Arceno is Jess Jackson’s estate in Chianti Classico, just north of Siena. Pierre Seillan blends several wines from the property: Arcanum I, which is focused on cabernet franc (59 percent) with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, is consistently the best. This wine glows in the glass, its aroma pure black currant, sweet and fresh. It has the class of finely grown cabernet franc with tannins that speak more of Tuscan earth than fruit. Robust in weight, yet silky smooth, this combines the best of the Old and New Worlds in a supple, luscious red wine. Probably best around ten years from the vintage, to serve with grilled baby lamb chops.

2004 Toscana Arcanum I Arceno is Jess Jackson's estate in Chianti Classico, just north of Siena. Pierre Seillan blends several wines from the property; Arcanum I, which is focused on cabernet franc (59 %), with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, is consistently the best. This wine glows in the glass, its aroma pure black currant, sweet and fresh. It has the class of finely grown cabernet franc, with tannins that speaks more of Tuscan earth than fruit. Robust in weight, yet silky smooth, this combines the best of the old and New worlds in a supple, luscious red wine. Probably best around ten years from the vintage. Serve with grilled baby lamb chops.

Rich chocolate and vanilla nose; dark and dense with ripe plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors; velvety textured and complex with lovely acid structure and a long, luxurious finish.

A smooth and supple Meritage, deeply concentrated, with a rich, detailed core of mineral, coffee, currant, cherry and sage flavors and a long, complex aftertaste where the flavors keep pumping. Drinks well now, but should be a beauty in another year or two.

Openly ripe and fruity, with complex aromas and flavors. The texture is smooth and polished, giving the core of currant, cherry coffee, cedar and spice a gentle ride until the finish, where the tannins firm up. (Also appeared in 8/99 issue.)

…reveals an opaque purple color, in addition to a sexy, chocolatey, jammy cassis, spicy, pain grille-scented nose. Full-bodied and chewy, with impressive levels of extracted, lavish, smoky wood, and a juicy, succulent, glycerin-endowed personality…

A smooth and supple Meritage, deeply concentrated, with a rich, detailed core of mineral, coffee, currant, cherry and sage flavors and a long, complex aftertaste where the flavors keep pumping. Drinks well now, but should be a beauty in another year or two. Best after 1999. 51 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 39 percent Merlot, 9 percent Cabernet Franc, 1 percent Petit Verdot. 2,451 cases made.

The 2017s From Sonoma Classic, with notes of earthy black fruits, smoked herbs, chocolate, and earth, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard is medium to full-bodied, has a rounded, supple texture, yet displays solid mid-palate, depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Aged 20 months in 44% new French oak, it’s another terrific 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon that will keep for 10-15 years, probably longer.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a gorgeous entry-level wine in this range from Stonestreet. A whole range of floral and savory notes give the Estate aromatic nuance to play off a core of vibrant red fruit. Medium in body and impeccably polished, the 2016 is flat-out delicious, even in the early going.

The 2017s From Sonoma Moving to the reds, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 19 months in 37% new French oak) offers impressive notes of tobacco leaf, damp earth, cedar, and blackcurrants. It’s look-alike for a top Bordeaux, has nicely integrated acidity, plenty of tannins, and is going to keep for over a decade.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point Vineyard is made of 100% Cabernet aged 20 months in 44% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes bounding out of the glass with notes of crushed blackberries, plum preserves, bay leaves, forest floor and tapenade plus suggestions of tobacco, cloves and tree bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with lovely rounded, approachable tannins and bags of black fruits, lifted by a refreshing backbone and finishing long and mineral laced.

For fans of Cabernet that maintains its herbal charms. I love the focus on sage as a contrast to the Alexander Valley red fruit profile, with touches of dried herb, spice and chocolate that are seamlessly integrated and finish long and bright thanks to supple yet structured tannins. A short decanting or 5 years or so in the bottle will make this a go to accompaniment for an herb encrusted prime rib of beef.

