Fine Wine > Still > USA > California > 92-95 Pts > $100-200

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"This is an enormously ripe, sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon. It has all the hallmarks of the modern cult style, from focused blackberry, cassis and spicy chocolate flavors and profoundly ripe, sweet tannins to the balancing acidity and oak elaboration that adds that extra touch of richness ..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"...gradually opens up to reveal huge fruit backed up by equally imposing, masculine tannin. If opened today, the wine will require quite a bit of air. Ideally, it is best left alone for several years. At this stage, the aromas and flavors are very much primary. It is the wine's textural elegance..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2009 El Alma de Jonata is a serious, structured wine endowed with considerable depth. Dark red fruit, licorice, grilled herbs and mint are some of the notes that blossom in the glass from this intense wine. Layers of fruit are woven together in this generous, expressive red. Some of the depth..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"While it is eclipsed by the brilliance of the 2005, the 2006 Monte Bello (68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc) is a very strong effort. Its dense purple color is followed by copious aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, spice box, and a touch of oak...

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Precocious, seductive red and black fruits intermixed with some subtle smoke and wood spice are followed by a velvety-textured, opulent, voluptuous wine that is surprisingly well-formed already...."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, rich, expansive wine. Layers of blue and black fruit, spices and flowers flow gracefully from this textured, inviting Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 possesses an inner glow and warmth that is immensely appealing. An elegant, finessed finish rounds things out..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a beauty, with dark ruby/purple color and a big sweet nose of tobacco leaf intermixed with black currant, black cherry, new saddle leather, and white chocolate. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, with superb purity, texture, and length. It's..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2009 Continuum comes across as much more understated next to the 2008. It has plenty of silkiness and finesse, but less of the size and shape of its older sibling. Dark cherries, espresso, exotic spices and licorice are woven together in a fabric of notable elegance and harmony. The 2009..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
The 2006 Insignia (95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot; 16,000 cases produced) is a superb effort in this vintage. Another 30+ year wine, it boasts a dense plum/purple color as well as abundant notes of licorice, black currants, charcoal, black olives, and graphite. Full-bodied, pure, and..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is quite a bit richer than the 2005 tasted alongside it. The 2006 shows gorgeous depth as it opens up in the glass. Dark fruit, licorice, smoke and tar are some of the notes that flesh out in this broad-shouldered Cabernet Sauvignon. A creamy, textured..