2017 & 2018 Napa Valley In Depth The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville) emerges entirely from the Jackson family's Cardinale estate and shows all of the textural richness that is so common in wines from this part of Oakville. Rich, resonant and creamy with terrific depth, the 2016 is wonderfully sensual and inviting, even in the early going. Time in the glass brings out very pretty red fruit and floral overtones that add freshness. This is an unusually approachable young Cabernet.

Luscious, rich and full of creamy white fruit flavors flanked by buttery accents. Spicy plushness lingers into the finish, with some honeyed notes. Drink now through 2024.

Expressive raspberry and brooding spice aromas open to multilayered pomegranate and black tea flavors that take on tension toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2027.

Floral raspberry and pomegranate scents open to structured and multilayered cherry and orange tea flavors that take on presence toward fine tannins. Drink now through 2027.

This very dark ruby colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Stonestreet opens with a fragrant black cherry bouquet with a hint of black currant, green pepper and blueberry. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, nicely balanced and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a complex blend of blueberry, black cherry and refined minerality with notes of black currant and nicely integrated oak. The finish is dry and moderate refined tannins show very nicely length. This finesse Cab would pair very nicely with a filet mignon.

USA, California, Napa Valley: 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Retrospective The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point has a medium to deep garnet color with an earthy, meaty, gamey nose to begin, featuring notes of chargrill, salami, new leather, truffles and tobacco over a core of crème de cassis and plum preserves with hints of dried herbs and Indian spices. Medium-bodied, elegantly played and sporting great freshness, the chewy frame supports the earthy/savory core of fruit, and it finishes long and spicy. 511 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Retrospective The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain is deep garnet colored with a hint of brick. It features expressive mocha, leather and spice box notes with a core of crème de cassis, prunes and dried mulberries and a waft of iron ore. Full-bodied and packed with mint and spices, it has a firm, chewy texture and long, earthy finish. It is looking relatively mature, but there is no huge rush to drink soon. 506 cases were made.

USA, California, Napa Valley: 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Retrospective Very deep garnet in color, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes wafting out of the glass with fragrant, expressive warm cassis, baked plums and dried mulberries scents plus touches of dried lavender, dusty soil, tobacco and bay leaves. Medium-bodied, elegant and with lovely freshness lifting the evolved black fruits and earthy flavors, it finishes long and plush. 22,000 cases were made.

Smells of wild raspberries, red cherries and cranberries, along with rose petals, menthol, mint, with spiced tea and earth. Medium/full-bodied with suave tannins and fresh acidity, this is smooth and juicy, vibrant but velvety. Cranberries, wild raspberries, strawberries, deep yet pretty fruit, laced with cola, rhubarb, earth, roasted chestnut, mint. Lots of complexity and elegance already, but I’d love to see this in two or three years. From Blocks 6, 7 and 9, aged in 27% new French oak.

Gorgeous nose of cherries and strawberries, deep yet vibrant, with roses, pepper, earth, coffee. Nice grip on the palate, but rounded edges, full but balanced. Deep black cherry fruit, cranberry relish, along with complex elements of roasted chestnut, clove, warm clay, coffee. Lovely depth and concentration, but vibrancy is there, too. This could use four to five years and should improve for longer. A blend of Blocks 6 and 13 (vinified separately), aged 15 months in 43% new French oak.

A new project from Greg Brewer, this syrah is drawn from Neely Vineyard, in Los Alamos, and Nielsen Vineyard, in the Santa Maria Valley. It’s sleek and rich, with aromas of lavender, violets and peppercorn, a burst of acidity and smoky, mouthfilling tannins. Well priced for steak.

The 2018 Chardonnay Silene has a very tightly wound nose that opens with aeration, developing light orchard fruit, honeysuckle and jasmine aromas. The palate is medium-bodied and harmonious, with a creamy-textured opening, a fine bead of acidity and touches of wild peach and orange pith on the finish. Very fine.

Black cherries, plums and herbs on the nose. Full-bodied with well-crafted acidity that lifts the dark fruit up. A bit of raspberry comes through. Silky tannins with a floral and chocolate finish. Drink now.

