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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Sat, Feb 21, 2026 12:48 PM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2013 and 2013
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Abreu |
2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend  |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$395 |
1 |
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| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Las Posadas Howell Mtn. Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$450 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 98 (12/2016): The 2013 Las Posadas is superb. Graphite, smoke, lavender, exotic spices and inky crème de cassis fruit power a deeply expressive Howell Mountain wine. Beautifully structured and towering on the palate, the 2013 is showing beautifully today. This is a striking Howell Mountain wine. It is also the most giving and expressive of the Abreu 2013s today, which is surprising given its Howell Mountain origins. This is a superb wine. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
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VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
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2013 |
Thorevilos Proprietary Blend Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$739 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (5/2024): The 2013 Thorevilos is a wild, exotic wine. Blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, pencil shavings, cloves, licorice and dark chocolate all run through this potent, deep red. Young and vibrant, as all the 2013s are here, the Thorevilos possesses tremendous energy from start to finish. A whole range of savory and floral notes linger on the huge, tannic finish. This is sculpted and delicious, but it still needs time. Antonio Galloni.
WA 100 (10/2016): Probably one of my favorite vineyards in all of Napa Valley, even though it is not entitled to any particular AVA designation, is the steep hillside vineyard behind the luxury resort of Meadowood in St. Helena called Thorevilos. It is co-owned by David Abreu and Ric Forman. I have now tasted 16 vintages of this wine, and six and possibly seven (the 2015) have merited perfect scores, which is just mind-boggling even to someone who has been doing this for 38+ years. This wine contains a considerable quantity of Cabernet Franc (probably 30% or more, although Abreu and Grimes are never specific) and there may even be a small percentage of Petit Verdot included in the blend. This is always the most floral of the Abreu wines, but it also has what the French call je ne sais quoi, a quality that is hard to pin down. The 2013 defines what Thorevilos is all about, with copious quantities of blueberries, black raspberries, truffles, violets, crushed rock, forest floor notes and oodles of glycerin in its full-bodied, incredibly pure and amazing texture and length. It is a spectacular wine, with the cascade of fruit hiding what must be some considerable tannic clout. It’s not showing through just yet, but I suspect it will come as the wine closes down in bottle once it gets into a cold cellar. This is simply other-worldly and a tribute to all things Napa, California, and in a way, America. Drink it over the next 50+ years. |
|
| Anakota |
2013 |
Helena Dakota Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
3 |
|
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WA 98 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota (445 cases) is absolutely magnificent. Opaque black/purple in color, it comes across like a Château Montrose from a great vintage – a very earthy St.-Estèphe-inspired wine with the essence of loamy soil and crushed rocks interwoven with blackberry and cassis fruit. Some oak makes an appearance, but it is pushed to the background by the extravagance and enormous body and extract of this wine of phenomenal intensity. This is a classic Pierre Seillan style of wine meant for 25-40 years of cellaring.
VM 90 (2/2016): Anakota's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota is plush, round and sensual, with plenty of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and crème de cassis. This clay-rich terroir produces rich, sumptuous wines that emphasize depth and mid-palate intensity. Because of that, this is a fairly approachable 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon although it will also develop nicely with time in bottle. Smoke, game, licorice, plum and earthy notes wrap around the dense finish. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards |
2013 |
Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is intense, deceptively medium in body and brooding in style. Lavender, sage, menthol, spice and crème de cassis infuse this striking, delineated Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 could use another few years in barrel, but it is quite impressive, even at this early stage. This is a great showing from the 2013.
JS 92 (12/2016): Lots of dried-fruit character here that verges on raisins. Chocolate and walnuts, too. Full body, velvety and chewy tannins and a savory finish. Shows tension for such a ripe wine. Needs two or three years to soften. |
|
| Arcudi |
2013 |
Black Sears Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
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JD 95 (12/2017): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard, from a site on Howell Mountain aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, is a brilliant example of this terroir, as well as the vintage. A full-bodied, ripe, powerful wine, with awesome notes of smoked meats, currants, licorice, and graphite, it has lots of tannins, a layered mid-palate, and beautiful balance. Winemaker Tony Arcudi commented that if you couldn’t make a good wine in 2013 you should find something else to do. He’s certainly made a sensational wine. These 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvees are made by Tony Arcudi, who was formerly in the Navy before working for Michel Chapoutier in the Rhône and later for Heidi Barrett in Napa. Tony launched his own brand in 2012 and is also the consulting winemaker at Kapcsandy. His Cabernets are gorgeous. (Drink between 2018-2043).
