Features a pure-tasting core of freshly cut Asian pear and Gala apple flavors, flanked by richly spiced honey accents. Salted almond and lemon curd hints show on the plush finish. Drink now through 2024.

Redolent of cherry tart, this features raspberry notes, all backed by lively acidity and medium-grained tannins. Creamy midpalate, with a finish that oozes with luscious spiciness. Drink now through 2024.

Notes of underbrush and forest floor accent the dried berry and cherry tart flavors. Spicy midpalate, featuring a finely textured finish that echoes with pastry details. Drink now through 2025.

The 2016 Brewer-Clifton ‘Santa Rita Hills’ Pinot Noir is an absolutely killer value Pinot Noir by this storied estate first founded in 1996. On the nose this takes on salted Bing cherry tones that collide with shades of blood orange zest, Umami and wild strawberry that all take their shape in the glass. The freshness imparted, as well as the silky texture, really shines here. Bright red cherry preserves and pomegranate seed connect with the damp terroir tones and salted orange zest flavors. While this is outstanding now, the wine will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2030.

This dark red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Freemark Abbey opens with a faint blueberry and oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a gentle graphite influenced black currant with notes of juicy plum. I also detected a hint of five spice. The finish is dry and its dusty well-managed tannins linger and last for a while. I would pair this Cab with a New York strip steak.

2017 & 2018 Napa Valley In Depth The 2017 Merlot is ripe, bold and luscious. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cinnamon give the Merlot a good deal of aromatic freshness to play off the ripe, luscious fruit. The new oak needs a bit of time to integrate, but there is plenty to like here - that much is obvious.

2017 & 2018 Napa Valley In Depth The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Latro is rich, lush and super-expressive. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and espresso give the 2017 quite a bit of brooding darkness. There is plenty of Knights Valley savoriness and structure, which means readers will want to cellar the 2017 for at least a few years. This is really expressive and terrific; a wine of great character.

2017 & 2018 Napa Valley In Depth The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Naissance is bright and finely sculpted, with terrific focus with a range of varietal flavors that open up in the glass. Lemon peel, white flowers, crushed rocks, mint and sage all race out of the glass. I especially like the energy in this Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

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.