Expert articles and wine tasting videos profiling wines from California, California wine regions, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & more.

2014 Bevan Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$270.00USD

Gorgeous wine.  Tench vineyard shares a border with Screaming Eagle (a bit of name dropping).  This wine was huge on release and while still fruit forward, at age 10, it is drinking wonderfully.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep and complex with cassis, blueberries, sandalwood, slight soy sauce with earthiness and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Deep and complex.  Long finish.  This will drink beautifully for another twenty years.  Great on its own, t

2011 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 8% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, fresh herbs, cedar, leather and char.  Nice texture.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is nice.  Good fruit.  Black cherries, cassis, with some earthiness.  Good finish. This seems about at peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own, this will work with most (non-seafood) foods.  

2019 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cabernet "Soul of a Lion", USA, California, Paso Robles, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

While not their "top" wine, this is an ultra premium Cabernet that is on par with Napa or any other Cabernets at this price level.  It is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is open and enticing.  Cassis, black raspberries, cigar box, chocolate, spice and char.

2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is their basic Cabernet.  it is a blend of 77.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.6% Petit Verdot, 6.5% Merlot, and 0.4% Cabernet Franc.  It had been in a decanter for about 45 minutes when I tried it.  Nevertheless, it was at least partially shut down at this point.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very tight.  With some air in the glass, it opened a bit more.  Aromas of Black cherries, sandalwood and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, it is a bit more open.  Black cherries with some spice and char.  Moderate finish.  This wine needs time

2018 Calla Lily Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Ultimate Red, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

A bit surprisingly, while still a nice wine, this lagged a bit behind both the 2017 and the 2019.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cedar, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this drinks easy but doesn't have the expected depth.  Good finish.  It is a nice wine and will work well with heavier foods.  Beef Ragu would work nicely.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2010 Saxum Broken Stones, USA, California, Paso Robles,

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

This is a blend of 63% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache, and 3% Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with black raspberries, black pepper, grilled meats, black cherries, gravel and char.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is flat out delicious.  Flavors of black raspberries, black cherries, black pepper and char.  Long finish.  Still a big wine but it has calmed down since its youth.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with bigger food off

2021 Jaffurs Syrah Santa Barbara County, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

This is the basic Syrah bottling which year in and year out is a great value.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight roasted meats, black pepper and a bit of roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Open and drinking well.  Flavors of black raspberries with a bit of pepper and char.  Nice finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with most foods (not seafood).  A great wine for Burgers.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

2008 Rhys Pinot Noir Skyline Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Cruz, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

The definition of a "pretty" Pinot Noir.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is feminine/elegant with cherries, slight plums, spices and some minerality.  Medium bodied.  Wispy tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, cherries, some black cherries and spice with slight char and minerality.  Long finish.  This is lovely on its own, but even better with food.  It went great with Cauliflower steaks but would work well with Salmon steaks as well.  Drink over the next ten years.

2018 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, USA, California, Napa, Oakville, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$370.00USD

Another amazing Materium.  This is arguably the best Cabernet made in Napa (and yes, there are other contenders).  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose is great with cassis, tobacco, sandalwood, baking spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lush, lovely texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Every sip gets better.  It is deep but still young and tight.  Flavors of cassis, with some earthy tobacco notes.  Long finish.  This will get better but it is virtually all one could want in a young Cab.  Give it a bit of a decant if drinking soon.  Great on its ow

2018 Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Archimedes, USA, California, Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot 7%, Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, tobacco, slight graphite and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this drinks well.  Flavors of cassis, plums with some tobacco and char.  Good finish.  This is drinking well on its own and will work nicely with beef dishes.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

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