Decanter

Cristaldi’s 60: top 2021 Napa Cabernets to buy

Wines are listed by points scored, then alphabetic­ally by producer. The appellatio­ns given are those marked on the label; producers can opt to use the generic Napa Valley AVA even though their wines could be classified under one of the 16 Napa Valley sub-AVAs. Stockists and prices are shown where available – some UK allocation­s may not have been set, some wines will not be exported at all, and some may have already sold out. For latest availabili­ty updates, contact specialist merchants.

1 Ad Vivum, Sleeping Lady Vineyard, Yountville 100

£175 (ib) Four Corners Wine

Elegant, polished, seamless, this has an ethereal, almost weightless quality, but contains multitudes. Beautifull­y fragrant, with black cherry, wild herbs, cedar spice and rose petal florals. Silky fruit is redolent of blackberry, plum, black cherry, laced with tobacco. A firm spine of juicy acidity keeps it lively and fresh. The finish is very long, and offers a wealth of concentrat­ed fruit. Drink 2024-2050 Alcohol 14.5%

2 AXR, AxR1 100

$275 AXR Napa Valley

Lifted aromas of pure blackberry and black cherry, graphite, wild flowers and cedartoast­ed wild herbs. Full, with super-fine tannins that build as the wine gains in intensity and volume of fruit and floral flavours. It’s impressive­ly fresh and layered with black, blue and red fruit tones, baking spices and elegant pops of cedar and sandalwood. A wine of tremendous energy and vivacity. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.3%

3 B Cellars, Beckstoffe­r To Kalon, Oakville 100

$325 B Cellars

A super-perfumed, positively beautiful wine bursting with bright red fruit aromatics,

liquorice, cedar wood and sagebrush. Profound, grippy tannins deeply impact the medium- to full-bodied palate, imbued with fragrant, perfumed florals, lavender and hints of peach pit. Saline minerals fuel the finish, along with zesty crushed cocoa nib notes. Drink 2025-2050 Alc 16.1%

Dominus Estate, Yountville 100

POA £ Private Cellar

$320-$465 Widely available

Superbly aromatic, polished and balanced. Tannins are plump, pliant and velvety. Ripe blackberry, spiced plum and black cherry fruit is super-expressive and imbued with a high-toned, minty-citrus spicebush note. Iron and stone minerality. An exceedingl­y long, tremendous­ly fresh finish, nuanced by mocha, loamy earth and wild flowers. Splendid. 5% Cabernet Franc makes up the blend. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 15%

Harlan Estate, Oakville 100

Beautifull­y pure and precise, with coiled-up energy. Gorgeous violet florals, and blackcurra­nt, black cherry, tobacco and Szechuan pepper aromas. The mediumbodi­ed palate offers pure blackcurra­nt, black cherry, spiced plum, pomegranat­e seed, tobacco and dark chocolate. Ultra-fine tannins and a saline-scented finish. Bright acidity and perfumed florals deliver freshness. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14%

Ovid, Red Wine 100

A distinctiv­e savoury character, with flinty minerals and mulberry fruit. Full-bodied with ripe, chewy, assertive tannins that gradually soften, revealing a beautifull­y layered wine with mineral-infused mulberry and green tobacco aromas. Notable tension, the bright acidity ensuring vibrancy and freshness. Balance, intensity and complexity. The blend includes 10% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024-2060 Alc 14.8%

Paul Hobbs, Nathan Coombs Estate, Coombsvill­e 100

£380 (ib) Alliance Wine

An immaculate, masterful creation, imbued with tension, density, a delicately silky texture and a remarkable ironstone mineral component. Beautifull­y pure black cherry and blackberry fruit, black olive and liquorice, underscore­d by precision-focused tannins and an expressive acidity that keeps things light and refreshing. With time, the layers of tobacco, brown baking spices, salty dark chocolate and cedar will meld to form a wine so pleasing it might simply be overwhelmi­ng. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.6%

Philip Togni, Spring Mountain District 100

$194-$235 Widely available

Absolutely riveting. Gorgeously fragrant with violets, blackcurra­nts and dried herbs. Precise tannins build on a palate full of ripe blackberry and blackcurra­nt fruit, with impressive clarity of flavours. Incredibly aromatic, elegant and structured. A complete, seamless wine. 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet France and 1% Petit Verdot make up the blend. Drink 2024-2060 Alc 14%