WA 95 (12/2016): Coming from the famed Black Sears Vineyard, better known for its black bear as well as old vine Zinfandel, this is an interesting Cabernet Sauvignon from Tony Arcudi, who worked for Michel Chapoutier and Heidi Barrett before starting his own brand. His 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It is a gorgeous, flowery wine with loads of graphite, mulberry and blackberry followed by some spicy oak, a deep, rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, some supple tannins and a heady, lush finish. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.
VM 94 (12/2016): Arcudi's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Sears Vineyard has really come along nicely. Over the last few years the wine has acquired greater finesse and silkiness while retaining all of the signatures that make this well-known Howell Mountain site so unique. It will be a few years before the aromatics are fully expressive. Today, what comes through is the pure primary intensity of the fruit as expressed in this historic vintage. With time in the glass, attractive scents of rose petal, lavender, sage and menthol gradually make an appearance. (Drink between 2018-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Arietta |
2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$129 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
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2013 |
H Block Hudson Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (5/2024): The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Arkenstone |
2013 |
Obsidian Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (12/2015): The 2013 Obsidian (625 cases) is a similar but slightly different blend than its predecessor (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and the rest small portions of Malbec and Merlot). It has an opaque purple color and a stunning nose of acacia flowers, blackberries, licorice, forest floor, mocha/chocolate, and gobs of cassis fruit. Great intensity, a full-bodied, multi-layered mouthfeel, stunning purity, and a length of 45+ seconds make for an exquisite, full-throttle, yet beautifully intense Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that should dink well for 20-30 years. |
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| Beau Vigne |
2013 |
Amendment XXI |
$75 |
2 |
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2013 |
Cult Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
|
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| WA 96 (12/2015): Similarly styled is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Cult, which is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. The biggest cuvee of any of these wines (630 cases), the color is blackish/purple as a moonless night. It offers fabulous fruit and incredible density and richness, with lots of camphor, blackberry and cassis fruit, hints of espresso bean and chocolate as well as some background oak. This is a big, full-throttle, savory style of wine that should age effortlessly for 20-25+ years. |
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2013 |
Juliet Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
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| WA 96 (12/2015): A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet has a similar style but seems even more opaque purple, with loads of blueberry and blackberry fruit, some white flowers, licorice, baking spices and a touch of asphalt. It has a long, full-bodied, massively rich mouthfeel and finish, without any heaviness. It’s a beauty to drink over the next quarter century as well. |
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2013 |
Old Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
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2013 |
Romeo Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): The opaque purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Romeo (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot) displays notes of coffee beans and blackberries as well as some toast and charcoal embers. It is ripe and full-bodied, with a layered mouthfeel, and stunning purity and richness. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. |
|
| Becklyn Cellars |
2013 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$106.25 |
1 |
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2013 |
Moulds Vyd. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
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2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$84.15 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
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2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2015): No doubt a major sleeper of the vintage, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense, opaque ruby/purple color, beautiful crème de cassis notes, blackberry fruit in the background, judicious use of oak, a full-bodied mouthfeel with no hard edges, sweet tannin and a long, layered mouthfeel. This is a beauty to drink over the next 15-20 years. |
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| Betz Family Winery |
2013 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): The only other 2013 reviewed on this go around (most were reviewed last year), the 2013 Clos de Betz checks in as a blend of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petit Verdot, mostly from Red Mountain and Yakima Valley, that spent 19 months in French oak. Sexy, supple, perfumed and beautifully complex, with notes of currants, dried flowers and an almost garrigue like perfume, this full-bodied beauty is already impossible to resist, yet will absolutely cruise for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Aromas and flavors of kirsch, black raspberry and molten dark chocolate. Plush, round and voluptuous without communicating any undue weight. Comes across as a bit less concentrated than the three 2013 Syrah bottlings--and lower in dry extract than the 2012 Clos de Betz--but boasts lovely energy and finesse. Best today on the subtle, rising finish. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Clos de Betz Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$125 |
1 |
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WA 94 (6/2016): The only other 2013 reviewed on this go around (most were reviewed last year), the 2013 Clos de Betz checks in as a blend of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petit Verdot, mostly from Red Mountain and Yakima Valley, that spent 19 months in French oak. Sexy, supple, perfumed and beautifully complex, with notes of currants, dried flowers and an almost garrigue like perfume, this full-bodied beauty is already impossible to resist, yet will absolutely cruise for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2015): Bright medium ruby. Aromas and flavors of kirsch, black raspberry and molten dark chocolate. Plush, round and voluptuous without communicating any undue weight. Comes across as a bit less concentrated than the three 2013 Syrah bottlings--and lower in dry extract than the 2012 Clos de Betz--but boasts lovely energy and finesse. Best today on the subtle, rising finish. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
2 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Unpacking layers of complexity, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille offers a gorgeous nose filled with aromas of oak spices, dark cherry and juicy plum as it exudes power and finesse. Full-bodied, this is a delightful wine that continues to gain in complexity as it sits on the palate. Impressive, pleasurable and energetic, the wine somersaults to an elongated finish that brings me back for more. This is a stunning wine that will continue to age with grace and precision.
VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, minerals, violet and bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding finesse, showing great cut and lift but also a wonderfully supple texture. (Bob Betz feels that the effect of the Pulsair treatment is clear in this wine's dimension and weight on the palate.) Finishes with utterly refined, nearly invisible tannins But this wine is still quite backward and will need serious cellaring to fully express itself. (Drink between 2020-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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2013 |
Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$135 |
1 |
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WA 94 (5/2023): Unpacking layers of complexity, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Père de Famille offers a gorgeous nose filled with aromas of oak spices, dark cherry and juicy plum as it exudes power and finesse. Full-bodied, this is a delightful wine that continues to gain in complexity as it sits on the palate. Impressive, pleasurable and energetic, the wine somersaults to an elongated finish that brings me back for more. This is a stunning wine that will continue to age with grace and precision.
VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, minerals, violet and bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding finesse, showing great cut and lift but also a wonderfully supple texture. (Bob Betz feels that the effect of the Pulsair treatment is clear in this wine's dimension and weight on the palate.) Finishes with utterly refined, nearly invisible tannins But this wine is still quite backward and will need serious cellaring to fully express itself. (Drink between 2020-2030). Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Bevan Cellars |
2013 |
EE Cuvee Tench Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
2 |
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| |
WA 96 (10/2015): The 2013 EE Tench Vineyard, a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc, is a stunner. This comes from the red, rocky terraces near the Dalla Valle Vineyard on the western Vaca hillsides in Oakville. This wine has great intensity, with notes of scorched earth, jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, some licorice, underbrush and truffle. It is elegant, yet powerful and authoritative, pure and multi-layered, with a phenomenal finish of close to 50 seconds. This wine should drink well for 20-25 years.
VM 96 (10/2015): A wine of superb purity, finesse and richness, the 2013 Red Wine EE Tench Vineyard offers superb balance to match its inviting personality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the EE is totally alluring from the very first taste. The Franc adds striking floral and savory notes along with a kick of freshness. |
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2013 |
Harbison Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$269 |
1 |
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| |
WA 98 (10/2015): Bevan’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, aged three-fourths in new Taransaud and the rest in Gamba. This wine displays loads of new saddle leather, loamy soil undertones, seductive, sweet, ripe tannin, and luscious, succulent and majestic levels of blackberry and blueberry fruit as well as cassis and Christmas fruitcake. It is an amazing wine to drink over the next 30+ years.
VM 97 (10/2015): An explosive, powerful wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard hits the palate with serious depth and intensity. Black cherry jam, mocha, espresso, spice, new leather and menthol are meld into the huge, powerful finish. The Harbison is all about density, power and voluptuousness, all qualities the 2013 has in spades. Mocha, plum and espresso notes reappear to round things out in style. |
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2013 |
Impetus Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
1 |
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WA 95 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is an equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 50% new Taransaud, 25% new Darnajou, and 25% new Gamba. It comes from vineyards in both Sonoma and Napa. The Cabernet Franc is accessed from a relatively cool, high-elevation site in Bennett Valley, while the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Napa. Bevan told me that the phenolics of this wine are off the charts analytically, as the wine offers loads of mulberry, forest floor, violet, sweet oak and some underbrush and earth tones. Rich, full-bodied, opulent and fleshy, this wine is already drinking well and should continue to do so for another 10-15 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 The Impetus is a blend of Cabernet Franc from Victoria De Crescenzo's estate vineyard in Bennett Valley and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from Tench. Rich and explosive to the core, the 2013 exudes depth and concentration. Iron, smoke, white pepper, red cherries, plums and exotic spices meld into the deep, resonant finish. Of all the Bevan 2013s, the Impetus should drink well with minimal cellaring. |
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2013 |
McGah Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2015): A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard is pushing toward perfection. A beautiful nose of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, licorice, graphite and camphor all jump from the glass of this wine of majestic intensity, a magnificent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a super-concentrated and pure finish. It should drink well for another three decades.
