A full-bodied and complex Californian red wine with aromas of wild tart blackberry and cedar brush. Finishes with a lick of dark spice. Pair with rare steak.

Another big, structured, classic 2013 is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith. Coming from a vineyard at 1,750 feet in elevation, this is 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot., aged 20 months in 55% new French oak. This vineyard is one of the oldest blocks on the mountain, and the wine has great intensity, some chocolate, crushed rock and crème de cassis as well as plenty of earth and unsmoked tobacco notes. It is dense, full-bodied and moderately tannic. Drink it between 2020 and 2045.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's, Stonestreet's top pure Cabernet, is deep, powerful and concentrated, but also dominated by the 75% new oak. Mocha, torrefaction, leather, smoke, menthol and blueberry jam meld into the opulent, explosive finish. It's a shame to see the pedigree of this site so obscured by excessive oak.

Dark raspberries, blueberry jam, smoke, spices and new leather inform Stonestreet's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Monolith. A sumptuous, textured Cabernet, the 2012 remains quite open and forward for such a big wine. The racy finish only adds near-term appeal, but there is also more than enough depth to support another decade or so of highly pleasurable drinking.

Bright medium ruby. Cassis, black cherry, licorice, loam and spicy oak on the expressive nose, complemented by a note of graphite minerality. Plush, ripe and sweet, showing excellent intensity to its flavors of blackcurrant, licorice, bitter chocolate and earth. This is creamier and more pliant than the cabernets that winemaker Graham Weerts makes under the Stonestreet label, but there's still plenty of spine. Lovely ripely tannic finish offers lingering notes of blackberry, cassis, minerals and oak. I'd wait two years and then enjoy this wine over the following ten.

This wine, which has been separated from the Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate, is sold under its own label. A 403-case blend from the high elevation vineyards of Alexander Valley Estate, is made by South African winemaker, Graham Weerts. A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, it was aged 19 months in 64% new French oak. An opaque purple color is followed by lots of crushed rock minerality, sweet creme de cassis and black raspberries, and a deep, full-bodied, dusty, earthy, backward personality. It is slightly softer than Stonestreet’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignons, but will still benefit from several years of bottle age. It should keep for 15-20 years.

Full ruby-red. Aromas and flavors of blueberry, cassis, violet, coffee, licorice and fresh herbs show a lightly medicinal quality. Surprisingly lush and plump on the palate, but without quite the fruit intensity of the Stonestreet Christopher's Cabernet Sauvignon that preceded it in my tasting. But this very round wine has the stuffing to handle its big, ripe tannins.

Full-bodied with a big grip on the palate. Blackberry liqueur aromas and flavours, though the wine is dry and complex. The grapes come from the cool climate of Sonoma's Alexander Valley. Decant for 2 hours, or better yet give this baby some cellar time. Pair with a rare steak.

Winemaker Graham Weerts has wrested a fine Cabernet from the difficult highlands of the Mayacamas Mountains, 1,500 feet above the Alexander Valley. The wine is first and foremost powerful. It shows concentrated layers of blackberries an blueberries, with an array of sweet herbs and minerals. The tannins are remarkably smooth, making this wine easy to drink now but also enabling the wine to age well. If cellaring, hold for a minimum of six years.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Christopher's is packed with serious depth. A rich, opulent wine, the 2010 caresses the palate with inky dark fruit, cloves, mint, licorice and mocha. There is plenty of fatness and intensity in the glass, but not as much underlying structure, as a wine like this needs to age more than a decade or so. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2015.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point comes across as dark and brooding. Espresso, graphite, blackberries, cassis and spices emerge from the glass as this dense, opaque Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its pedigree. Layers of expressive perfume are woven throughout the fruit in this open, relatively accessible Cabernet. This is another terrific effort from Stonestreet and winemaker Graham Weerts. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.

Dark red. Serious, brooding cabernet aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, graphite and herbs... Blackberry and cassis flavors are given punch by some petit verdot and complicated by coffee, mocha and gravelly mineral notes. This fine-grained, suave wine has the backbone to age, but I'd forget about it for at least a few years.