Schrader Cellars, LPV Beckstoffe­r Las Piedras Vineyard, St Helena 100

$250-$395 Belmont Wine Exchange, Cellaraide­rs, Estate Wine Brokers, Flickinger Wines, Grand Cru Liquid Assets, Medium Plus

Robust, though the alcohol is hardly evident due to the wine’s impeccable balance. A beautiful mineral intensity rises

from the glass, tinged with smoky wild herbs and blackcurra­nt fruit. The palate has natural elegance, super-fine cocoa-nib tannins counterbal­anced by an attractive ironstone minerality and supported by a generous backbone of racy acidity. The finish is extravagan­tly long. Succulent and well built – a Cabernet for the ages. A masterpiec­e. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.5%

Screaming Eagle, Oakville 100

£2,773-£3,300 Berry Bros & Rudd, Crop & Vine, IG Wines, Roberson, Turville Valley Wines, VinQuinn $2,400-$4,200 Widely available

Precise aromas of incense, dried spearmint, black fruit and graphite. The palate opens with perfect concentrat­ion and depth of flavour, exuding blackcurra­nt, blackberry and Bing cherry, over ironstone minerality. A serious wine with tension, remarkable grip and intensity, and a firm spine of zesty acidity that brightens the lengthy finish. Balanced, expressive, even a bit savage. 18% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc round out the blend. Drink 2027-2055 Alc 14.8%

Simon Family Estate, Reserve, Oakville 100

Lovely, classic Oakville nose of pure black fruit, graphite, cassis and sagebrush, framed by elegant cedar. Layered with spiced plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit, super-fine tannins, wet stone minerality and graphite. A spine of crisp, fine-boned acidity delivers a refreshing finish of blood orange and spring flowers. A seamless, complete wine. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 15.2%

The Debate, The Ultimate 100

A perfect wine with a seamless, balanced, expressive personalit­y that shows some restraint. Blackberry, raspberry and blueberry aromas intermix with elegant cedar spices. Full-bodied with silky, satiny layers of the same fruits, perfectly delineated. The finish is everlastin­g and fueled by saline minerals, wild herbs, cigar leaves and rich, earthy humus. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 15.1%

Tor Wines, Black Magic 100

$499-$550 Benchmark Wine Group,

Five Star Wines

The succulent fruit profile harbours real density, while super-precise, fine-grained tannins offer excellent grip. Nuances of black liquorice, dried sage and salty minerals build on the wonderfull­y fresh, energetic finish. 15% Cabernet Franc makes up the blend. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 15.1%

Accendo Cellars 99

Pure red berry fruit leaps from the glass, along with hints of sagebrush, earth and dried spring flowers. Compact black cherry, blackberry and plum laced with brown baking spices. The long finish is redolent of graphite and wet slate. An exceptiona­l showing, balancing the intensity of the vintage with noticeable freshness. The blend includes 22% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.8%

Bond, Vecina 99

Striking, with a host of violet florals, crème de cassis, black cherry and liquorice aromas. Super-juicy fruit is redolent of blackberry, black cherry and plum. Burly tannins have a crisp edge and need time to soften; they counter the generosity of the wine, giving it a firm backbone. There’s a fresh lift on the finish from a spine of bright, tingly acidity. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.5%

Cliff Lede, Poetry, Stags Leap District 99

£375 (ib) Four Corners Wine

A gorgeous, super-expressive nose with graphite and crushed stones, black cherry and blackcurra­nt fruit, tobacco and violets. The fruit’s supple quality is matched by

the ripe, silky, seamless tannins. The fruit has incredible depth and delineatio­n, with currant flavours that build to a lengthy finish that’s punctuated by chalky minerals, crisp acidity and notes of dried flowers, sage and tobacco leaf. A blend with 6% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Drink 2025-2045 Alc 13.8%

JH Wheeler, Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard, Oakville 99

$245 JH Wheeler

Sophistica­ted and multi-layered. Dusty cranberry and strawberry aromas mingle with fresh tangerine peel, grapefruit zest, cocoa nibs and fragrant dried herbs. Full-bodied, with mineral-laced, red-toned fruit and fine-grained, palate-coating tannins. Super-dense dark berry fruit resolves with tension and grace. A dramatic, voluminous wine, deep, dark and statuesque. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.5%

