Explosive and complex with a supple texture, this has a real wow factor. The nose is expressive and loaded with plum, black cherry, black tea, spice, and anise notes. The flavors are focused on dark red berries, spices, and leather... Read More
This is a very beautiful red with currant and berry character. Very fine and polished tannins, too. The impact is just so polished and focused. Linear and exciting. A barrel sample but should be great.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Ynez Valley) captures all the intensity of Cabernet from this part of Santa Barbara County in a cooler vintage that yielded wines built more on savory intensity rather than volume. Elegant and... Read More
Bernard Magrez's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. It is made in a much more restrained style than the wines of the past. There is plenty of natural Napa Valley richness, but not the heaviness that marked some earlier vintages.... Read More
Rich and velvety like devil's food cake, this deep, delicious and full-bodied wine tastes like chocolate, cloves and cinnamon and feels plush in texture. Soft tannins and superripe black cherries and blueberries make it easy... Read More
This has notes of blackcurrants, black olives, graphite and rosemary. It’s firm, delicious and so balanced, with firm tannins and yet such a juicy fruit profile. Fantastic value. Drink or hold.
The 2019 Château Marquis D'Alesme is terrific and a good follow-up to the brilliant 2018. Sporting a deep ruby/purple hue, it gives up a great nose of ripe darker cherries, blackberries, mulberries, leafy herbs, cedar... Read More
Pretty blue fruits, violets, and sappy green herb notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Crossfork Creek. A medium to full-bodied, balanced, impressive, value-priced wine in the lineup, it’s perfect for readers looking... Read More
Full of personality, this dense, muscular red is concentrated, with blackberry, cassis and spiced plum notes at the core, plus accents of sage, tobacco, cedar and spices, along with mineral elements and chewy tannins.