Dark and deep with excellent structure and style; generous, graceful and long; made by Chris Carpenter, one of Napa's superstar winemakers.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3.5% Merlot, 1.5% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-black, it sings of warm blackberries, cassis and wild blueberries with hints of violets, dark chocolate, cigar box and menthol. Full-bodied and laden with black and blue fruit, it has a firm structure of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long.

North Coast Part 1: Napa Valley’s Incredible 2016s Lastly, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is another winner that more than overdelivers. While from mountain fruit, this 2016 shows a more rounded, supple, even sexy style to go with beautiful Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, lavender, jammy blackberry, and earthy/herbal characteristics. With ultra-fine tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and plenty of mid-palate depth, drink this perfectly balanced Mt. Veeder Cabernet any time over the coming two decades or more.

Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at an elevation of 1,400 to 1,800 feet on an area planted since the early 1860s. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. The mountain site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) combine to neutralise some of the issues in what is normally a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. Winemaker Chris Carpenter likes to say, “Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon is meant to show all that is Mt. Veeder without overt tannins.” In 2015 a cooling trend occurred during fruit set, lowering yields as much as 30 percent in some cases. Things turned around near the end of harvest as the small crop allowed for an earlier than usual finish. The quality of the fruit was so high they even added a little bit of petit verdot to the blend. In all, it spent 22 months in 75 percent new French oak. The blend is 87.5/5/3/3/1.5 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. It’s just a baby, full of exuberant blue and red fruits, spice and mineral notes. Balanced, earthy, savoury, restrained fruit with a brooding tannin background that will disperse over time, but for now cellar for at least a decade.

The star of the show is clearly the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon which has everything you could want from a Mountain Cabernet. Cassis, blueberries, violets, leafy herbs, and graphite notes all emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, yet plush, forward, incredibly sexy 2014. With no hard edges, impeccable balance, and a great finish, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 15+ years.

Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at 1,400 to 1,800 feet. The estate, on the western flank of Napa Valley, is named for the native Wappos who first called it home. Mt. Veeder has been planted to wine grapes since the early 1860s, while Mt. Brave Vineyard dates to 1841—before the Gold Rush and the Civil War. The site is all about high elevation and thin, rocky soils that present many winegrowing challenges. Four cabernet clones (191, 4, 8, and 337) and three rootstocks (3309C, 101-14, and 1103P) neutralise some of the issues in what is normally a slow moving, long, cool growing season above the fog line. Winemaker Chris Carpenter says “Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon is meant to show all that is Mt. Veeder without overt tannins, and the 2014 is a great example of that proposition". I say, is it ever; the finesse of this wine and the silkiness of the 2014 tannins is other-worldly. The wine fermented in stainless steel and goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels (89 percent new). After some 19 months of barrel ageing it is bottled without fining or filtration. The attack mixes black raspberry/blackberry fruit, dried herbs and blueberries with a floral, mineral undercurrent that perfectly meshes with the silky tannins. The blend is 90.5/4/3.5/2 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Cellar for a decade.

The mountain appellation speaks loudly in this wine, contributing juicy blackberry, tar and leather, all within a forested context of wild truffle and crunchy leaves. Concentrated and robust in body and ripeness, it unwinds slowly in the glass, imparting jolts of black pepper as it goes. —V.B.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages The 2016 Malbec Mt. Veeder (100% Malbec) is very deep purple-black in color and reveals stunning black and red cherries, black plums and violets with wafts of unsmoked cigars and mossy bark. Full, concentrated and seductive in the mouth, it has a solid line of fine-grained tannins and loads of bold, perfumed fruit, finishing long.

Napa 2016 Vintage: 5 Consecutive Years of Fantastic Wines This is an awesome Napa malbec that you need to try, offering blackberries, blueberries and minerals. Hot stones and cement. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh, salty finish. Shows tension and focus.

Inky purple-black colored, the 2015 Malbec Mt. Veeder gives up a very unusual (in a good way!) savory/meaty nose over a core of black currants and blackberries with touches of Indian spices, chargrill and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied, very firm and very fresh in the mouth, the rock solid, muscular black fruit is tautly framed, finishing long and savory. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle and drink it over the next 25+.

Dark ruby color; luscious, juicy and rich with sweet oak, ripe blackberry and cassis; another stunner made by winemaking master Chris Carpenter.

You don’t see much straight Malbec from the Napa Valley. Rose petal, and musk, red plum and fruit, spice and coffee, earth. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and ripe chocolate and ironstone tannin, mouth-perfume, grip and serious length on the finish. Rich but fresh. Powerful. Emphatic.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Journey Red is powerful, resonant and also light on its feet, with a good bit of aromatic complexity and nuance. Crushed flowers, sweet dark berries, mint, pomegranate and blood orange all run through this super-expressive flagship wine from Matanzas Creek. In the past, Journey has been much more overt, but the 2016 points to a greater emphasis on finesse.