Lokoya, Spring Mountain District 99

Striking minerality and earthiness in the bouquet, expressive of gravelly and loamy soils, joining bright, focused black cherry and blueberry notes. A stealthy dose of brisk and firm mineral-laced tannins, framed by intensely perfumed rose petal notes and underscore­d by refreshing blood orange acidity. Freshness presents itself in juicy waves through an extended, fullbodied finish. Drink 2026-2045 Alc 14.5%

Matthiasso­n, Phoenix Vineyard 99

Super-light and floral-driven – more like a Nebbiolo. So pretty and pure – almost like flavoured mineral water. The wine, which includes 10% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc in the blend, has a natural grip and is laser-focused and linear. The epitome of elegance and a classy wine in a class of its own. Organic. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 12%

Rudd, Estate, Oakville 99

Strikingly aromatic with savoury nuances of volcanic minerals, sagebrush, spicebush and dried tobacco leaves, framed by pure black cherry, blackberry and cassis. Lifted, fresh and full of vitality, layered with cherry and blackcurra­nt, fragrant dried herbs and fig leaf. Ultra-fine, dusty tannins build to a long, earthy, cocoa-nib-driven finish. Fresh, vibrant and elegantly fashioned. The blend includes 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024-2044 Alc 14.9%

Scarecrow, Rutherford 99

£744-£786 Cru, Ideal Wine Co, IG Wines,

Sterling Fine Wines, VinQuinn

$720-$1,000 Widely available

Seamless. A super-dense core of bright, ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit is framed by super-fine, dusty tannins. Lovely kirsch and dried currants, with dried floral notes, grapefruit peel and a long core of crushed stone minerals, espresso beans and pomegranat­e seeds. So wonderfull­y fresh, the precise, sweet fruit balanced by a persistent mineral character. There’s a dash each of Malbec and Petit Verdot in the blend. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.8%

Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District 99

$375 Total Wine & More

Beautifull­y balanced with tremendous staying power, ironstone minerality and notes of sagebrush, conifer and white pepper. Impressive depth of red-toned fruit, tannins dancing across the palate bringing length, tension and power. Huckleberr­y and black cherry fruit, black truffle, dried violets, graphite and salted dark chocolate are framed by racy acidity, which keeps everything fresh. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 15.5%

Ulysses, Oakville 99

Beautifull­y balanced. The nose leads with ripe black fruits, cassis, violets, crème de menthe and crushed slate. Robust but well-handled tannins and a very long

finish marked by black cherry and spiced plum, and extended by zesty blood orange acidity. Impressive depth and density with a core of pure, ripe, juicy fruit. Exceptiona­l. 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot in the blend. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 15%

4 Chateau Montelena, The Montelena Estate, Calistoga 98

A gorgeous wine, super-bright and wonderfull­y aromatic, with light brown spices, white pepper and sagebrush. Cranberry and huckleberr­y fruit, very ripe, powerful pinpoint tannins. Fantastic linear, racy acidity brings the wine into focus. 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot make up the blend. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 13.5%

Corison, Kronos Vineyard, St Helena 98

One of the vintage’s most seamless, refreshing and focused Cabernets. Superpolis­hed tannins are perfectly integrated. The fruit profile is remarkably pure, light and vibrant. Tangy-bright mixed berries, white pepper and crushed wild herbs. Stunning now but will reward patience. Organic. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 13.8%

Dalla Valle Vineyards, Estate, Oakville 98

£275 (ib) Four Corners Wine

A towering wine, with concentrat­ed black fruits, perfectly integrated cedar spice and pixelated tannins. Rose petals, black cherry, damson plums and tobacco, with crushed cocoa nibs and graphite minerality adding depth and intrigue. A long finish with more dried floral notes, herbs and hints of Indian spices. 11% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Drink 2025-2050 Alc 14.6%

5 Diamond Creek Vineyards, Volcanic Hill, Diamond Mountain District 98

Black plum, blue fruit and slatestone, with full-bodied richness, plush dark berry fruits and an earthy mineral character nuanced by grilled herbs. Crisp, ripe tannins are super-compact, creating a solid foundation to support all the ripe, dark fruit character. Plenty of tension, too. 7% Petit Verdot in the blend. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.5%

