Assorted Napa Valley Red Tasting Lot

“The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is delicate, understated and very pretty. It opens with a burst of crushed red fruit, lavender, sage, mint and blood orange. The 2014 has softened beautifully with time in the bottle. Intensely aromatic and still very young, it boasts mid-weight structure, refined tannins and enough freshness to drink well for another decade or more. (AG)” (01/2025)

“The third consecutive year of drought in California brought incredible concentration to the wines. This vintage exhibits an incredibly dark colour, nearly opaque, and even darker than the 2016, the first wine I tasted in a lineup of 10 vintages dating back to the first release. We conducted this tasting in August 2024. The wine presents a sweetness to the fruit character, with an almost liqueur-like quality, complemented by a bright capsicum note, dusty cedarwood, dried violets, and blue fruit that emerges with air. This is a muscular Philip Togni wine, showcasing that mountain burliness with real depth of flavour and intense tannins. (JC)” (08/2024)

“Togni's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, tasted at the winery as the 10-year anniversary release, is just starting to show some maturity, with complex, compelling notes of earth, cassis, mocha, tobacco, cigar box and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, somehow both firm and silky in feel, with a ripe, lingering finish. Looking back at Robert Parker's notes from its release, it's fascinating to see that he rated this wine 94+ and considered it "one of his [Togni's] more forward and precociously styled Cabernets." (JC)” (07/2024)

“Steeped and dense, this offers medicinal, almost amarolike accents of menthol and sweet bay that swirl around briefly before they're pulled back into the core of grippy green fig and red currant paste. Tar and cast iron accents give this a very, very structured feel, while black tea and singed apple wood notes spike the wiry, tensile finish. No, this is not for everyone. But it is special. (JM)” (09/2024)

“The flagship cuvee is the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate and it comes from the estate vineyard on Spring Mountain and is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It's a deeper, richer wine than the Tanbark Hill release and offers terrific creme de cassis, tobacco leaf, cedarwood and incense aromas and flavors. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, concentrated and yet elegant, it shows the hallmark purity of the vintage, has ripe tannin and impeccable balance. 95+” (12/2017)

“Deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard leaps from the glass with opulent crème de cassis, raspberry tart and black forest cake notions plus underlying cigar box, mocha, licorice and forest floor suggestions. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and decadently generous in the mouth, it has a firm, velvety foundation and wonderful precision, featuring an invigorating lift on the very long, multilayered and provocatively earthy finish. (LPB)” (12/2017)

“This is very pensive on the nose with notes of dark plums, tile, cedar, tobacco, clay and licorice. Full body, tight tannins, taut acidity and a mineral finish. Really delicate and polished.” (05/2018)

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is rich, voluptuous and racy, as wines from this site tend to be. Sweet red cherry, raspberry, spice, new leather and white chocolate infuse this expressive, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon from Paul Hobbs. This has really come together nicely over the last year. (AG)” (03/2018)

“Fresh and spicy, this subtle style offers lively plum, black cherry and blackberry flavors, presented in a graceful, supple manner, with caressing tannins. *Collectible*(JL)” (11/2018)

“Also inky colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill and spent 22 months in new French oak. It has a similar level of purity, as well as incredible minerality, to go with notes of crème de cassis, scorched earth, crushed rock, and graphite. Reminiscent of liking a rock with its insane level of minerality, this full-bodied beauty is tight and closed on the palate, yet is just loaded with potential. It’s only for those with cold cellars and needs to be forgotten for 7-8 years, but will keep for 4-5 decades. Bravo!” (12/2017)

“A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill has gone a little reticent at this stage, offering quiet notions of blackberry pie and blueberry tart with sparks of dried herbs, earth and savory/meaty suggestions. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a built-like-a-brick-house structure framing the massive fruit, it finishes long with exotic spices coming through. (LPB)” (05/2018)

“Blackcurrants and black olives with hints of currants and basil. Hints of rosemary and lavender. This is linear and bright with a racy line of tannins running down the center. Structured and bright. A real beauty. Needs three or four years to soften. Classic Cabernet.” (05/2018)

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is dense, powerful and voluptuous in the glass, and yet it very much retains a classic sense of structure that is one of the signatures of Chappellet wines. Dark red-toned fruit, licorice, smoke, dark spice and dried flowers all meld together. Sumptuous and forward, with terrific depth, the 2015 has a lot to offer. The 100% new French oak is beautifully integrated, even at this early stage. A year ago, the 2015 was hugely tannic. Since then, the tannins have softened and the 2015 has developed into a much more elegant wine. (AG) 96+” (03/2018)

“This is a powerfully concentrated and constructed wine, with 14% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec. Dark, inky and reductive, it offers waves of tar, leather and toasted oak within sinewy tannins. Chewy black fruit is structured around wild elements of cedar, dried herb and sage, with lingering notes of clove. This is one to let settle. *Cellar Selection* (VB)” (12/2019)

“A complex red with blackcurrants, forest floor and mint. Eucalyptus, too. Love the aromas. Full body with ripe tannins that roll on the palate.” (02/2019)

