Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Red Wine is a total knock-out. Inky, dark and sumptuous, the 2018 is full character. All the elements come together in a Merlot/Cabernet Franc-based wine that dazzles from start to finish. A whole range of dark, savory overtones from the Cabernets grown on hillside vineyards adds layers of nuance to the pliant Merlot and Malbec fruit. Vineyard sites are Yverdon and Wuertel, both on Spring Mountain, Mt. Brave on Mount Veeder and Keyes on Howell Mountain. Winemaker Chris Carpenter certainly got the most out of what he chose to work with. The 2018 is just fabulous.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a wine of tremendous power and gravitas. Inky dark fruit, graphite, cured meat and smoke all meld together in a virile, imposing wine loaded with character. I would cellar the 2018 for at least a few years, as it is quite the powerhouse. Swaths of imposing Howell Mountain tannins wrap around the palate. Even so, the 2018 has more than enough volume and resonance to balance things out.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain exudes power and density from the very first taste. Inky fruit, graphite, lavender, blackberry and spice are all beautifully delineated. Readers will find a Cabernet of depth and stature. The Diamond Mountain Cabernet doesn't quite have the heft of the Veeder or Howell Cabernets, but it has a sense of intrigue that is all its own. Vineyard sources are Wallis and Ryolite Ridge.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 W.S. Keyes Merlot is going to need a number of years to be at its best. A rush of dark red cherry fruit, cedar, spice, mint, leather, licorice, mocha, new French oak, iron and dried herbs all race out of the glass. Readers will have to be patient with the 2018, as it is still coming together in bottle. The Keyes Merlot is unctuous and rich, but the dominant personality of Howell Mountain simply will not be denied.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2017 Cabernet Bosché is stunning, and also one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, powerful and explosive, the 2017 possesses tremendous depth and pedigree to burn. Blackberry jam, chocolate, graphite, leather, licorice and gravel race out of the glass as this statuesque Cabernet shows off the character of this site. Time in the glass brings out attractive floral notes, more red-toned character to the fruit and broad swaths of tannin that suggest cellaring is essential. The 2017 is a flat out stunner. That's pretty much all there is to it.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore is dense and authoritative. Sycamore is a bit warmer and less vigorous than Bosché. The site naturally yields smaller berries that produce a Cabernet endowed with tons of sumptuousness, breadth and power. Ripe red cherry, red plum, licorice, menthol, spice, graphite and dried herbs infuse the Sycamore with tremendous complexity. It is such a gorgeous and complete wine.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Franc is bright, floral and red fruited in character. Most of this fruit comes from Yverdon, on Spring Mountain, and that's exactly what comes through - the lift, brightness and deceptive mid-weight structure that are typical of this site. The 2018 is going to need a few years to come together, but it is undeniably beautiful even in the early going. A burst of pomegranate, blood orange and red fruit accents the silky finish.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, tightly wound wine that captures all the natural intensity of Howell Mountain. Blackberry jam, graphite, smoke ,iron and crushed rocks give this dark, massively tannic Cabernet a lot of character. Even after having been opened for several hours, the 2018 remains forbidding, with serious tannins that are going to require a good bit of cellaring before the wine becomes approachable.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Franc is one of the most distinctive wines in this range. Inky dark fruit, mocha, gravel, spice, menthol and licorice are kicked up several notches in this potent, virile Franc. Time in the glass brings out the wine's floral and spice overtones along with distinctly red shades of fruit. There is a bit of oak influence, but the Franc handles it well while retaining quite a bit of varietal character.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is rich, sumptuous and exotic in its beauty. Inky red/purplish fruit, rose petal, spice and blood orange all build as the 2018 reveals its personality. The Spring Mountain is the softest of the Lokoya Cabernets, in relative terms of course, as all these wines require cellaring.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Malbec opens with a rush of inky red/purplish fruit, rose petals, lavender and spice. Rich, pliant and super-expressive, the 2018 is a winner in this range from Mt. Brave. All the elements come together beautifully in this sumptuous, structured Malbec. I would cellar the 2018 for at least a few years. It's a gorgeous wine.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Franc is fabulous. Like all of these wines, the La Jota Franc is a wine from Howell Mountain first and foremost. Black cherry, gravel, spice, leather, licorice and intense mineral notes infuse the Franc with so much energy and character. I would give the tannins a few years to soften. This is another super distinctive, ample wine from La Jota. The oak is a bit prominent at this stage, but it dissipates with time as more red-toned Franc nuances emerge.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 W.S. Keyes Chardonnay is so distinctive. Bright, translucent and full of energy, the 2018 sizzles with tension. Blocking the malolactic fermentation brings out a range of citrus and mineral flavors. Lemon oil, crushed rocks, mint and sage open up in the glass, but it is the wine's textural feel and mountain character that impress most. Don't miss it.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford) is another impressive wine in this range. Broad, ample and richly textured, the 2017 is fabulous. Dark red cherry, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice and a bit of new oak all build as this sumptuous, medium to full-bodied wine opens in the glass. There's real presence and character. A dollop of Petit Verdot from Red Barn rounds out the blend.