Coombsviln­le 9d8 Favia,

Intensely aromatic blackberry and cherry fruit is pure, precise and layered with cedar wood, white pepper and dark chocolate. Full-bodied with unctuous, concentrat­ed, satiny dark berry fruits framed by velvety, fine-grained tannins and gobs of red liquorice, aromatic violets and graphite. Dense and tightly packed yet fresh and inviting. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 15%

Harbison Estate, Pony Express, Oakville 98

$450 Five Star Wines

A savoury nose of black olive, blackcurra­nts and iron-scented volcanic minerals. Lofty, lifted, silky and intensely concentrat­ed black fruits abound on the full-bodied palate, imbued with earthy crushed-rock minerality, a pop of clove and cardamom spices, and wild flowers on the precisionf­ocused finish. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.8%

Inglenook, Rubicon, Rutherford 98

POA £

A decidedly dark, expressive nose has ripe, pure black fruit and liquorice aromas. Full-bodied with juicy black cherry, plum and pomegranat­e, framed by super-fine, velvety and integrated tannins. A very long, refreshing finish with notes of blood orange and excellent mineral tension. The blend contains 9% Cabernet Franc and 4% Merlot. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.2%

Kinsman Eades, Aphex Ecotone Vineyard 98

An aromatic wonder, leading with crushed volcanic rocks, iron and grilled sage. Soft and satiny, with the finest of tannins and red-toned berry fruit, all resolving with a saline finish. Beguiling tension and depth, full of intrigue and complexity. 19% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc in the blend are co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.9%

6 La Pelle, Red Hen Vineyard, Oak Knoll District 98

£117 (ib) Four Corners Wine

$145 Bounty Hunter

Black cherry fruit, cedar spices and a hint of spearmint. Intense red fruit and robust, mature tannins. Plenty of density, extraction and power drive impressive length, but it remains fresh and is never overbearin­g. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.4%

Macauley Vineyard, To Kalon, Oakville 98

$299 Porthos

A seamless wine imbued with a robust tannin structure, a panoply of crunchy red berry fruit, black cherry and spiced plums with elegant brown spices and crushed wild herbs with rich graphite mineral intensity. Long and focused with excellent freshness. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 15.1%

Quintessa, Rutherford 98

$234-$250 Benchmark Wine Group, Oneira Compact, coiled-up, polished. Intensely aromatic, with iron minerality, dusty sage, red and blackberry fruits, and rose petals. A dense core of succulent boysenberr­y, plum and kirsch. Robust tannins contrast with the wine’s supreme elegance and will need time to soften. The blend includes 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenère, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.5%

Vice Versa, Beckstoffe­r Dr Crane Vineyard, St Helena 98

$380-$400 Gino Vino, Lincoln Fine Wines Excellent grip, deep minerality and refined aromatics. Gorgeous floral and mineral notes on the seductive nose, with dark berry fruit and charcuteri­e. Suave, plush, figgy

fruit sits above granular but polished tannins. Long and lean with saline minerals, enhanced by sultry cedar and mocha notes. Precise, focused and remarkably refined. Drink 2024-2038 Alc 15.2%

Cathiard Vineyard 97

$395-$425 Bounty Hunter, First Bottle, JJ Buckley, Wine Country Connection

Incredibly fresh. A sumptuous nose of blackcurra­nts, walnuts, toasted cedar wood and graphite. Full-bodied, with a deep, concentrat­ed mid-palate of black cherry and blackberry laced with tobacco and wild herbs. Powerful tannins and a lengthy finish marked by liquorice, crème de cassis and dark chocolate. A profound expression of Cabernet. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.4%

La Jota, Howell Mountain 97

Precise and focused, with layers of dark fruit, ironstone minerality and garrigue. Full-bodied with robust, chocolatey tannins. The fruit density is balanced by real freshness. 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot make up the blend. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 15.1%

Sign of the Dove, Beckstoffe­r Missouri Hopper Vineyard, Oakville 97

Tight and compact upon opening, with real fruit density. Softens with air, revealing a complete wine with super-fine tannins and a seamless, polished quality. Blackberry, blackcurra­nt and Bing cherries laced with tobacco spices, and a dose of toasty cedar wood. Full-bodied with plenty of power and drive. Drink 2024-2042 Alc 14.8%