From the minute I pulled the bottle from its carton, I wanted to dislike it. A hundred bucks for a heavy bottle. Not a good start. But that’s why you taste. Labeled simple, “Red Wine,” it’s a Merlot-heavy blend that conveys a lot over everything — dark fruit, earthy notes — and wonderful harmony. An intense wine, but not heavy or over-the-top. Indeed, it’s a balanced powerhouse. Savory notes predominate in the finish, which ends with a seductive hint of bitterness. Leg of lamb studded with garlic would be a great match.

Three things mark this Cab-based blend— intense tannins, fantasically concentrated fruit and a lively acidity that keeps the palate refreshed. It has a molten core of blackberries and cassis that is spectacular, yet nowhere near ready to drink. Needs serious time. Consider drinking from 2018, although it could be going strong for many additional years.

The 2015 Chardonnay Journey captures all the natural richness and viscosity that is so characteristic of the Jackson family's Alexander Mountain estate. Tropical fruit, orange blossom, honey, vanillin and pineapple all flesh out in a Chardonnay that offers a striking interplay of richness and finesse. This is a decidedly unctuous, textured Chardonnay with real personality.

14.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.52, 352 cases, $66. Primary clone is 115. Harvested multiple times over a 10-day period from October 8 to October 18 allowing the wine to display the full range of characteristics of clone 115. 5-day cold soak, proprietary yeast fermentation, punch downs daily, and aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The markedly nuanced nose is a chameleon over time, taking on new aromas as it becomes more giving. Scents of dark berries, earthy flora, black cherry and spice are echoed on the palate. The fruit literally explodes on the mid palate, and holds on through a lengthy finish. Modest in weight, but highly flavorful, with tailored tannins, juicy acidity and a deft touch of oak. This wine tends to build in appeal over time in the glass. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the wine was still terrific, indicating certain longevity. Jolie, will you marry me? Score: 95

The most opulent, sexy, and immediately charming of this admirable quartet of Lokoya Cabernets is the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain. It exhibits a saturated purple color in addition to an explosive nose of licorice, cedar, roasted herbs, and black plums and currants. Full-bodied, with a voluptuous texture, low acidity, and heady alcohol, this offering possesses considerable tannin, but it is beautifully submerged by the wine's depth of extract and high glycerin. Impressive, with a flamboyant personality.

The most opulent, sexy, & immediately charming of this admirable quartet of 1997 Lokoya Cabernets is the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain (1100 cases). It exhibits a saturated purple color in addition to an explosive nose of licorice, cedar, roasted herbs, & black plums and currants. Full-bodied, with a voluptuous texture, low acidity, & heady alcohol, this offering possesses considerable tannin, but it is beautifully submerged by the wine's depth of extract & high glycerin. Impressive, with a flamboyant personality, this '97 should drink well for 18-20 years.

Complex, with concentrated earthy currant, anise, mineral, sage, plum, cedar, and spice, turning polished.

Smooth, ripe and rich, with juicy cherry, currant, plum, anise, herb, mineral and spice flavors. Finishes with supple tannins and pretty oak shadings.

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain) is pliant, supple and unabashedly sexy. Silky tannins and soft contours add to the wine's considerable appeal. Succulent dark red cherry, plum, mint and sweet spice are nicely pushed into the foreground. Lifted floral notes add finesse, brightness and sensuality to this undeniably appealing Cabernet Sauvignon from Lokoya.

This packs a wallop of blueberry, açaí and blackberry compote flavors at the core, backed by juicy energy that seemingly won't quit, as waves of anise, bramble and sweet tobacco course through on the finish. Solidly built, with energy and vibrancy to match the density and muscle.

Lokoya's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is gorgeous. Here, the richness of the year is wonderfully balanced by the wine's structural frame. Dark blue and black fruit, menthol, leather, graphite, cassis and lavender meld together beautifully in the glass. An effortless wine, the 2012 captures the personality of the year in spades. Hints of vanilla, white flowers, lavender and a hint of French oak add the final layers of complexity. This is the most polished of the four Lokoya Cabernets.

Napa Valley: 2007 Retrospective - Napa's Turning-Point Vintage Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is intensely scented of tapenade, chargrill, Indian spices and mossy bark with a core of crème de cassis, preserved plums and blueberry compote plus a touch of crushed rocks. Rich, full-bodied and decadently fruited, with bags of earth, black berry preserves and smoky layers, the palate is framed by rugged, ripe, rounded tannins, and it finishes with fantastic freshness and energy.