, violet and forest floor. The intense, full-bodied palate is super savory, delivering succulent raspberry, Marasca cherry, baking spice, star anise and hints of hazelnut before a cool, minty finish. Tightly knit, close-grained tannins provide support while bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2028–2036.Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOCherry, raspberry, earth and mineral aromas and flavors highlight this solidly built Barbaresco. Taut and dense yet refined, with a linear profile and excellent length. Best from 2027 through 2043. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA floral and fruit-filled escapade awaits with each sip of this enchanting wine. Enticing aromas transport you to a garden in full bloom, where fresh wild cherries play amidst swirling rose petals and fragrant herbs. On the palate, ripe red fruits mingle with sweet spices, guided fine tannins and lifted acidity that keep each sip lifted and in balance. Drink from 2026 Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Red berry, wild rose, botanical herb and truffle aromas lead the nose on the impressive 2021 Basarin from Sottimano. Firm and elegantly structured, the delicious, focused palate features juicy black cherry, licorice and mocha before closing on a hint of saline. It has great energy thanks to bright acidity while alongside decisive, tightly woven tannins provide the framework. It’s still edgy and nervous and needs time to fully develop. Drink 2028–2036. Abv: 14.5% Kerin O’Keefe | 96 KOAndrea Sottimano says 2021 was one of the best vintages he has seen. There was a lot of snow during the winter that created abundant water reserves lasting throughout the summer. It was a late-ripening vintage, with cool nights, and Andrea harvested until his birthday on October 24th. The 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is expressive and complex with very precise aromas of cassis, navel orange, pulverized stone and licorice root. The tannins are chalky, and the wine offers a pretty sense of lingering sweetness. Winemaking is traditional, with up to three months of submerged cap and aging in botti. Fruit comes from a three-hectare site in Neive with old vines on white soils. Production is 9,000 bottles.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThis Barbaresco opens with a seductive nose that perks up the senses. Hints of spiced wild berries, smoked black tea, crushed dried leaves and baking spices swirl in the glass as delicate floral notes woo the senses even more. Elegant and refined yet with a classic Nebbiolo structure that highlights flavors of drying cherries alongside wild thyme and bay leaf that all lift from the palate with the rush acidity on the finish. Drink 2026 - 2045 Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe 2021 Barbaresco Basarin is fabulous. Rich, ample and seductive, the Basarin marries the charm that is so typical of this sector with the breadth and structure of Barbaresco. These two qualities are evident in tasting this after the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo. Transparent and vibrant, the 2021 has so much to offer. Crushed rose petals, mint, orange peel, spice, tobacco and incense build into the long, sustained finish. This is even better than it was last year.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis is pure and well-defined, featuring cherry, raspberry, earth, iron and wild herb flavors. Firms up with a line of dusty tannins, yet the fruit is persistent and this is balanced overall. Best from 2028 through 2046. 800 cases made, 270 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS