Red Wine from North Coast

Connoisseur's Guide, 91 points: If not quite so sturdy as its Marin County mates below this wine offers a slightly more precise look at ripe cherry varietal styling and its firm yet supple mouthfeel with its slight tightness under a polished texture...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The Cabernet Franc-based 2009 Red Blend Terres Melees wraps around the palate with serious depth and richness. This is one of the more approachable of the Derenoncourt 2009s, but there is plenty of the trademark textural...

Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 92 points: Sweet, dark cherries, tobacco, flowers and leather all come to life in the 2009 Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard. The 2009 is a terrific wine with plenty of mid-palate pliancy and depth, although it can’t match the energy...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 96 points: Deep ruby-red. Vibrant nose offers cassis, blackberry, licorice, minerals, tobacco leaf and violet. Rich, tactile and deep, offering outstanding energy for the vintage. Boasts a rare combination of explosive fruit...

Wine Spectator, 90 points: Pleasantly earthy, with a cedary edge to the core of dried dark berry. Very complete, featuring nuanced flavors that touch on graphite and tar. Firms nicely on the finish. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is loaded with dark, brooding intensity. Graphite, pencil shavings, mint, plums and black cherries emerge from a wall of powerful, yet well balanced tannins. Layers of rich...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is richer and deeper than the 2008. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and spices are some of the nuances that flow from this beautifully articulated wine. Dark spices, menthol and rose petals...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 92 points: Bright ruby-red. Aromas of crushed blueberry violet spices and steak tartare. Concentrated and broad but quite backward with shy flavors of crushed dark berries and black olive. At once rich and quite dry in a style I...