(98+ points) The 2021 Dominus is a 3,700-case blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, with 40% of the wine matured in new French oak. Black cherries and cassis lead the way, accented by scents of crushed...

The 2012 Dominus is a wild, exotic wine. Harvest began on October 9 and finished on the 21st, very late by present-day standards. Ripe red cherry, kirsch, cinnamon, rose petal, incense and rose petal soar out of the...

Super savoury and terrifically precise aromatics reveal capsicum and dried sage, bay leaf and blood orange citrus, cocoa nibs and dried violets dusted with white pepper. Plump and unabashedly full-bodied, with voluminous...

The star of the show is the 2022 Ontogeny, a broad, layered, richly textured 2022 that has gorgeous cassis and blue fruits as well as integrated oak, some classic Cabernet graphite, iron, and smoked tobacco. It’s rich...

Fragrant and refreshing, this sleek version offers appealing flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and yeast roll. Finishes bright, with acidity. Drink now. - TF

Vivid cherry red, medium intensity, pared back and moreish. Enticing charred plum and spiced black cherry, restrained and savoury, chalky tannins, good lift through the palate without losing the creaminess of the fruit, a...

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Petite Sirah, Realm's 2021 The Bard is a terrific effort that must be called something of a value in the context of Napa Valley...

(96+ points) The 2019 Pym-Rae is made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, all aged in a combination of 45% new French oak barriques and small (260-gallon) concrete tanks. Impressively ripe and...

The 2021 Paradise Hills Vineyard Proprietary Red is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.8% Merlot, 2.9% Cabernet Franc, and 2.3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the glass with pure notes of...

The 2018 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard has really shut down since I tasted it last year. Energetic and vibrant, the 2018 sizzles with all of the energy of this cool, late-ripening vintage. Time in the glass...

All these 2016s from winemaker Graeme MacDonald are straight-up brilliant wines. Starting with the 2016 Proprietary Red, which is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it...

If sunshine could be bottled it would be this. Aromas of fresh succulent stone fruit, a hint of yeast, citrus blossoms and notes of quince on the nose. The mousse is creamy and light with baked red apples, blood orange...

A generous burst of blackberry and mulberry fruit leads the way but is quickly caught from behind by cast iron, dried sage and singed mesquite notes. The fruit keeps pace with the grippy back end, and there’s solid...

The 2021 Hora is the entry-level wine from the Cathiards’ estate in Napa, and it’s a balanced, medium to full-bodied, impressive wine offering ample red and black currant fruit, nicely integrated oak, a round, layered...

Fragrant and refreshing, this sleek version offers appealing flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and yeast roll. Finishes bright, with acidity. Drink now. - TF

Impressive from first sip, the MV Brut, made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, with 10 to 15% reserve wine, opens in a world of buttered toasty notes, spicy pear, and hazelnut. The oak and fruit shine amidst a...

Potent and dense, with brooding flavors of blackberry and cherry accented by bitter chocolate, cracked pepper and savory meat tones as this builds tannins on the finish. Grenache, Syrah and Petit Sirah. Best after 2025...

The 2021 Lytton Springs is based on 72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, and the rest Carignan, Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault, and Counoise. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort has a juicy, lively, medium-bodied style as well as...

A blend of Merlot, Petit Sirah, Malbec, and other varieties, the 2022 HG III is a juicy, medium-bodied, wonderfully delicious red that has pretty red and black fruits, some nicely integrated background oak, soft tannins...

The 2021 Founding Brothers is brilliant and has a certain Saint Julien-like style in its pure cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, and floral aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied 2021 that's beautifully...

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2021 IX Estate needs a lot of shaking to wake up notes of warm cassis, boysenberries, and juicy plums, giving way to nuances of iron ore, wild sage, tapenade, and lilacs. The full-bodied...

Pahlmeyer's 2022 Proprietary Red is only 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance comprising 4% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot and 3% each Malbec and Petit Verdot. It spent 18 months in 90% new French oak. According to...

(93+ points) A strong effort, the 2019 Mernet Reserve—a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged in one-third new oak, delivers plenty of almost grapey fruit, cassis and black cherries, underscored by hints of...

A lovely blush that's refined and festive, with vibrant strawberry, orange blossom and cherry flavors that glide on the refreshing finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. - TF

This lets copious boysenberry and blackberry puree notes glide through, while melted licorice, sweet toast and warmed fruitcake accents fill in through the generous finish. A crowd-pleasing style. Drink now through 2031...

A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Zinfandel, 13% Malbec, 10% Merlot, 6% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah, Paraduxx's 2021 Proprietary Red Wine is the winery's main offering. Marked by scents of cherries and berries, with a...

The NV (2020) Tradition is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Aromatic and light on its feet, the 2020 is intriguing. As always, there is a bit of stem influence from the whole clusters in the Pinot component. Today, that...

The 2022 Papillon Red Wine is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each Malbec and Syrah, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. It also includes a bit more than 5% of 2021 vintage wine, so it is labeled as...