Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (92+)

Saturated purple-ruby. Restrained but complex aromas of blackberry, cassis, violet, licorice, bitter chocolate and minerals. Juicy and very firmly built; conveys a stronger impression of acidity. Black fruits complicated by mocha and dark chocolate notes. Less broad than the reserve claret but subtler and longer. Finishes with nobler tannins and slowly mounting, extremely persistent flavor.

The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 is a truly exquisite vintage, masterfully crafted by Pride Mountain Vineyards. Situated high atop Spring Mountain District that transcendently straddles Napa and Sonoma counties, this winery is acclaimed for its exceptional, full-bodied Cabernets. The sought-after 1999 blend reveals a harmonious unity of robust, multifaceted flavours. Decant this vintage to appreciate the intense, inky-purple hue, accompanied by captivating aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, and fine-grain oak.

Immaculately fermented, this wine showcases the rich, high-quality grapes, nurtured from the estate’s unique, high-elevation vineyards. The Pride Mountain Napa and Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 offers an unforgettably velvety palate, where ripe plum, cherry, and dark chocolate notes merge with articulated tannins to proffer a long, complex finish. This vintage epitomises the winemaking craftsmanship that has positioned Pride Mountain Vineyards as a premier producer in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

James Suckling (99)

Insane aromas of lavender, blackberries, wet earth and ripe yet fresh fruit. Full body with very deep fruit, pine needles and hints of chocolate and cedar. Very long and wonderfully polished. This has wonderful depth and focus. Release in 2021. Better after 2024.

Vinous (94+)

The 2015 Lytton Springs is very, very closed. Readers should not think about opening a bottle anytime soon. Intensely aromatic, but also tightly wound, the 2015 only hints at its true potential. Deceptively medium in body, the 2015 packs a real punch.

James Suckling (98)

Unique aromas of blackberry, black currant, dark chocolate and walnut. Full body, very powerful and tannic. Incredible depth and power. Precise and so focused. Muscular. Great structure. This needs at least six to eight years to come together.

Vinous (98)

One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2016 Monte Bello has turned out just as beautifully as I hoped it would. Soaring aromatics, bright acids and mid-weight structure give the 2016 a super-classic feel. Clearly, the 2016 is very primary today, with plenty of bright red and purplish berry fruit. More than that, though, the 2016 pulses with energy and simply exceptional balance. Don't miss it!

Relish the grandeur of the Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, a remarkable expression of the world-renowned Californian terroir. This exquisite wine hails from the celebrated vineyards of Napa Valley, echoing Robert Mondavi's visionary approach to winemaking. Produced with exceptional craftsmanship, each hand-selected grape is treated with care to preserve its integrity during fermentation. Aged in French oak barrels for added complexity, undertones of blackcurrant, cherry, and a whisper of cedar infiltrate the palate.

Recognised for its balanced structure and refined tannins, the Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 exhibits the potential to age gracefully. Robert Mondavi's deep appreciation for the land and commitment to quality winemaking ensure every sip tells a story of its sublime vintage. Enjoy this distinctive Cabernet's enduring elegance, a testament to Mondavi's mastery and the rich history of American winemaking.

Honoured with a place among Napa Valley's finest, the Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 showcases brilliant artistry and consistent excellence. This exquisite vintage is crafted by the Schweiger Vineyards, a family-owned property located in upper Spring Mountain. The fruit is sourced from a high altitude microclimate offering terrain-driven intensity, enhanced by hand-harvesting techniques. Its expert maceration on the skins strengthens its rich tapestry of flavours.

Experience the symphony of black fruit variants interlaced with hints of cedar and leather. The maturation for 20 months in custom French oak barrels endows it with an eloquent expression of spice and a fine-grained velvety structure. An enduring finish bears the testament to its outstanding quality. Indeed, the Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 is a remarkable depiction of the vintage, reflecting the dedicated craft of winemaker Andrew Schweiger. This wine serves as a perfect toast to the classic Napa style and the passion that flows into every bottle.

Honoured with a place among Napa Valley's finest, the Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 showcases brilliant artistry and consistent excellence. This exquisite vintage is crafted by the Schweiger Vineyards, a family-owned property located in upper Spring Mountain. The fruit is sourced from a high altitude microclimate offering terrain-driven intensity, enhanced by hand-harvesting techniques. Its expert maceration on the skins strengthens its rich tapestry of flavours.