This pours beautifully ruby and translucent. The bright nose includes aromas of plum, cherry, mulling spice, white pepper, and scorched earth. Medium-bodied with smooth, velvety tannins that envelope the mouth with smoothness pair well with a nice core of restrained but bright acid. The structure is spot on. The flavor profile leads with brilliant strawberry, blueberry, and red and black plums, but the wine doesn’t give the sensation of fruit-forwardness. There’s a touch of black pepper and licorice as well, and kiwi skin on the finish. Drinking really well now with a short bottle decant.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Merlot is full of savory, mineral intensity that is so distinctive. Black cherry, graphite, dried herbs, lavender, spice and crushed rocks infuse the 2018 with tons of complexity. Far from an easygoing wine, the La Jota Merlot is a serious red that will benefit from cellaring.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair offers a beguiling combination of inky dark fruit and more mineral, savory notes that add complexity. Inky blue/purplish fruit, gravel, sage, mint and lavender all develop with time in the glass. I would prefer to cellar the Pleinair for a year or two, but it is pretty tasty even in the early going just after bottling.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a terrific expression of Oakville in its resonant, enveloping feel. Sweet dark cherry, plum, graphite, mocha, licorice and spice all flesh out in this ample, creamy Cabernet Sauvignon. There is really nicely plushness in the 2017.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2018 Merlot is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, leather and licorice ride a wave of huge tannins. The Merlot has a lot of character, but it is a mountain wine, and needs time to fully come together.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Naissance is a powerful, savory wine built on bright acids and a real sense of structure. The blend of fruit from Knights Valley, Coombsville and St. Helena yields a Sauvignon Blanc that is very much meant for the dinner table. Lemon confit, apricot, white flowers, sage and stony/mineral notes give the 2019 quite a bit of character and intrigue.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 The 2019 Chardonnay is a very pretty wine. Apricot, tangerine peel, white flowers, mint and a touch of new oak are all finely knit in this attractive, mid-weight Chardonnay from vineyards in Carneros, southern Napa Valley and Howell Mountain. Partially blocked malolactic fermentation keeps the flavors vibrant in this attractive, appealing Chardonnay from Freemark Abbey.

Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1 Freemark Abbey's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Freshly cut flowers, mint and sweet red/purplish berry fruit are all beautifully lifted. The 2017 is bright, energetic and full of character. Best of all, it’s a fabulous value in high-end Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. I very much like the vibrancy here.

The nose wafts a dessert table of caramel apple, lemon meringue, and graham cracker crumble. Medium bodied with slightly crisp acid nestled nicely in the center of a lush palate. Flavors include green and Opal apples, lime sorbet, gravel minerality, and white pepper. It finishes on orange marmalade. A nicely profiled and structured chardonnay, the quality outshines the depth.

This pale garnet colored Pinot Noir from WillaKenzie opens with pleasant strawberry licorice and maraschino cherry bouquet with hints of wet slate and cola. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, round and slightly lush. The flavor profile is a very tasty red plum and red currant blend with notes of earthy minerality and vanilla. I also detected hints of strawberry licorice and maraschino cherry similar to what I found on the nose at the very end. The finish is subtle and the flavors drift away nicely. While this is not the most complex Pinot you will try, it is very yummy and the bottle will not last very long. I would pair this crowd pleasing Pinot with good music and cooking.