“Dense in colour, the 2015 expresses superbly the intensity of Napa Cabernet along with hints of mint and spice. It’s surprisingly fresh on the palate with total absence of over-extraction, the fruit, oak and tannins being in perfect harmony, leading to a firm and polished finish. This is historical Napa at its very best. (SS)” (04/2019)

“The flagship is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, and 3% each of Petit Verdot and Malbec aged in 90% new French oak. Deep purple-colored, with a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, and smoked herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, terrific purity, and building tannins, which become even more apparent with extended air time (I followed this bottle for multiple days). This is the real deal and count me impressed. (JD) 97+” (01/2019)

“Deep garnet-purple colored, it offers a profound nose of baked blackberries, Black Forest cake, Christmas pudding and Chinese five spice with hints of rose hip tea, cedar chest and mincemeat pie. Full-bodied, super rich and wonderfully concentrated, the palate provides a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, finishing long and spicy. At 15% alcohol, it is a beautifully rich, ripe, opulent expression with bags of compelling freshness to offset all that decadence. (LPB)” (05/2019)

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve expresses all of the richness of the year while also retaining a terrific sense of energy and vertical lift for such a big wine. Floral notes add aromatic intensity to a core of red cherry jam, pomegranate, blood orange, mint and sweet spice notes. Racy and unctuous to the core, the 2015 has a lot to offer. (AG)” (09/2018)

“Luxurious black fruit, proudly oaked to give sweet vanilla, and texture like the finest bed-linen. No expense spared, which gives it an airbrushed sort of feel – impeccable purity, but not for those who prefer a bit of grit in their oyster. (RH)” (08/2021)

“This delivers almost unbridled plum sauce, blackberry preserve and melted licorice flavors, but keeps a smoldering edge for form while picking up alluring black tea and incense notes on the broad finish. There’s a long echo of chocolate adding to this hedonist’s delight. *Highly Recommended* (JM)” (06/2019)

“A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, the 2015 Rubicon is slightly deeper in color than the 2014 and offers a deeper, more concentrated, yet slightly compact style that's common in this vintage. Blackcurrants, scorched earth, cedary spice, leafy herbs and licorice all flow to a ripe, beautifully concentrated, deep wine that needs 5-7 years of cellaring and will make for incredible drinking over the following 15+ years. (JD) 95+” (12/2017)

“Aromas of walnut, dark berry and dark chocolate follow through to a full body, with super integrated tannins and a long and focused finish. Wonderful balance and finesse for the vintage.” (12/2017)

“Deep garnet in color, the 2015 Rubicon comes barreling out of the glass with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant cordial, kirsch, blueberry pie, and candied violets, with suggestions of spice cake, incense, unsmoked cigars, and star anise. The full-bodied palate is impactful, with exotic spices accenting the black, red, and blue fruit preserves layers supported by plush tannins, and finishing long and opulent. (LPB)” (06/2023)

“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is in great shape today. Scorched earth, tobacco, incense, worn-in leather and menthol are nicely shaped by the passage of time. The 2015 is on the riper side, but all the elements are very nicely balanced. I find the aromatics and overall complexity here quite alluring. The 2015 has enough depth to drink well for another decade, perhaps more. (AG)” (11/2025)

“From the esteemed producer's gorgeous estate, including 3% Merlot, this is impressive and structured—a leathery, viscous and concentrated expression of a great site in an intense vintage. Gunpowder, oak and black-cherry compote form around brightly captured acidity and a lasting fistful of baking spice that lingers and softens the finish. *Editors' Choice* (VB)” (08/2019)

“Owner Francis Ford Coppola has a gem with winemaker Chris Phelps, formerly of Swanson Vineyards, Dominus and Petrus. He joined in 2016, working with Château Margaux’s Philippe Bascaules to reshape winemaking here. The Cabs are fresher, more elegant and balanced; this 2015 is fleshy and generous, without being extracted. (LM)” (07/2018)

“A blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon bursts out of the glass with exuberant Chinese five spice, baked plums and crème de cassis notes with suggestions of sandalwood, dried mulberries, kirsch and menthol plus a touch of cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with loads of spicy flavors and fantastic freshness, framed by chewy tannins and finishing on a lingering earthy note. (LPB)” (10/2018)

“The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!” (01/2021)

“This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage.” (05/2021)

“Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+. (LPB) 99+” (02/2021)

“It is a polished wine with tremendous energy. Leads with a stunning blue floral note, accompanied by black fruit and sandalwood. Medium to full-bodied with a ripe and generous fruit profile that takes centre stage, singing a song of Bing cherry, spiced plums, blackberry and delicate, almost powdery tannins that build in pixelated fashion on the palate. Expressive stony minerals emerge on the lengthy finish, joined by wildflowers and pure dark fruit. (JC)” (01/2024)

“The 2018 Dominus has really shut down over the last year. I underestimated its imposing structure and density, both of which are on fully display today. The 2018 is a potent Dominus endowed with superb depth and tons of vertical explosive energy allied to a feeling of elegance that becomes increasingly apparent over time. Dark fruit, spice and a whole range of earthy, savory notes add layers of complexity. Superb. (AG)” (01/2022)

