Wines

94 Points! 2020 was an even drier (and warmer) vintage, but surprisingly enough, the 2020 Domus Aurea shows less alcohol and more moderate ripeness than the 2019 vintage of this same wine. This is the archetype of a powerful, balsamic and minty Cabernet-based blend from Maipo, a wine for the long haul. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

97 Points! This voluptuous, full-bodied and sleek wine is layered in luxurious blue and black fruits that saturate the palate while superfine tannins shape the middle and finish. Mint and floral notes accent the gorgeous fruits. A truly impressive mountain wine that punches way above its price range. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Elegantly structured, with refined black cherry and currant flavors that are accented by tobacco and spice notes as this glides on the sleek finish. Drink now through 2031. - Wine Spectator

98+ Points! The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another magical vintage for this cuvée. All Cabernet Sauvignon from hillside vineyards on the eastern side of Stags Leap, it offers a vivid purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, camphor, and spring flowers, with perfectly integrated background oak. Full-bodied but not massive, it’s flawlessly balanced on the palate and has ultra-fine tannins, a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. It’s another 30- to 40-year wine from this incredible team that readers will absolutely love. - Jeb Dunnuck

The Westerly Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain Reserve 2021 is another sexy effort from one of Napa’s top terroirs. The telltale blackberry, cocoa powder, plum and baking spice (a Spring Mountain signature) notes here lead on to a black fruit-infused palate with hints of anise and coffee. The wine has excellent texture with subtle mountain tannins tamed by the barrel aging. Rounder and a touch more polished and refined than our Architect bottling, this is a mouthful of Cab from arguably the top growing area for Cabernet Sauvignon in America, at a price that's once again astonishes.

96+ Points! The 2009 D'Alceo is quite a bit firmer and more structured than the Sammarco. An exotic melange of dark cherries, plums, grilled herbs, cassis and new leather emerges from the glass, backed up by tons of structure. Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics and brighter shades of fruit. This is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo. The 2009 will drink well with minimum cellaring within the context of prior vintages. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Judging by this effort, I would say Rampolla nailed the vintage. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, 2013

93 Points! Lots of tobacco leaf, truffle, cedar, and earthy notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Vineyard, and it has a solid core of ripe black fruits, a round, seamless texture, building yet ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. Coming from a vineyard outside of Walla Walla, it has a forward, soft feel which makes it already hard to resist, yet I see no reason it shouldn't evolve gracefully for 10-15 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! A wine that flirts with perfection is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 2, which is all Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill. It has a more Mountain vibe in its structure and minerality and gives up lots of red and black fruits, iron, tobacco, and savory, almost bloody aromas and flavors. A monster on the palate, it’s full-bodied, deep, and incredibly concentrated, yet stays balanced, has incredible purity and freshness, and a great, great finish. It needs bottle age, but it’s brilliant juice. - Jeb Dunnuck

Maybe our pick of the litter thus far from their 2021's. A richer wine than the Howell Mountain, but more finely tuned than the Rutherford....

91 Points! Another terrific wine from this estate that represents a smoking value, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Terra 9 has ripe black fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and iron-like nuances to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, beautifully balanced style. It's going to drink well for 10-12 years with no issues. - Jeb Dunnuck

From Marcey's Vineyard in Calistoga, sage and currant aromatics, black cherry, cassis and vanilla unfold seamlessly on the palate, finishing with a silky and succulent structure. Only 127 cases produced!