California

• Amador County
  • Shenandoah Valley
• Carmel Valley
• Carneros
• Central Coast
  • Edna Valley
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Paso Robles
• Contra Costa County
• El Dorado County
• Lake County
• Lodi
• Mendocino
  • Anderson Valley
  • Yorkville Highlands
• Monterey
• 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
• North Coast
• Santa Barbara
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
• Santa Cruz
• Santa Maria Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sonoma County
  • Alexander Valley
  • Bennett Valley
  • Best of Sonoma
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Fort Ross/Seaview
  • Moon Mountain
  • Pine Mountain - Cloverdale Peak
  • Russian River Valley
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Knights Valley

There was a time that I drank a lot of this wine (back in the early parts of this century).  It had been a while but this seemed to still have that level of quality.  At under $20, this is a very nice value for people who like ripe California Cabs with a bit of oak and lots of fruit.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, fresh cut lumber, spice and cherries.  On the palate, the juicy red fruit takes a more predominant roll with just a touch of oak in the background.  Mild tannins.  Nice finish.  All in all, easy drinking wine made to share with lots of friends.  

This is not the greatest Napa Cab on the market.  It also costs around $20, so it doesn't have to be.  It certainly presents a nice value and is just fine for parties.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, cedar, baking spices and dust.  On the palate, this is a bit generic; dark cherries with slight earth.  Very tasty and goes well with party appetizers and main dishes.  A nice value.  

Another stellar wine from one of the best producers in Napa.  This is still quite tight but with air opened up beautifully.  That said, this still needs time.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is classic, old school Napa cabernet.  Cassis, slight pencil lead, and a slight violet notes on the nose.  On the palate, this has a great juicy texture.  Almost seamless.  Again, give this a few years and this probably merits a perfect score.  Cassis, graphite and cedar notes.  Long finish.  

Wow.  An amazing wine.  Like many 2012's, this is accessible now, but still has a long life left.  This is just incredible.  From the first sip, this is special.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, pencil lead/gravel and floral notes.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Juicy acidity.  Firm but manageable tannins.  Layers of gravel, cassis and graphite.  Long finish.  So delicious too.  About as good as Napa Cabernet gets.  And you know what, with some age, it might even get better.  

Stunning Wine.  Still quite youthful at this point.  It needs cellar time or a good decant.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, pencil lead and cedar.  On the palate. it has firm tannins.  Nice balance.  It opens in the glass with plenty of cassis fruit, a mineral base and streaks of graphite.  Long finish.  Drinking on the more elegant side of Napa Cabs.  Built to last another 30 years.  

OK.  My first 100 point review for Intowine.com.  And it deserves it.  This bottle was opened about 7 hours prior to consuming and decanted about an hour prior.  That seemed about right but it could probably have taken a lot more air.  The thing I loved about it was how smooth and elegant it is while a the same time not being in any way shy or reserved or even feminine.  Think Cary Grant.  Purple in color.  The nose is great with cassis, slight dark chocolate, slight coffee grounds.  Also some cedar and spice.  On the palate, this is seamless.  Juicy.  deep and layers of tight complexity un

Wow.  What a gorgeous wine.  Not a fruit bomb but clearly from sunshine and California.  Deep purple in color, shimmering and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, chocolate and spice.  Wonderful texture.  It just spreads itself across the papate.  Depth yet precision.  Cassis, slight dark chcolate, with gravel undertones.  Long, long finish.  This was pop and pour and that was a mistake.  An hour of air and it no doubt hits the 100 mark.  Ready to drink now, but will last 40 years.  Amazing wine.  

Wow.  Maybach continues to be one of the top wineries anywhere in the world.  This is just fantastic.  I have no doubt that more decanting or cellar time takes this to the 100 point level.  This is a mailing list to be on.  Purple in color.  The nose is fantstic with cassis, floral notes, gravel and pencil lead.  Also some cedar and spice.  On the palate, what a texture.  Juicy, velvety and seamless.  Lots of cassis fruit with depth.  An underpinning of gravel.  Firm tannins at the moment.  This is a 3o plus year wine.  Long finish.  Just gorgeous.  

Wow, who knew they could make a Cabernet this great in Paso Robles.  Just a stunning bottle of wine that will no doubt earn a perfect score with just a bit more time in the bottle.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, baking spices, and a bit of cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a lovely juciness to it.  Lots of cassis fruit.  An underpinning of earth with plenty of structure.  There is a lot of oak showing but it all came together with some swirling in the glass.  No doubt a couple of years and this will be close to or seamless.  It works with food.  Nice finish.  As I said,

This is an amazing wine.  It is still young but like most of Russell Bevan's red wines, this is already drinking well.  As an aside, it's funny how Bevan's white wines take longer to be ready than his reds.  Inky purple in color with a ruby rim.  The nose is gorgeous with cassis, some pencil lead and cedar.  On the palate, a big and bold wine but not rough.  Lots of cassis fruit with depth.  Just delicious.  I think a couple years brings out that depth a bit and this gets to be a perfect score.  Right now its like a bottomless pit.  Long finish.  At the same time, this wine has the acidity