Experience the symphony of black fruit variants interlaced with hints of cedar and leather. The maturation for 20 months in custom French oak barrels endows it with an eloquent expression of spice and a fine-grained velvety structure. An enduring finish bears the testament to its outstanding quality. Indeed, the Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 is a remarkable depiction of the vintage, reflecting the dedicated craft of winemaker Andrew Schweiger. This wine serves as a perfect toast to the classic Napa style and the passion that flows into every bottle.

Vinous (98+)

The 2009 Screaming Eagle is insanely beautiful. It is a relatively open vintage that nevertheless possesses stunning intensity, depth and elegance. Dark red berries, flowers, mint and spices are all woven together beautifully. Layers of fruit build effortlessly to the long, seductive finish. The 2009 continues to flesh out in the glass. All of the elements are in the right place in the drop-dead gorgeous, stunning 2009. A haunting bouquet reminiscent of a great Musigny lingers on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

The 2015 Screaming Eagle is another monumental wine from this address, and it's one of those cases where if you afford it, you should buy it. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, this magical elixir boasts a deep purple color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of blueberries, creme de cassis, violets, incense, and cedarwood. Reminding me of the 2015 Château Margaux with its off the charts class and purity, it’s full-bodied, thrillingly textured, and has a finish that just won't quit. This legendary wine is going to keep for 30-40 years.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon is performing even better this year than it was last. I still believe the 1995 has a slight edge, but that may be more noticeable 8-10 years from now than at present. The opaque purple-colored 1994's forward, gorgeously-scented nose offers up a smorgasbord of black fruits, along with a subtle dosage of toasty oak and minerals. Full-bodied, with a seamless, lush texture, this is a profoundly generous wine with everything going for it. The finish lasts for 35 seconds. As gorgeous as it is, this wine can be drunk young, or cellared for 20-25 years. What makes Screaming Eagle such an extraordinary wine is its remarkably sweet, lavishly rich, opulently-textured, super-extracted black currant and black cherry fruitiness. Moreover, they are admirably pure, layered, velvety, and accessible. As delicious as these wines are young, they should age for 20 or more years, because of their extraordinary equilibrium.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Beautiful floral notes intermixed with creme de cassis, licorice and charcoal jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2002. Opulent, broad, full-bodied and more mature than I expected given how this wine showed in its youth, this deep, rich Cabernet Sauvignon is exceptional. However, in this vintage it has to take a back seat to a number of other cuvees. The final blend was 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Vinous (98)

I loved the 2011 Screaming Eagle when it was in barrel and then as a young, recently-bottled wine. It is every bit compelling today. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, sage, mint and white pepper lend notable energy throughout. At age ten, the 2011 positively bristles with energy and freshness. Winemaker Nick Gislason waited until the end of October to harvest. Among other things, the 2011 is unique for its high percentage of Cabernet Franc (12%). Today, the 2011 is spectacularly beautiful. Readers who own it should be thrilled.

James Suckling (98)

This is very tight grained and beautifully balanced with violets, crushed stones and a brambleberry character. Extremely aromatic and perfumed. Medium to full body with a compressed mouthfeel of wonderfully fine and fresh tannins. A fantastic merlot-based red for the vintage. Structured yet so balanced. Beautiful now but better in 2021.

James Suckling (100)

This is an incredible wine with such depth and energy and ethereal, mind-blowing sensibility. It sent shivers down my spine tasting it. It just shines on the nose, like bright sunlight breaking through a dark sky. Aromas of raspberries, citrus, violets and dark earth. Full-bodied with extremely fine tannins that go vertical and endless, from top to bottom. A monument for merlot-based wines. Drinkable now, but needs six to eight years to come around.

Vinous (94+)

(14.9% alcohol): Good dark red. Perfumed, liqueur-like aromas of black plum, dark berries, licorice and cocoa powder. Dense, thick and very ripe but still a bit youthfully brooding; shows the darkest fruit character to this point in the tasting. This extremely dense, thick, youthfully brooding Cabernet finishes with serious ripe tannins and good medicinal reserve. If the 2001 is claret-like in the context of this bottling, then the 2002 is classic liqueur-like Napa Cabernet, even if it's in a bit of a shell today. Less detailed today than the 2001 but I'd love to try these wines side by side again in six or seven years.

