If I had to pick a wine that encapsulates the essence of Calistoga, it might very well be Kelly Fleming's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate. The darkness, the depth, the brawn, the pure power, the intense savoriness. It's...

Moving to the reds and from the cooler Coombsville region of the valley, the 100% varietal 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a deep purple color as well as a classic bouquet of ripe black (and some blue) fruits interwoven...

A vertiginous tight-rope walk between savory and sweet on the nose, from white tea leaf to tart blackberries to bing cherries to damp earth and gunpowder on the nose somersaults into ripe blackberries, black cherries...

97+ To be released in September 2024, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 20 months in 83% new French oak. Black cherries and cassis set the stage, underscored by hints of dark loam and...

Pure red berry fruit leads from the glass intermixed with heady cedar spices. Full-bodied, revealing a fantastic mid-palate depth of concentration with a spectacular vein of crushed stone minerality. The ripe, bright, red...

Served blind, I'd think this was a top Hermitage due to its smoky character, topped with mint, peppery herbs, barbecued meat, black currants, blackberries, along with a hint of blueberry. The palate is rich, full-bodied...

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Poesia rolls out with ready-to-go notes of fresh blackberries, red currant jelly, and juicy black plums with hints of rose oil, dried lavender, and tar. The medium to...

A tightly focused beam of bitter cherry, damson plum and raspberry coulis streams through, with mouthwatering cut in the form of ocean breeze minerality that runs from start to finish. Iris and rose hip notes fill in the...

The 2017 Sena was made in a warm, dry, early-ripening year. A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, 15% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot, it was aged for 22 months in 70% new French barrels and a...

Aromas of raspberry, mint leaves, orange zest and clove waft from the glass on the nose of this Pinot. The palate brings rich tannin and zesty acidity, with flavors of baked berry pie, fresh herb mélange and pie spice...

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is in a wonderful spot for drinking right now. Blended with 15% Petit Verdot, it has a deep garnet color and beautiful aromas of truffle, pipe tobacco, graphite and...

The 2020 Cepparello is a total stunner, just as it was last year. Deeply colored, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 possesses striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum...

There are 1,400 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, which offers up charming red-fruited notes of cherries and redcurrants, plus some loamy-earth scents. While it comes across a bit more angular and more coarsely...

This attractive, well-structured wine wraps vibrant red and black cherries in good, moderate tannins for an appetizing bite that will mellow slightly with time. Medium to full bodied, the wine is dressed in cloves, cedar...

A bit shy aromatically, this red exhibits black currant, black cherry, blackberry, tobacco and sweet spice flavors, with a hint of eucalyptus. Concentrated, offering assertive tannins that take hold as this evolves to the...

Very ripe and perfumed on the nose, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is a dark red/ruby color and offers notes of baked berries, candied flowers, sappy herbs, and candied cherries. Full-bodied, it's ripe without...

This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused...

Offering rose, red berry and earth aromas, this perfumed red adds to its flavor profile with iron and tobacco notes. Complex and balanced, with lively acidity and an edge of chalky tannins on the long aftertaste. Shows...

The more closed but potentially greater 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard is a 480-case blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed...

The 2020 Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour is a blend of 53% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vivacious notes of stewed blackberries, raspberry...

A brooding, dark version, with a floral perfume followed by a concentrated stream of black licorice, currant and mulberry notes edged in graphite. Alder smoke hovers throughout the rich, round palate, with softened...

A core of ripe cherry, plum and pomegranate pervades this vibrant, complex red. A balanced version, with a firm grip on the finish complementing its fresh acidity. The long aftertaste echoes the fruit and evokes mineral...

An assemblage of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, both aged in demi-muids, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud features a hint of brown sugar on the nose, then waves of blueberries, black cherries and...

A particularly pretty and floral expression of Clos Apalta, the 2022 Clos Apalta is beautifully lush and expressive on the nose, combining a deep core of black and blue fruit aromas with pencil lead, camphor and bramble...

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Lafon-Rochet is deep garnet-purple in color. It is quite closed to begin, revealing glimpses at blackcurrant jelly, fresh blackberries, and...

Rich and supple, evoking cherry, blackberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors. The dense, dusty tannins emerge as this builds to the long, lively finish, where a light astringency lingers. A bit rustic. Best from...