The 2016 vintage of Cathy Corison’s estate cabernet is the lowest octane version I can remember in a month of Mondays, as the wine comes in at an extremely svelte 13.1 percent this year. The bouquet is classic, wafting from the glass in a complex and very classy blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, Cuban cigar wrapper, Rutherford dust, a deft framing of cedary oak and just a hint of eucalyptus in the upper register. On the palate the wine is extremely pure and focused, full-bodied and beautifully bound up in its sophisticated structural chassis, with a gorgeous core of fruit, great soil signature, ripe, buried tannins and superb length and grip on the seamlessly balanced finish. This is stunning juice, but it is built for the long haul (like all of Cathy’s wines) and will demand fully fifteen years of patience in the cellar before it edges into its plateau of maturity. It is an understated beauty, but this will be one of Cathy’s finest vintage for her estate bottling cabernet when it is fully ready to drink. But, let it hibernate in the cellar, as it deserves patience

In spite of a lightness to the palate weight, this is no doubt a serious wine. It's complex and integrated, with intriguing aspects of leather, earth and truffle. Soft and supple, it shows flavors of clove, tart red raspberry and cassis, and is deliciously memorable in every way. Enjoy 2026–2036. VIRGINIE BOONE

This has a great cassis and sour-cherry nose with hints of lilacs, wet stones and licorice. Quite powerful, but restrained and elegant, this medium-bodied Napa cab has impeccable balance with a very long, clean and dry finish that pulls you back to the glass for more. A great food-wine with just 13.1 per cent alcohol! Drink or hold.

Fresh in feel, with red currant, raspberry and damson plum fruit, laced with floral hints and backed by a subtle mineral edge on the finish. Offers a pure, streamlined character. Well done. Drink now through 2033. 2,200 cases made. — JM

The value-priced effort is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, all from St. Helena and brought up in barrel. This classic effort has lots of cassis, leafy herbs, some damp earth, and sappy spring flower aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and downright elegant, it's not a powerhouse, yet has terrific purity, balance, and length. I'd happily drink bottles over the coming decade or more.