Blackberry jam, violets, menthol, gravel and spices make a strong first impression in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cougar Ridge. Striking aromatics and the wine's inner sweetness add considerable intrigue. The tannins and acidity are both formidable, but the 2013 also has enough inner sweetness and density to provide balance.

As for the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cougar Ridge, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 32% new French oak (which is the lowest amount of new oak for any of these cuvées). This is a broad, deep wine with savory blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, an opaque color like its siblings, terrific purity, and hints of lavender and underbrush. A complex, earthy style of Cabernet with moderate tannin in the finish, this is another 30- to 35-year wine that needs 4-5 years of bottle age.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point, which is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot aged 20 months in 47% new French oak, offers dense cassis fruit, crushed rock, a touch of barrique, charcoal and spice. It is full-bodied, rich and should age and drink well for at least 15+ years.

The 2012 Legacy Red Wine, Stonestreet's top wine, boasts gorgeous intensity and depth, not to mention considerable appeal. Cedar, smoke, tobacco and raspberry jam meld into brighter, floral notes that add lift and precision. Expressive ferrous notes add nuance on the close. The 2012 Legacy is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Stonestreet's Alexander Mountain Estate. Stylistically, it sits between the Rockfall and Christopher's Cabernets.

I have watched this wine for the first time and know that it is an ager, especially in a great vintage like this one. made from very high Mayacamas Mountain grapes, it's relentlessly tannic in its youth. But the core of black cherry and cassis is fabulous. Hold on until 2010.

This wine is quite an accomplishment in flavor and complexity given the vintage and the price. From high-altitude vineyards atop the Mayacamas, it delivers peppercorn, herb and fine, well-integrated tannins, with mellow oak. Graphite and cedar also figure into the mix, with a shock of black cherry and cassis weaved within.

Dark chocolate, mocha, plum and espresso notes abound in the 2011 Legacy Red Wine. There is no shortage of richness and power in the glass, but I don't see the same level of finesse that makes the best Stonestreet wines so compelling. The significant presence of Merlot gives Legacy a softer personality than some of the Stonestreet wines, which can be a plus or a negative, depending on your point of view. Hints of leather, tobacco and savory herbs add complexity to the dark red and black fruit. The 2011 is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall is huge and explosive on the palate. Dark red and black stone fruits meld into cloves, menthol, new leather, smoke cedar. All the elements are beautifully woven together. The 2011 Rockfall is racy and resonant, but there is plenty of mountain tannin providing support.

The brilliant 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockfall, from a high elevation vineyard planted at 1,820 to 2,400 feet, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 19 months in 55% new French oak. There is not a hint of herbaceousness in this opaque purple-colored Cabernet. It exhibits notes of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries and a chalky, powdery minerality. Full-bodied with monster tannins, this massive Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be forgotten for 5-7 years and drunk over the following two plus decades. In that sense, it is atypical for a 2011.

A lovely Cabernet, ripe and delicious, yet complex enough to hold your interest. It’s just beginning its journey in the bottle. Very dark in color, with hard tannins, it has an immense core of blackberries and cherries. Give it at least 6–8 years, but it could still be rocking in 2022

Full-bodied, rich and complex Californian Cabernet from Alexander Mountain Estates, with classic aromas of blackberry, cassis and blackcurrant wrapped in a judicious weave of smoky oak. Great candidate for the cellar. A wine that almost jumps out of the glass with its vibrant character. The mountain terroir of the vineyards shows through in the depth and complexity of this wine. Superb craftsmanship. Try it with rare filet mignon for an exquisite sensory experience. The grapes for this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon grown at an altitude of 400 to 2,400 feet which imparts freshness and balance.

Good ruby-red. Cassis, graphite and dried sage on the nose. Concentrated, rocky and deep, with complex flavors of blueberry, coffee and sweet tobacco. Excellent fruit and texture here, and ripely tannic and impressively long on the finish.

Fine in acidity and elegantly dry, this is a glorious Cabernet, marked with intensely ripe flavors of blackberry and black currant. Delicious and ripe, it’s sturdy in tannins. Really needs some time to come around. Best from 2015–2021 or so.