WBM Wines of the Year 2018 – the best of the best, 95 points and above

In the warmer part of the Sta. Rita Hills on the eastern edge of the appellation, this steep-sloped vineyard faces winds that blow in from the Pacific. The results are small clusters, small berries, and, for 2016, an early harvest. With aromas of mushroom and a touch of animale, this savory yet quite opulent red shows rich flavors of boysenberry, rose petal, and iron. Juicy, cinnamon-tinged cherries persist through the finish.

Brewer’s newest project is this cold-climate, whole cluster–fermented Syrah with exotic flavors and aromas of red fruit seasoned with lavender and peppercorn. Seamless and floral.

Named for the diatomaceous earth made from the fossilized remains of ancient sea creatures. Katherine’s is a 50-year-old self-rooted vineyard that butts up against the Bien Nacido Vineyard. Brewer explains the wine is made in a cloistered environment, a “vacuum with a slow trajectory.” Reaching an equilibrium of edge and roundness (no ML here), we find vanilla custard and lemon curd.

This is a heady, powerful and delicious wine from a famous vineyard by veteran winemaker Adam Lee. Plump red cherries, star anise and vanilla shine on the nose, leading into a beautifully full palate loaded with red currant, dark cherry and baking spice. The acid sings into the finish.

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 of 2018 - #47 The Mt. Brave ‘Mt. Veeder’ Merlot is a stunning wine crafted by superstar winemaker Chris Carpenter. This takes on tar, mocha and anise with blackberry compote on the nose. The palate is plush, showing a marvelous texture and mouthfeel. Coffee grounds, anise, creme de cassis, red bell pepper and blackberry cobbler flavors all nicely mingle in the glass. This is a remarkable Merlot that is best enjoyed following a two plus hour decant.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 One of the highlights in this range, the 2016 Cabernet Franc is gorgeous. Aromatically nuanced and deeply-pitched, the 2016 has so much to offer. This is an especially pliant, resonant style, but it works quite nicely. Varietal aromas and flavors are given an extra kick of richness in this striking Franc from Mt. Brave. Give it a few years in bottle to come into its own.

Washington Wine Blog Top 100 of 2018 - #65 The Fog Dance Vineyard has a strong influence from the Pacific Ocean and is set in the Green Valley. The wine shows a beautiful golden hue and opens with a bright bouquet of brioche, butterscotch and Meyer lemon cream. The palate has a wonderful seamless quality, with a lifted approach. Kumquat, poached pear, lemon meringue and creme brûlée flavors connect with the lovely tension. This is a stunner by Hartford Court and will continue to pick up lovely tertiary elements as it ages into the next decade.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Caladan is a new Cabernet Franc-based wine from Cardinale made with the same principles as the flagship, meaning that winemaker Chris Carpenter has the freedom to draw across the Jackson family's vast range of vineyard sites in crafting the blend. Dark, dense and voluptuous in the glass, the Caladan certainly has plenty of richness. It would be nice to see a little more Franc character, especially in the aromatics, as that is such a large part of what makes Franc so distinctive. I can't wait to see what future vintages look like.

Made from 120 assembled ferments that speak to clones, soils, and clusters both whole and fractional. From the 3D, Hapgood, and Machado vineyards, the generous fruit morphs with savory white pepper into a clove-y spice with soy and salted plum. Its stemmy flavor profile frames a drying persistence.

16 Top $30+ Australian Shiraz Just In Time For Christmas Yangarra – aka the winery that can do no wrong. This blend includes 25% whole bunches and 50% whole berries, spending 15 months in 35% new oak. Despite being something of a different style for Yangarra, it’s a pretty classical Vale Shiraz, with lovely plush red berries and the barest hint of chocolate, the tannins ultra fine (but real) the mode very juicy and fruit forward. Maybe a little plumper and more red fruit than the excellent standard Shiraz, but so very well formed. Immediately attractive with the almost boysenberry purple berry fruit. Just a lovely generous McLaren Vale red. Best drinking: I like it now, and it will be better next year, and then still be tasty in a decade. 18/20, 93/100. 14.5%, $50. Would I buy it? Also worth a bottle.

2016 PINOT NOIR, BARBIERI VINEYARD The nose is cherry, dense blackberry, espresso, lavender and tobacco. The palate entry is a bold, saturated and sleek black fruit through the core. Beautiful structure of cranberry and silky notes of cocoa.

2016 PINOT NOIR, PERRY RANCH VINEYARD The nose is a candied marzipan and cherry lozenge along with soy, cedar and clay. The palate is a full, ripe red fruit – raspberry, cherry and plum with dense silkiness in the core. Gains in the glass, filling out the finish with a firm black cherry, integrated acidity and polished ripeness.

From a steep vineyard near the eastern edge of the appellation, this effort by Santa Rosa-based Adam Lee offers composting rose petals, bright red cherry and a hint of game on the nose. There's a gamy kick to the palate as well, giving depth to the cherry and dried ginger flavors.

Sultry and elegantly integrated aromas of purple flower and black raspberry decorate the nose of this single-vineyard expression by veteran Adam Lee. Pungent fruit shows on the palate, where baked black cherry and boysenberry are lifted by wild thyme and chaparral spice.

2016 PINOT NOIR, PARSONS VINEYARD The nose is espresso, chocolate husk and blackberry tart. The palate is a juicy plum, cherry and cranberry with a full-bodied core of plum and blue fruit in a mouth-coating finish.

2016 PINOT NOIR, VAN DER KAMP VINEYARD The nose is cherry, licorice, violet, soy and lavender. The palate entry shows firm acidity, violet pastille, blue plum and silky texture finishing with some green herbs and wild grape.

2015 PINOT NOIR, KEEFER RANCH VINEYARD The nose is dominated by herb, spice, tobacco and soaked cherry. The palate shows beautiful penetration, herb and cherry with briar and wax-like texture. Excellent acidity carries warm cherry, tomato and delicate florals.

2015 PINOT NOIR, BETTY ANN VINEYARD The nose has a milk chocolate, cherry and mélange of mint with floral undertones. The palate has a vibrant entry with strawberry, cherry and sticky red berry. Very well put together finishing with spice and tobacco. Great length.

2015 PINOT NOIR, PARSONS VINEYARD The nose holds supple aromas of plum, blackberry crumble, tar and spice. The palate is a beautifully seductive bright red fruit with mouth-coating texture. Silky finish with blueberry and mineral.

2016 ZINFANDEL, CARLISLE VINEYARD The nose is a deep chocolate and mint with plenty of rich dark fruits and spice. The palate is a sweet, polished plum and cherry with firm blackberry in the core. Excellent depth and concentration with youthful acidity.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Merlot is a powerful, authoritative wine that conveys plenty of Mt. Veeder intensity, especially in its structure. Savory, deep and also quite tannic, the 2016 will benefit from a few years in bottle to fully come together. There is no shortage of depth or character here, that much is obvious.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mount Veeder) is incredibly primary at this stage. Crème de cassis, plum, spice, bittersweet chocolate, menthol, licorice and leather all run through this plush yet structured, inviting Cabernet Sauvignon.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Malbec from Mt. Brave is inky, deep and explosive. A rush of raspberry jam, white chocolate, spice and rose petal races across the palate. Deep, inky and wonderfully resonant, the 2016 is full of both personality and character. This racy, exuberant red has much to recommend it.

Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets - Part 1 The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most distinctive wines in this range from La Jota. Powerful and vertical in feel, the 2016 offers quite a bit of energy. A rush of blueberry jam, dark chocolate, licorice and grilled herbs give the wine its drive and pure power, while savory overtones add lovely aromatic complexity.