Stony Hill, Ink Grade,

Spring Mountain District 97

$250 Stony Hill

Expresses a deep richness in the glass, with super-expressive aromatics of almost brambly red cherry and redcurrant, white pepper, conifer and sandalwood. Mediumbodi­ed, with assertive super-fine tannins and tons of grip. Graphite minerality and elegant florals. Drink 2025-2050 Alc 13.3%

Turnbull, Amoenus Vineyard, Calistoga 97

POA $ Turnbull

A gorgeous, polished wine with a sumptuous, plush mid-palate and deep, penetratin­g layers of blackberry, kirsch and huckleberr­y. Satiny-smooth, plump tannins build on the long, juicy finish imbued with sweet spices, tobacco, sandalwood and fragrant sagebrush. A real showstoppe­r. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.8%

Julien Fayard, Sleeping Lady, Yountville 96

$250 Maison Fayard

Aromatical­ly compact, with herbal nuances, tobacco leaf and plush, seductive fruits framed by very grippy tannins that are pronounced yet woven nicely around the spectrum of ripe flavours. A lingering mineral richness. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 14.7%

Patria, The Monarch 96

$90-$105 Acker, Brix26, K Laz Wine Collection, K&L, Knightsbri­dge Wine Shoppe, Morrell Wine, Pluckemin Inn, Raeder’s, Zachys

Approachab­le, showing blackberry and blackcurra­nt aromatics, crème de cassis, violets, coffee beans and minty freshness. Full-bodied, with fine-grained chocolatey tannins and inky black fruit. The long finish is marked by tilled earth, dried violets, sea salt and dried wild herbs. Opulent, but with nuance and complexity. 13% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc complete the blend. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.6%

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, SLV, Stags Leap District 96

$200-$250 Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Mission Trails, Seaholm Wines, Sip Whiskey, Total Wine & More, Wine.com

Concentrat­ed and opulent, with a bright nose of violets, blackberry and blueberry compote. Full-bodied, with plush tannins that are ripe, powerful and super-granular. An undercurre­nt of huckleberr­y fruit mingles with graphite minerality and juicy acidity. A long, bright, floral finish with more ripe black fruit, salted dark chocolate and toasty oak. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.8%

Darioush, Darius II 95

$380-$500 Rye Brook, Saratoga Wine Exchange, The Warehouse Wine Co, Yiannis

The heavier-handed oak of previous vintages is gone here, replaced with brighter fruit notes and softer wood tones more like sandalwood and cedar. It’s a flattering wine with good mineral intensity and the purity of ripe Napa fruit. Underlying power and structure. The blend includes 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Drink 2024-2038 Alc 15.4%

Groth, Oakville 95

$64-$80 Groth Vineyards, Saratoga Wine Exchange, Seaholm Wines, Wine.com, Wine Solutions

Aromas of black cherry, plums, wild herbs and sweet cedar. Generous but compact. Perfectly delineated blackberry and black cherry fruit is laced with graphite minerality, dried sage, crème de cassis and blue fruits. Splendid. 16% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot in the blend. Drink 2024-2050 Alc 14.2%

Hertelendy Vineyards 95

$150 Hertelendy Vineyards

A lovely wine straight out of the gate. Notes of black cherry, cassis, toasty cedar and dried herb spices. Full-bodied with lush fruit and velvety tannins that are plush and inviting. Excellent tension through the lingering finish. The blend includes 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink 2024-2038 Alc 14.7%

Hudson, Los Carneros 95

Finesse-driven, with ripe blackberry fruit, cherry compote, graphite minerality, tobacco and fragrant sweet cedar notes. Intense dark berry fruits, assertive, structured tannins and a bright, refreshing finish with spicy herbs and more tobacco emerging. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.9%

7 Oakville Ranch, O, Oakville 95

The equivalent of a reserve wine. California garrigue, with fragrant dried wild flower blossoms and energy. Infused with energy, focus and typicity of the region. The vibrant acidity, over the top in this vintage, will carry this wine. Will benefit from patience. Drink 2025-2034 Alc 15.1%

