Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the hottest wines in Napa right now, and it is scarce, so it is always a pleasure to open a bottle.  In most vintages, this is a lay down for ten years minimum, but 2017 is a bit more ready to drink young.  Pop and pour, this was singing from the start.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate, black licorice and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Slightly softer texture but with great balance.  On the palate, juicy black cherries, cassis and slight cocoa notes.  Deep and concentrated, it unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  This is you

Paraduxx was started in 1994 with the sole purpose of offerings blended wines to the public. Whereas many wineries espouse 100% varietal, the blend is, and always has been, the ability to craft a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. Though this is 60% Cabernet, there are six other grapes playing a part, including Zinfandel, Grenache and Malbec. This is a soft wine that offers noticeable fruit: black cherry, huckleberry, blueberry and blackberry along with light vanilla, green tea and baked apricot. The tannins help to solidify the structure, being potent but not aggressive.

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, bel peppers, spice and some pepper.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has some black cherry fruit with green bell peppers.  One dimensional.  Clipped finish.  This would be a fine wine with meatloaf or a burger.  Drink over the next few years.  

Nice to revisit this.  It is just about at peak at age 14.  No hurry though.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, some earthiness and a hint of graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis with some earthiness.  Layers that unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  It worked well with a variety of Hungarian foods.  

Another great value from Domaine Bousquet made from organic grapes.  Carnet in color, purple at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee and smoke.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries with some depth.  Fresh and energetic.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and would work well with a steak off the grill.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is made from organic grapes in Argentina.  Ruby in color, flat, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black pepper and some char.  Mice mouthfeel.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with some plums and underlying char.  Long finish.  Overall, a very solid Cab and a terrific value.  It drinks well on its own and would be great with burgers or ribs off the grill.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

These come in 187ml individual servings packaged in an attractive glass bottle with a plastic stopper and screw on top.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is  tight but opens to show cherry aromas.  Perhaps a touch of volatile acidity as well which helps life the nose.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is a fun, easy drinking wine that would be nice for picnics.  Drink now.  

Christopher Tynan's wines do not get enough attention.  The Syrahs are great but this is stunning.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, camphor, baking spices, fresh tobacco and chocolate.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy and balance.  This is still very young but starting to open up.  On the palate, cassis, pencil lead, and chocolate with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This needs another five to ten years to get closer to peak and then should be great for another twenty to thirty after that.  Great on its own, this needs bi

The home winery for Thomas Rivers Brown, one of Napa's premier winemakers.  This is a new (albeit classic) vineyard for TRB.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great.  Complex and clean with cassis, blueberries, pencil lead, sandalwood and menthol.  Full bodied.  The palate is also complex if tight.  Cassis and blueberries with some spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is obviously young but already drinking great.  Still, another decade in a good cellar will take this to the 100 level.  Great on its own, it will need big food now to match the firm tanni

Interesting bottle with what looks like a pewter disk for a label.  Made by Phillipe Melka.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco, clay and spice.  Firm tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate this is complex but still very young.  Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight cedar.  Long finish.  This needs another five to ten years in a good cellar.  It should age for fifteen to twenty after that.  Great on its own, it will need big, fatty meats in its youth.  Plenty of upside potential to improve.