Alluring, creamy, fresh.Carmel Road is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in Monterey's Arroyo Seco appellation. It is just one of the several dozen outstanding wineries in the Jackson Family Wines (Kendall-Jackson, La Crema, Freemark Abbey, Arrowood, etc.) portfolio.Notes of honeysuckle and warm buttered apple puff pastries, hazelnuts and faint spice lead to an equally alluring palate. Sweet golden fruit sprinkled with spice, vanilla and lemon peel flavours culminate in toastiness on the finish. It has wonderful balance, a creamy slick texture and a mouthwatering finish.

A true Southern Rhone blend beyond the usual suspects of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre; each component handled separately, prior to final assemblage. Smells a touch rooty on opening, again I stress there's no bunch component, yet 50% whole berry. It's light, slick and racy across the palate - a juiciness that cannot be escaped and fails not to freshen. A light rub of tannin, gentle maceration ensuring a fine extraction and delivering length. No artifice, all expression of fine fruit and the winemaker's craft.

This vintage of Trueman emerges as a quintessential example of McLaren Vale Cab, round in shape and fruit forward, backed by spice and savory herbs. It offers ripe blackberry, violet, tobacco leaf, olive and peppery spice flavors. In the mouth the plump fruit is tempered by the variety’s typically powerful tannins. The juxtaposition works well, although it lacks some of the elegance and complexity inherent in the cooler 2017 vintage. Drink 2022–2036.

Stewed cherry, toast and sandalwood aromas align on the nose of this bottling. Sour-cherry-compote flavors come through on the palate as do sagebrush and mountain-herb elements.

A pretty nose of ripe red fruit and berries, dried herbs and subtle spice. Medium-bodied with well-integrated tannins. Graceful, with a light touch on the palate. Ripe raspberry and rooibos come though. A lighter-feeling style of California pinot. Drink now.

An inviting nose of red cherries, rose petals and red licorice. Medium-bodied with well-integrated tannins. Juicy and vibrant on the palate with underlying floral character. Well balanced and with good intensity. Drink now.

Bright with good tension, the 2019 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ by Gran Moraine is an excellent, cool vintage effort. Teaberry and pine needles combine with orange zest embers that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows sterling tension and medium-bodied red fruit flavors that combine with the earthy undertones of the wine. I can see this cellaring well for at least another decade.

Soft, nicely textured and very approachable now, the 2018 ‘Yamhill-Carlton’ Chardonnay reveale shades of sourdough bread, white peach and Pink Lady apple on the palate, with light minerals backing thing up. Finishing long, this beautiful effort is already nicely evolved and will drink well over the next eight years.

Stellar Values in California Chardonnay from Sonoma CountyA blend of fruit from Stonestreet’s estate mountain vineyards, this Chardonnay reveals scents of chamomile tea, smoky oak and high toned tropical fruit. The palate is round and softly textured with appealing, firm phenolics and good mid-palate weight. Finishes dry with lingering lemon and tropical notes. Clones Hyde-Wente, UCD 4, and Peter Michael from Mayacamas vineyards blocks at 400-1800' elevation. Barrel fermented with ambient yeast, full malo with monthly lees stirring and aged 11 months in 33% new French oak. TA 5.1 g/L, pH 3.61, 14.1% alc.

Stellar Values in California Chardonnay from Sonoma CountyThis Sonoma County blend of mostly Alexander and Bennett Valley grapes is relatively reserved aromatically, showing lemon-like citrus with a honeysuckle accent. The palate is broad and balanced with light stone fruit complemented by earthy/savory notes, finishing dry and crisp with good length. An outstanding value in premium Sonoma Chardonnay. Sourced predominantly from the Alexander Valley and Bennett Valleys, fermented in new and used oak barrels (a small percentage was fermented in stainless steel) with native yeast followed by malo and elevage on the lees in barrel. 13.7% alc.

The 2019 Viognier Tepusquet Vineyard is a beautiful wine that balances varietal character with notable verve and freshness. Apricot, tangerine peel, mint and exotic white flowers all open nicely in this pretty inviting Viognier.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Machado is painfully inward today. Even so, there is terrific energy and purity to the red-fleshed fruit. The Machado feels just a bit compact. It will be even better than this note suggests if the fruit emerges more fully.