Love this merlot. Violets, roses, incense, and currants come to the fore on the nose. Full body and ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and integrated they become seamless and incredibly beautiful. Long and flavorful...

The 2021 Dominus, 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, is opaque purple-black in color. It needs a lot of coaxing to lure out scents of freshly crushed blackcurrants, blackberry preserves, stewed plums, and...

Dusty rose and raspberry notes combine with licorice and white pepper nuances as the 2019 Estate Blend blossoms in the glass. It's softly textured with brisk minerality. A chalky tannin coasting frames tart wild berry...

(95+ points) The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will find a Lytton Springs that is very much in reserve, as opposed to the rest of the 2021s in...

Super smooth and mouth-filling but also lacy and filigreed, the wine combines powerful, broad and ripe strawberries, red plums and cedar on a full body blanketed in soft tannins but with fresh acidity. Aged 18 months on...

A blend of 58% Syrah, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Optimus has a deep ruby color and a deep core of red and black cherries, chargrill, thyme, charcuterie and desiccated violet. The full-bodied...

This shows a lot of class, with aromas of blackcurrants, graphite, blueberries, dried flowers, black truffles and a touch of forest floor. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, with seamless tannins that goes on and on...

Bright and fresh with crushed red and dark berries, spices, and crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied with chalky tannins. Velvety and textural with succulent wild berry notes underneath. Vivid finish. Cabernet...

(98 - 100 points) This note is written before the final blend of the 2021 Continuum. Deep purple-black in color, it hits the ground running with an intense nose of red and black currant preserves, lilacs, baker's...

A blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Estate Cuvée is another outstanding wine from L'Aventure in the challenging 2020 vintage, offering singular concentration and elegance. Deep...

Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky...

The 2019 Authenticity Syrah has an opaque ruby-purple color and inviting aromas of cassis, blueberry and ringing violet perfume, plus touches of coffee beans and brown sugar from its 18-month maturation in 42% new French...

(97+ points) The flagship from this great estate is the 2018 Sorella, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (8% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot and the 4% Petit Verdot) that spent the same 22 months in 35% new French...

A blend of 58% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Champoux Vineyard has already captured my heart with its delightful and lovely aromatics. It offers dusty plum, black cherry skin, blackberry...

The 2019 Oublié is a blend of 31% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, 4% Tannat and 4% Petite Sirah with a medium ruby-purple color. The nose offers gregarious mixed berry preserves and accents of potpourri, mint and fragrant earth...

Pure perfection from this talented team, the 2021 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Petit Verdot that was raised in 80% new French oak. Absolutely incredible aromatics of crème de...

The 2019 Claret North Coast Red Wine is a killer value, with great lift and freshness throughout. Made from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and the rest Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, the majority of the fruit was...

The 2019 Ingenuity is a supple, fragrant blend of 71% Petite Sirah, 14% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache and 3% Syrah. It takes plenty of time to unwind its aromas of candied blueberries and blackberry jam, plus touches of violet...

Lail's 2021 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon blends lots from several high-end vineyards, including Heimark (Calistoga), Vine Hill Ranch (Oakville) and Steltzner (Stags Leap), plus Lail's own Mole Hill on Howell...

The 2020 Côte a Côte is a beautiful blend of 45% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 25% Mourvèdre and one of the most successful wines I tasted from the challenging 2020 vintage. Deep ruby-purple, it offers pure aromas of...

Even more prodigious is the 2014 LMV Salon. Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc from the sandy Bale Loam soils of the 110 acres Larkmead possesses, it is a bigger boy at 14.9% alcohol but shows lots...

This zinfandel-dominant field blend is ripe, delicious and lush, with light, spicy oak accents over plump blackberries, blueberries and vanilla bean. Saturated and opulent but not fat, as moderate tannins and some...

The 2019 EABA shows the cooler, elegant style of the vintage yet still has classic Jim Binns texture and opulence. Black cherries, kirsch liqueur, roasted herbs, sandalwood, and hints of white pepper define the bouquet...

From Alfred Tesseron’s (owner of Pontet Canet in Pauillac) estate on Mount Veeder, the 2019 Pym Rae is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-black colored, it requires a fair...

This inviting, chocolaty wine is super-soft in mouthfeel at first, due to a full body and resolved tannins. But the tannins firm up on the finish to reveal a structure that can help it age well. Milk chocolate...

A rich and darkly alluring mix of plum sauce, grilled sage and hints of sweet smoke makes the 2018 Red Wine Ciel du Cheval a total pleasure on the nose. This is seamlessly silky, with potent red fruits complimented by a...

The 2021 Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Proprietary Red, 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps out of the glass with vivacious notes of red and black plums, redcurrant jelly, and kirsch...

The 2019 Veracity shows nicely, with ample red, blue, and black fruits as well as ground pepper, candied orange, and violet aromas. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated on the palate, this blend of 44% Mourvèdre, 43%...

An absolutely brilliant wine, the 2021 Ontogeny is an appellation blend put together by Bevan, and it's a year-in, year-out incredible value. Competing with wines 2-3 times its price (if not more), it reveals a deep...