Mount Veeder Reserve Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to maroon color. The nose is wonderfully complex — imagine Bordeaux meeting Napa hillsides. Scents of blackberry, blueberry, plum, and cassis take the lead supported by fresh herbs, toasted oak, allspice, nutmeg, and hints of dark chocolate, leather, and licorice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, fruit-driven core with a wildly complex mix of earth, cigar, brown baking spices, sweet herbs, and oak to add intrigue. It's certainly full-boded but this wine offers more nuance than heft as it's never brooding while constantly changing from sip to sip. $90 – 5 Stars – 98 points
Summers Estate Andriana's Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon California 2013
Deepeset, darkest ruby red to purple color. The nose is filled with the scents of black plum, cassis, blackberry, and tart cherry with a generous dose of brown baking spices lead by allspice with rich notes of cedar, earth, and toasted oak as well. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a dense and concentrated core of ripe fruit flanked by spice and oak with a hint of black pepper. Ideally balanced, medium to full-bodied, and intense with ripe fruit held in check by tart fruits, bright acidity, and oak. $19.99 – 3.5 Stars – 88 points
Tie Dye Red Blend North Coast 2013
Brilliant, deep ruby red color. The nose is intensely fruity and complex with waves of raspberry, black cherry, Boysenberry, and cassis competing for the lead with accents of fresh herbs, eucalyptus, brown baking spices, and subtle toasted oak notes. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush and multifaceted, fruit-driven core with depth and length. The herbal and spice notes rise on the finish that lingers with jammy black fruits. Full-bodied while balanced and complex as it never seems heavy, offering a bright dose of acidity with soft, round tannins. $18.99 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Bogle Essential Red California 2013
Deep, bright ruby red. The nose is generously proportioned with the scents of freshly crushed red and black berries with supporting notes of brown baking spices, blueberry, black currant, vanilla, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose offering a lush but incredibly vibrant, fruit-driven core with tart fruit acidity, oak, spice, and a hint of earth. Wonderfully intense and rich without being heavy or brooding with a lovely dose of acid and chewy tannins that offer structure. $12 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Bogle Petite Sirah California 2013
Deepest, darkest ruby red color. The nose is dense with bramble berry and blackberry that is equally tart as it is ripe with loads of brown baking spices in support, as well as generous dose of American oak. The palate is equal to the nose delivering a concentrated, fruit forward core with waves of tart, jammy black fruits. This is a very intense Petite with a generous dose of acidity and framing, gripping tannins. $12 – 3 Stars – 86 points
Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon California 2013
Deep, bright ruby red. The nose is filled with the scents of black fruits with ripe red and black cherry supported by accents of earth, toasted oak, vanilla, clove, allspice, and fresh green herbs. The palate is equal to the aromatics delivering a lush fruit core with dry oak and spice accents that give way to a mild green, live herbs garden note. Medium to full-bodied with lush, silky fruit and a fresh dose of acidity and soft, minimal tannins. $12 – 3.5 Stars – 88 points
Cornerstone Cellars Oakville Station Merlot Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics are incredibly deep with layers of red and black cherry with hints of raspberry, blackberry, plum, cocoa nibs, allspice, anise, vanilla bean accented toasted oak, herbes de Provence, and black pepper. The palate is equal to the nose delivering an impossibly complex array of berry fruits with spice, earth, oak, and more subtle nuances than can be documented here. Full-bodied and wonderfully structured and silky with countless layers and perfectly integrated tannins. $75 – 5 Stars – 100 points
Cornerstone Cellars Michael's Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2012
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeepest, darkest ruby red color. The rich and dense fruit is the first thing that grabs your attention. Rich, concentrated black cherries take the lead followed by cassis, raspberry, black plum, and wild red berries are supported by a melange of brown spices, earth, and toasted oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, concentrated fruit core that is framed by spice, black pepper, leather, oak, and dusty tannins. It's simply gorgeous and what every Napa Cabernet lover is seeking. Full-bodied with deep, concentrated fruit and spice flavors displaying perfect balance and incredible length. The only down side is that this bold and wine drinks so well now that it won't be properly cellared allowing it to show its full character. $75 – 5 Stars – 97 points
Bogle Pinot Noir California 2013
Brilliant, deep, ruby red color. The nose is quiet fetching with scents of violet, ripe strawberry, and red cherry supported by accents of mineral, subtle leather notes, cigar wrapper, and toasted oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant fruit core with tart cherry flavors offering the perfect foil to the bright, ripe red fruits with trailing spice, oak, and soft earth tones. Ideally balanced with layers of fruit and spice flavors and soft, chewy tannins. $12 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Concannon Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2013
Deep, dark garnet to ruby red color. The aromatics are dense with loads of red and black cherry, cassis, plum, and blackberry with supporting notes of allspice, nutmeg, cocoa nibs, and sweet vanilla-soaked oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and chewy fruit-driven core with a generous dose of sweet spice and oak to round out the flavors. This is a classic California Cabernet offering rich and jammy fruit and soft, juicy tannins with just enough acid to keep it from being heavy. $20 – 3.5 Stars – 88 points