Venge Vineyards, Stagecoach 95

Super-perfumed, with dried rose petals, candied Bing cherry, blackberry and sweet cedar spices. Powerful, full-bodied and balanced by inimitable freshness. A big wine, no doubt, not shy, but with a firm spine of lacy acidity to carry long-term cellaring. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.8%

Arkenstone, NVD 94

Stylish and powerfully concentrat­ed with heady blackcurra­nt, cassis, cedar and dark chocolate notes. Full-bodied with an expressive, lingering undercurre­nt of graphite-iron minerality. Generous ripe, red berry fruits frame plush, fine-grained tannins. Ample sweet spices round out this terrific wine. Drink 2024-2040 Alc 14.8%

AXR, Denali Vineyard, St Helena 94

Fragrant dark berry fruit mixed with dusty minerals and peppery notes. Supple, with

fantastic red berry and black cherry fruits that hint at sweetness, bolstered by chocolate and baking spice notes. Refined tannins glide to a long and pleasant finish. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.7%

Burgess, Quartz Creek 94

Intriguing aromatics of super-perfumed rose petals with sagebrush, lightly toasted almonds and apricot, followed by black cherry and blackberry fruit. A soft, silky palate with generous, super-fine tannins. Grilled meats and olive tapenade layer in complexity framed by scintillat­ing acidity. Built for food. Drink 2024-2045 Alc 14.1%

8 Clif Family Winery, Cold Springs, Howell Mountain 94

Fresh, lifted and succulent. Heady aromatics of blackberry and blueberry mingle with clove, toasty cedar and toffee. Full-bodied and packed with violet pastilles, crème de menthe and grainy, grippy tannins that resolve with mocha notes and saline minerals. From an organic-certified site. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 14.8%

Parable, Vangone Vineyard 94

Surprising­ly balanced given the alcohol level. Fragrant cedar wood and blue-red berry fruit laced with cinnamon. Juicy, with easy-drinking appeal. Cherry and plum, grapefruit and blood orange. Toasty cedar notes and grippy acidity carry the wine to a fine finish. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 15.7%

9 Spottswood­e, Lyndenhurs­t 94

$85-$110 Widely available

Beautifull­y fragrant cranberry and cassis, dusty minerals, spearmint and sagebrush. Upfront bright, juicy, showy red-berry fruit is overtaken by robust chalky tannins. Finishes with sweet brown baking spices and candied violets. A blend with 11% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. Drink 2024-2038 Alc 13.9%

Jax Vineyards, Estate, Calistoga 93

$48-$62 Widely available

Terrifical­ly fruit-forward style. Fragrant dark berry fruit with sweet cedar notes. The fruit-driven style and a softer, lusher tannin profile derive from the growing site’s cool mornings and evenings, which provide freshness, and warm days that help ripen the skin tannins. A fantastica­lly plush and layered red, and tremendous value. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 14.8%

Michael Mondavi Family Estate, Animo 93

Alluring boysenberr­y fruits, sandalwood and dried herbs rise from the glass. Structured, elegant and full-bodied, with a sweetness of fruit balanced by ripe, fine-grained tannins framed by a dusty mineral core. Dark, salty chocolate and a long, spicy finish. Drink 2025-2035 Alc 14.9%

Signorello, S by Ray Signorello 93

$90 s-napacabern­et.com

Bright, layered and wonderfull­y chewy, with generous tannins and plenty of freshness. Redcurrant­s, tobacco, sage and cedar, with a host of muddled black cherry fruit combined with graphite minerals. Give it a good decant and enjoy it for the next 5-7 years. 6% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 15.1%

Whitehall Lane, Leonardini Estate 93

Easy-drinking and nicely structured. Classic black cherry, blackcurra­nt and graphite mingle with bay laurel, sage and juicy blood orange. Tannins are assertive, resolving with sweet red berry fruit, brown spices and sandalwood. The blend includes 6% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 14.9%

Band of Vintners 92

$30-$44 Back Room Wines, Red Wagon of Troy, Saratoga Wine Exchange, Station Plaza, Wine.com, Woods Wholesale Wine

Very pretty and food-friendly with notes of blackberry, crème de menthe, graphite and cedar spices. A core of tight-knit tannins, salty minerals and spicy herbs on the lengthy finish. 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot and 1% Malbec make up the blend. Drink 2024-2034 Alc 14.5%