Napa Valley

• Atlas Peak
• Best of Napa
• Calistoga
• Conn Valley
• Diamond Mountain
• Howell Mountain
• Mt. Veeder
• Oak Knoll
• Oakville
• Pope Valley
• Rutherford
• Spring Mountain
• St. Helena
• Stags Leap
• Yountville

This is a blend of 53% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Petit Verdot.  It is a delicious wine that is another label different from their Cabernet Sauvignon.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, dark chocolate, cassis, plums, cedar and baking spices.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of black cherry fruit with some purple fruit over char and spice.  Firm tannins.  Good energy.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well and will probably improve a bit, but either way should drink well for ten to twelve more years.  It drinks well on

After just recently trying the 2018, it was nice to try something with at least a few more years on it.  Just as delicious.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, char and baking spice.  With air a slight graphite note.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of cassis, some black cherries and underlying char.  This is drinking well but will continue to develop ad mature over the next eight to ten years.  It should drink well for another ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, it needs big food to tame the tannins right now.  It went great wit

Forming a little over 10 years ago, Davis Estates turns out excellent wines based in the Napa Valley. Comprised of 100% merlot, this wine offers rich and concentrated fruit, more compote driven with blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, plum, cocoa powder and a heavy toasting of oak. The oak is a little strong, however it is nonetheless balanced within this wine, having been aged 22 months in 40% new French oak. The results are mild tannins and a rich opulent feel making this extremely enjoyable to drink. 796 cases

Another winner from de Negoce.  While this wine will undoubtedly get better and mature over time, this drinks nicely now and for the money, it is hard not to open a bottle now.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, char, and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Deep.  Tight.  On the palate, this took an hour or three to really open.  A decant would be a good idea.  Very tasty with boysenberry fruit and underlying char.  Not crazy wild but not shy either.  Very nice on its own, but this will work well with a burger or other foods off the grill.  Drink over the next t

From one of the premier producers of Cabernet Franc in California.  The vines are part of what was historically To Kalon vineyard.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cigar tobacco and cedar.  Wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lots of black cherries, some cassis with underlying spice.  Lots of energy.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This should last another ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, better with food.  Roast duck or chicken would be great.  

A classic Napa Bordeaux blend with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose is complex and great.  Cassis, black cherries, earthy, hay, char and slight milk chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Slightly sinewy texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries cassis, carob, with a touch of eucalyptus on the long finish.  This is still young and a few more years in the cellar ought to up the score by a couple points.  Either way, this should drink well over the next twe

Gorgeous wine that needs a bit of cellar time.  This is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.  Inly purple in color, magenta at the rim, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with air opens to cassis, chocolate, cedar and a scent best described as sauteed onions (unusual but very nice).  Firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate cassis, chocolate, char and a slight chalky note.  Great almost seamless texture.  A bit of tart raspberries make a delightful finish.  This needs a few more years in the cellar or a long decant and the score will undou

Nice to try this from a "lesser" vintage but with some nice age on it.  It is in a very good place right now.  It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and a slight herbal notes.  Also a but of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis with underlying char.  Lots of depth.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but it is drinking very nicely and should continue for another eight to twelve years.  It works on its own but worked great with mushroom ravioli.  A great example of great

This is made by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the top winemakers in the world. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is huge with cassis, cedar, baking spice, anise and char. Full bodied. Almost seamless texture. Juicy acidity. On the palate, loads of cassis with nice minerality and underlying char. Long finish. This is delicious. This is still quite young and will mature and probably get even better. Drink over the next twenty years. Great on its own, this will work with bigger meat dishes or even roasted veggies especially root vegetables.