Wine Enthusiast (100)

A perfect score has to be considered in the context of its region. Shafer's 2004 Hillside Select is tremendous as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that competes with its peers at the highest levels. It's always a fabulous wine, but in warm 2004, Shafer's amphitheater vineyard sheltered the grapes, ripening them to perfection yet protecting the "iron fist in a velvet glove" structure that André Tchelistcheff defined as Stags Leap. This 100% Cabernet is tremendous in cassis, black currant and mocha flavors, and the 100% new French oak provides perfect additions of smoke and caramel. It's soft and gorgeous enough to drink now, and should age well in a cool cellar for the next 20 years.

Wine Advocate (97+)

(The Third Twin Graciano 2014) A blend of 90% Graciano and 10% Mourvèdre, completely destemmed and then aged all in used oak barrels for around 27 months, the 2014 The Third Twin Graciano sports a very deep garnet-purple color and beguiling nose of espresso, tapenade, preserved plums and Indian spices with earth and licorice nuances. The densely packed, full-bodied palate has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and lovely freshness, with loads of earthy layers and fantastic length, which features buckets of exotic spices. This is the first edition of this single vineyard wine, coming entirely from The Third Twin Vineyard in Los Alamos, showcasing not only the potential of this amazing site but of this grape variety in the region. Manfred Krankl commented, “Of course I realize this is a Spanish variety, but I think God...or someone...made a slight mistake along the way, as the grape very much reminds me of the Rhône.” Positively the finest example of this grape I have ever tasted, move over Spain, Graciano has found a new spiritual home in California’s Central Coast! 65 cases were made. (Lisa Perrotti-Brown, 30 Sep 2017) (The Third Twin Graciano 2015) Graciano is a low-yielding Spanish variety grown primarily in Rioja, but Krankl contends that its spiritual home is the Rhône Valley: it reminds him of Mourvèdre in so far as it needs to be very ripe to show all its character, he says. And it's certainly a striking addition to his winemaking palate, with a character quite distinct to any of the other red varieties he works with. Offering up aromas of cherry pit and balsamic cherries, subtly framed by creamy new oak, the 2015 The Third Twin Graciano is amazingly saturated in color. On the palate, it's velvety, full-bodied and richly tannic, almost preternaturally concentrated in character, but remarkably supple and expansive despite its formidable levels of extract and structure. It's a singular wine, even by Krankl's standards. (William Kelley, ,23 Aug 2018)

Wine Advocate (94)

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Asterisk comes charging out of the gate with exuberant black and red cherries, warm cassis and raspberry pie scents plus hints of cigar box, Indian spices, rose hip tea and charcuterie with a faint waft of dusty soil. Full-bodied and firmly textured, with bags of red and black fruits, the palate is laced with loads of spicy accents, and it finishes long and perfumed.

Vinous (89)

Medium red with a hint of brown. Evolved, balsamic aromas of currant, black tea and coffee grounds. Still some fruit left, as well as a brown sugar sweetness, with strong juicy acidity and firm tannins keeping the wine alive.

Vinous (91)

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst is pliant, supple and inviting. Dark cherry jam, plum, chocolate, spice and new leather are pushed forward in this racy, succulent Cabernet Sauvignon. A wine with no hard edges and plenty of allure, the 2015 will drink well with minimal cellaring. In the Lyndenhurst, readers will find an affordable Cabernet that showcases the best 2015 has to offer, in its peer group, naturally.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 reveals more oak on the nose, but is a much deeper, richer, fuller wine than the S.L.V. Dense ruby/purple to the rim, beautiful blackberry and cassis fruit, cedar wood, toast and earth jump from the glass. Full-bodied and layered, but with nothing out of balance, this is probably the strongest Cask 23 since the glory years of the mid-80s. Look for this wine to drink well young, yet age effortlessly for 25 years.

Vinous (95+)

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 is powerful and savory in the glass, with tons of both aromatic nuance and supporting structure that give the wine gravitas as well as a very clear sense of direction. The plum, blackberry jam, grilled herb, lavender and dark spice notes are all very finely drawn in this big but polished Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2014 Le Désir (53% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec) has an inky purple color and a sweet kiss of chocolate, black truffle, forest floor, black raspberry and black currants. Opulent, but again structured and super-dense and pure, this is another massively concentrated wine meant for the long haul (and for our grandchildren). Give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 35-40 years. Remarkably, Pierre Seillan told me that 2014, while a drought year, was not actually that hot in the micro-terroirs he was working, but in terms of quality, it turned out to be the most surprisingly positive vintage he’s ever witnessed.