This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Lail Vineyards
Blueprint Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint is fabulous. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, spice, lavender and menthol fill out the layers beautifully. In the glass, the 2018 is rich and generous, yet it also possesses terrific freshness and plenty of verve. It is a superb wine in its price range, or any price range, for that matter. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Diamond Creek Vineyards
Three Vineyard Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Vineyard Blend is an experimental wine that was bottled a few times in Diamond Creek's history, but never officially commercially released. The 2013, a blend of 70% Volcanic Hill, 25% Red Rock Terrace, and 5% Gravelly Meadow is superb. What a wine. Rich, powerful and savory, the 2013 is just starting to enter the place where it is approachable, in relative terms of course. There is still plenty of hillside tannin, and yet there is so much about the 2013 that is alluring. The aromatic breadth, the intensity of the fruit and the wine's persistence are all so compelling. Wow. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Amici Cellars
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Rich, plummy and forward, the Amici Napa Valley Cabernet makes a terrific introduction to the vintage. Even better, it is incredibly fairly priced. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice and licorice are kicked up in this fleshy, open-knit Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink it over the next decade. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Scarecrow
Monsieur Ètain Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon M. Étain is a powerful, muscular wine that speaks with booming authority. Blackberry, gravel, chocolate, spice and lavender are some of the many aromas and flavors that saturate the palate. Far from an easygoing 2018, the M. Étain is a brooding Cabernet that needs time in bottle to allow the formidable tannins to soften. It remains one of the most distinctive wines made in Nape Valley. Dollops of Merlot and Malbec from the back of the property round out the blend. There are 2,400 cases of the 2018, a large production within the context of Napa Valley for a wine of this level. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Domaine Curry
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, deep wine. Blackberry jam, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and menthol saturate the palate. Bold and juicy, with good structure, the 2018 has enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Look past the celebrity factor. The Domaine Curry Cabernet is a serious wine that has the potential to be even better in future vintages with the right decisions. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Caterwaul
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is not just gorgeous, it is also one of the best values readers will come across. Ripe, juicy and expressive, the 2018 once again hits all the right notes. Inky dark fruit, smoke, licorice, spice and sweet floral accents all race out of the glass. Readers will have a very hard time finding a better wine for the money. The balance of various appellations works so well here. The Caterwaul Napa Valley bottling might just be the finest wine in the market in its price range. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Pulido-Walker
Melanson Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard emerges mostly from upper blocks on this site, a striking hillside that faces Colgin, where the steep exposure can yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Inky red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco meld together effortlessly, with silky tannins that wrap it all up. Bold and luscious, but with tremendous nuance, the Melanson Cabernet is a total stunner in 2018. As I have written in the past, farming here has improved tremendously in recent years. This is another superb example of the quality that this site is capable of. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown gave the 2018 a relatively short 10 days on the skins. I imagine he thought the site would take care of the rest. It's hard to argue with that. The 2018 is off the charts great. Don't miss it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Di Costanzo
Di Co Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon DI CO is a very pretty, delicate wine. Aging has really given the 2018 an extra level of polish I did not see in the barrel sample last year, especially in its contours. Inky dark blue/purplish fruit, sage, mint and lavender add expressive layers of aromatic nuance. This is an impressive wine, especially in its peer group. Readers who want to drink the 2018 young should give it a good bit of air first. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Amuse Bouche
Vin Perdu Napa Valley Red Blend 2018
The 2018 Vin Perdu from Amuse Bouche is fabulous. Juicy and wonderfully expressive, the 2018 packs a serious punch while remaining very much medium in body, in the style of these wines. Succulent black cherry, plum, chocolate, lavender, spice and leather are front and center. The 2018 is a joyous, inviting red to drink over the next handful of years. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2018 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard is even better in bottle than it was in barrel. This blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc soars out of the glass with stunning aromatic intensity and tons of textural depth. Ample and beautifully resonant on the palate, the Red Wine is a total stunner. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol build into the racy, sumptuous finish. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago