Napa Valley Red

Sequoia Grove - Cambium 2015 Napa Valley

The nose is fruity and offers a fine concentration and a small freshness. It reveals notes of very ripe blackberry, ripe cassis and small notes of small ripe blue fruits associated with a touch of violet, raspberry as well as fine hints of toasted, nutmeg and an imperceptible hint of Sichuan pepper. The mouth is fruity, juicy, well-balanced and offers a good definition, density/richness and a fine guideline. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of very ripe cassis, very ripe blackberry as well as hints of liquorice stick associated with hints of liquorice stick, cardamom and tonka bean. Tannins are well-built. Good length. Very discreet hints of dark chocolate and dry almond on the persistence.

Score : 15/20 (89-90/100)

Spottswoode - Cabernet Sauvingon 2016 St. Helena, NapaValley

The nose is fruity, fresh and offers a beautiful finesse of the grain, deepness. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, ripe cassis, small notes of small wild berries associated with fine touches of cedar, violet/lilac as well as discreet hints of tobacco leaf. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, juiciness and a beautiful definition full of finesse. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe griotte, juicy/ripe blackberry, small notes of blackberry associated with fine touches of cornflower, small blue fruits, juicy raspberry as well as very fine touches of cedar and sens of the place. Good length. Tannins are elegant.

Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)

Spottswoode, Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Napa Valley

The nose offers power, freshness and a fine grain. It reveals notes of fresh blackberry, small wild berries and small notes of violet associated with touches of arbutus, fresh ground and liquorice stick. The mouth is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a juicy frame, a good definition, elegance as well as a finely acidulous frame. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/fresh black cherry, juicy/fresh blackberry as well as hints of liquorice, tonka bean and an imperceptible hint of mild tobacco and fresh forest ground. Tannins are elegant. Good length.

Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)

Staglin FamilyVineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Rutherford, Napa Valley

The nose is fresh, frutiy and offers a beautiful intensity. It reveals notes of ripe blackcurrant, wild blackberry, small notes of violet associated with touches of ripe blueberry as well as fine hints of Cuben pepper, cardamom and a very discreet hint of nutmeg and tea. The palate is beautifully elegant, gourmand and offers a beautiful definition, precision, tension as well as a fine acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe cassis, juicy/ripe blueberry, small notes of juicy Boysen berry associated with touches of fresh raspberry, small fresh/juicy red berries as well as fine hints of violet, cornflower and very discreet hints of chocolate. Good length and persistence on notes of coffee.

Score : 19/20 (98/100)

Staglin FamilyVineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Rutherford, Napa Valley

The nose offers power, complexity and a beautiful intensity. It reveals notes of wild blackcurrant, small black berries, small notes of wild raspberry associated with touches of Sichuan pepper, violet and sens of the place. The palate is beautiful defined and offers tension, an acidulous/juicy frame, a beautiful tension and richness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackcurrant, fleshy blackberry, small notes of small wild berries associated with touches of chocolate, fleshy raspberry as well as touches of violet/laurel, tonka bean and a very discreet hint of violet/laurel. Tannins are elegant and well-built. Good persistence which brings power.

Score : 18.25/20 (96-97/100) Staglin FamilyVineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 Rutherford, Napa Valley

The nose is fruity, fresh, structuring and offers a fine power and a fine grain. It reveals notes of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, small notes of small wild black fruits associated with fine touches of violet, hints of Cuben pepper and graphite. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/acidulous frame, a good definition as well as gourmandize. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy cassis, juicy blackberry, small notes of juicy plum, tobacco leaf as well as discreet hints of sens of the place and violet. A beautiful persistence with a subtle hint of caramelization and a hint clove.

Score : 18/20 (96/100)

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - 2016 Cask 23 Napa Valley

The nose is fruity, power, well-built and offers a beautiful grain, elegance and expression. It reveals notes of ripe cassis, wild cassis and small notes of ripe strawberry associated with fine touches of cornflower, crushed ripe redcurrant as well as discreet hints of nutmeg/spices. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy frame, minerality, density as well as tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, juicy cassis and small notes of juicy raspberry associated with fine touches of small crushed red berries as well as a subtle hint of cornflower, local vegetation and moka. Good length. Tannins are elegant and structuring.

Score : 17.25/20 (94-95/100)

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - Artemis 2017, Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

The nose is fruity, elegant and offers a good definition and a fine power. It reveals notes of blackberry, ripe cassis and small notes of cassis and small notes of dry local vegetation associated with fine touches of ripe cherry, strawberry as well as fine hints of Cuben pepper and nutmeg. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy/ finely acidulous frame, precision, gourmandize as well as a fine tension. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy cassis, juicy blackberry and small notes of strawberry associated with fine touches of small ripe/juicy red fruits as well as fine hints of cocoa, liquorice stick and nutmeg. Good length. Tannins are well-built.

Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - Fay 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

The nose is fruity and offers intensity, a fine concentration and minerality. It reveals notes of wild cassis, wild cassis and small notes of small wild berries associated with a touch of cherry as well as hints of nutmeg, tobacco leaves and a discreet hint of grey pepper. The mouth is fruity, wellbalanced and offers a juicy/mineral frame, a good definition as well as gourmandize. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of juicy/fleshy blackberry, juicy cassis and small notes of wild raspberry associated with small touches of violet, small wild berries as well as fine hints of violet and a subtle hint of almond. A very fine chew and a hint of vanilla on the persistence.

Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars - SLV 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley

The nose is fruity, mineral, racy and offers a fine intensity and a small freshness. It reveals notes of raspberry, strawberry, fresh cherry and small notes of blackberry associated with small touches of liquorice, juicy/ripe small blue fruits as well as hints of cornflower and sens of the place. The mouth is fruity, well-balanced, fresh and offers a good definition, gourmandize as well as a fine acidulous/juicy frame. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy raspberry and small notes of cherry associated with fine touches of blueberry/blue fruits as well as fine hints of vanilla, tonka bean, nutmeg and subtle hints of sens of the place. Good length.

Score : 17+/20 (94-95/100)