“This is a very serene and quietly confident wine that dovetails with the vintage’s overall terroir-driven profile. Settling in for the long haul, with the fruit still showing well though it’s starting to cede ground to the immense structure, this is driven by a humus and cast iron side in the end. Reveals richness and drive, with a wide range of tobacco, savory and alder accents. When the fruit remerges fully after cellaring, this will be every bit the benchmark. *#1 Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021, Collectible* (JM)” (10/2022)

“The 2018 Opus One is nothing short of fantastic in this vintage. Composed of Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Petit Verdot 6%, Merlot 5%, Cabernet Franc 4% and Malbec 1% this begins to seduce with aromatics of fresh crushed blackberries, dark currants and hints of blueberries, which are laced with fresh florals, dark chocolate, graphite, peppery herbs and a touch of loam soil that all coming together beautifully in the glass. On the palate this possesses a gorgeous medium-plus to full body that shows wonderful elegance and finesse. It continues to impress with its incredible overall balance, focus and structure, as beautifully polished tannins that frame its core of remarkably fresh dark berry fruits that resonate through the long, graceful finish. This is a simply gorgeous release from Opus One and Michael Silacci and while it is already stunning today, it also displays the character to age for decades to come. (JD)” (08/2021)

“Extremely perfumed and floral with lavender, lilacs and violets to the sweet, ripe berries, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Some slate and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied, yet ever so balanced and refined, with super fine tannins that last for minutes. Fresh herbs, such as bay leaf and lemon grass highlight the dark fruit. The quality of tannin is exquisite with wonderful polish and refinement. Lasts for minutes.” (11/2021)

“Power and concentration from the start but with a lovely vein of cool blue fruits and an invigoratingly fresh core. Dark chocolate, coffee, blueberries and pomegranate combine to give a seductive nose and follow through on the palate with an immediate burst of juicy acidity and plush tannins. Layered and nuanced, the texture is striking, elegant and precise with juice that his the side of the mouth supported by oak spice that gently frames the overall feeling giving balance. Abundant in a sense but also reigned in making you want another glass straight away. 80% wild yeast fermentation for the first time as of the 2018 vintage. (GH)” (07/2021)

“As is so often the case with Opus, the wine expands slowly but surely, seducing you with the quality of tannins and the depth of the fruits that are wrapped around them. Silky at first, but as the wine expands you feel a grainier, slate texture that holds your interest. Rosebud, black cherry, cassis purée, espresso, juicy and elegant finish, extremely moreish. Similar vintage style to the 2005, a wine that I loved during a vertical of Opus I did in 2019, and the result of a mild and moderate growing season. They have eliminated green harvest as of 2020, and instead anticipate how to balance the crop earlier in the season during shoot thinning. 18 days skin contact in the cellar, another sign that this is a gentle vintage where everything came naturally so no need to macerate too long (over the years maceration has varied between 9 days and 43 days). Tasted twice.” (07/2021)

“Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Opus One soars out of the glass with bright, bold boysenberries, warm cassis and ripe, juicy black plums notes, plus emerging nuances of lilacs, oolong tea, cinnamon stick, tilled soil and black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tightly wound layers of crunchy black fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with lifted fruitiness and on a lingering mineral note. (LPB)” (02/2021)

“The 2018 Opus One is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This deep purple-hued effort leans to lively, fresher side of the vintage but has a brilliant, utterly classic style in its crème de cassis and blue-tinged fruit as well as notes of lead pencil, candied violets, damp earth, and chocolate-like nuances. With a Pomerol-like elegance and purity, it's medium to full-bodied and has wonderful tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It plays in the finesse-driven end of the spectrum yet is concentrated and seamless, with serious length. It offers pleasure today but should benefit from 4-5 years in the cellar, and my money is on it evolving for 30 years or more.” (04/2021)

“The 2018 Opus One is absolutely exquisite. Bright red berry fruit, crushed flowers, mint and spice are all finely cut. The 2018 impresses with its energy and focus. It's a gorgeous wine, and is also showing especially well today, with all of the potential I first saw in barrel very much on display. Bright acids linger on the persistent finish. The 2018 is supremely elegant. (AG)” (01/2022)

“This is another authoritative, terroir-driven and still quite primal Opus, in line with 2013’s ironclad structure but with a tad more loam to accent its still youthfully compressed cassis and black cherry core. Long and focused, with a sort of regal feel, this lets notes of smoldering tobacco, alder and chestnut in for a peek before the finish. There’s a mouthwatering ripple of acidity and beautifully inlaid echo of iron too. Patience required. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. (JM)” (09/2025)

“Fresh and a little angular. Definitely a youthful wine. Lots to chew on. Very long. Very young. Good drive. 18+/20 points (JR)” (11/2025)

“A crowd-pleaser, with boysenberry and açaí berry fruit flavors streaming through, while a silky but persistent structure carries this through the chocolate-framed finish. Caressing in feel, with a subtle savory echo at the very end. (JM)” (11/2023)

“The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is enjoyable, with a balanced, medium-bodied style as well as some classic sweet currant and chocolate aromatics, plenty of spice, light tannins, and a short finish. Coming from an incredibly challenging vintage, this has charm...” (10/2023)