This is a blend from a range of blocks along the main ridgeline of the Alexander Mountain Estate, rising from 1,200-1,800 feet. In 2009, the fruit ripened to black cherry and chocolate depths, a dense, juicy and silken cabernet that needs little more than a thick-cut sirloin.

Graham Weerts blends this wine from a range of blocks along the main ridgeline of the Alexander Mountain Estate, rising from 1,200 to 1,800 feet. In 2009, the fruit ripened to black cherry and chocolate depths, a dense, juicy and silken cabernet that needs a little more that a thick-cut sirloin.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Monument is a beautiful wine. Dark cherries, mocha, plums, spices, mint, minerals and graphite are woven together in this effortless, totally captivating wine. The 2009 impresses for its nuance, clarity and precision. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.

Bright ruby-red. Musky black cherry, cassis, blackberry, licorice, mocha and toffee on the nose. Sweet, creamy and rich but powerful too, with an exotic oaky aspect to its black fruit and floral flavors. Seamless and enticing already, finishing with suave tannins and building sweet berry and sexy oak flavors. I find this wonderfully open-knit for a wine made from very small bunches and a yield of around two tons per acre. Winemaker Weertz vinifies this in an upright Demptos fermenter, as with the Legacy bottling.

These are far and away the most impressive group of Stonestreet Alexander Mountain estate wines I have ever tasted. Kudos to proprietor Jess Jackson and winemakers Graham Weerts and Marcia Monahan for exploring this high elevation terroir. This has been a work-in-progress for Jackson, and he has finally hit paydirt with the following wines. Readers need to pay attention as there are some amazing Chardonnays as well as red wines emerging from Stonestreet. A big, earthy, tannic, Médoc-styled wine is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear Point. There are only 231 cases of this cuvée, which offers abundant amounts of black currant, cedar, spice box, and earth notes in a full-bodied, tannic style. Give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20 years.

Full-bodied, rich and complex with classic aromas of blackberry, cassis and blackcurrant wrapped in a judicious weave of smoky oak. Great for the cellar.

A lovely, complex and flavorful Cab, but also tannic, giving it a lockdown feeling. There's a rich core of blackberries, black currants, spices and herbs, while new oak gives it a savory smokiness. Better after 2010, and should glide through 2014.

A hairy tannic cab that will get more friendly with cellar time. Honkin big black fruit and tannins. Potential here with maturity.

At a premium price such as this, I expect a lot from a wine, and this one delivered the goods. Admirably balanced, it is poised at a near-optimal point from which it shows both power and softness. Rich but not over-ripe, it is concentrated and quite deep in flavor, yet the finish is long and soft rather than astringent. Oak is notably present but not overbearing, and the wine will surely develop for another few years, though it is quite enjoyable already. All in all, this shows damned impressive winemaking skill.

2004 PROPRIETARY RED One of the finest Legacys made in a number of years, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot (All from Jess Jackson's Legacy Vineyard planted high up on Alexander Mountain) exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of toast, black currant liqueur, flowers, and licorice. Full-bodied, offering a hint of crushed rocks, powerful tannins, a rich mid-section, and a miltilayered texture as well as finish, this is a stunning red to enjoy over the next 15 or more years.

Saturated ruby. Intensely aromatic nose offers powerful blackberry and boysenberry aromas and sexy spice notes. Big but harmonious tannins and gentle acidity support explosively sweet, concentrated dark berry and floral pastille flavors, which utterly fill the mouth. This very rich, velvety wine boasts an impressive display of ripe berry flavors on the long, sappy finish.

Is a seductive, hedonistically-styled effort boasting a deep ruby/purple color as well as a big, oaky nose displaying plenty of black cherry, currant, and herbal notes. This full-throttle red comes across like a St.Emillion on steroids. Chewy and fleshy, it is ideal for drinking now and over the next 10-12 years.

Stonestreet's 2012 Riesling is gorgeous. Lime, white flowers, mint and white peaches lift from the glass. Winemaker Graham Weerts fermented and aged the Riesling in neutral oak, which preserves gorgeous freshness and vibrancy. This is a terrific showing.