VM 95 (10/2015): A big, ripe, opulent wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon McGah Vineyard races across the palate with layers of blackberry jam, cassis, mocha, plum, cloves and new leather. This is one of the more unctuous, flashy wines in the Bevan range and will appeal most to readers who enjoy the racier side of Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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2013 |
Ontogeny Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 95 (10/2015): The 2013 Ontogeny Proprietary Red is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming from some of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Sugarloaf Mountain, Two Dogs, Tin Box and Tench. Quite flavorful, it is exhibiting slightly more new oak than some of the other cuvees, but is still sexy and opulent, with voluptuous texture, low acidity, and oodles of juicy, succulent black and red fruits, licorice, underbrush and a touch of vanillin. An already irresistible beauty, it can be drunk over the next 20 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Ontogeny, Bevan's entry-level red, is fabulous, especially for the money. Super-ripe black cherries, mocha, plums, new leather, spices and espresso flesh out. Succulent, open and incredibly forward, the 2013 delivers the goods, big time. This is Russell Bevan's least expensive wine, and it is delicious. |
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2013 |
Sugarloaf Mountain Proprietary Blend |
$175 |
1 |
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| |
WA 99 (10/2015): The last two 2013s I tasted included the 2013 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. This fabulous and exciting elixir is a equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in equal parts Gamba and Darnajou, all new French oak. A stunning nose of forest floor, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry and spring flowers soars from the glass of this inky purple wine. Another offering of great intensity, with voluptuous texture and lavish, almost extravagant fruit richness, this pure, rich and incredibly well-made wine is yet more proof that Bevan is a genius on so many levels, as he can produce compelling wines whether they are Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay.
VM 96 (10/2015): The last two 2013s I tasted included the 2013 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain. This fabulous and exciting elixir is a equal-part blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in equal parts Gamba and Darnajou, all new French oak. A stunning nose of forest floor, blueberry, blackberry, mulberry and spring flowers soars from the glass of this inky purple wine. Another offering of great intensity, with voluptuous texture and lavish, almost extravagant fruit richness, this pure, rich and incredibly well-made wine is yet more proof that Bevan is a genius on so many levels, as he can produce compelling wines whether they are Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc or even Chardonnay. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$189 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Two Dog Knoll Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$199 |
1 |
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| |
| WA 96+ (10/2015): Another proprietary red wine, in this case a blend of 55% Petit Verdot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, is the 2013 Two Dog Knoll, which comes from the Oakville site. Normally with this much Petit Verdot, I would be worried about rustic tannins, but Bevan has handled it brilliantly. Inky bluish/purple, with notes of blueberry liqueur, brioche, acacia flowers, steak tartare as well as roasted meats and herbs, this is a wine of great intensity. Singular and distinct, it should drink well for 20-25 years as well. |
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2013 |
Wildfoote Vyd. Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon |
$219 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (10/2015): From a vineyard owned by Screaming Eagle’s former proprietress, Jean Phillips, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote is all Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 7, aged in equal parts new Taransaud and new Darnajou. An amazing wine, opaque purple in color, with sweet cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake, blackberry and cassis as well as some charcoal and incense, this fabulous wine is super-rich and capable of 30 years of further evolution.
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block, from Jeannie Philipps's, Stags Leap property, is fabulous. Inky, deep and mysterious, the 2013 possesses remarkable nuance and detail. Lavender, mint, spice and sage are some of the signatures in a wine endowed with tons of Stags' Leap personality. Sweet lavender, mint and pine meld into the sleek, silky finish. |
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| Blankiet |
2013 |
Prince of Hearts Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2015): A real overachiever, the 2013 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is deep and wonderfully expressive. Black cherry, plum, violets, cloves, leather and licorice meld together in a sumptuous, intense wine that overdelivers on so many levels, one of them being price. The Prince of Hearts is a model of finesse and understatement. Readers who can find it should not hesitate. There are only a handful of wines that can match Prince of Hearts for value and pure pleasure. The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Booker Vineyard |
2013 |
Tempranillo |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Competing with Epoch's top-notch Tempranillo as the best example of the variety in California, Jensen's 2013 Tempranillo is a blockbuster that's not made in every vintage. Black cherries, currants, leather, dried herbs and savory spices all emerge from this full-bodied, thick and unctuously textured beauty. It has the classic tannic grip of the variety, yet that's paired with the hallmark texture and purity of the estate. This is an awesome wine any way you look at it.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque ruby. The nose displays an array of dark fruit and floral scents, along with suggestions of pipe tobacco and woodsmoke. Sweet and generous in style, offering broad, edge-free flavors of blackberry and bitter cherry. Closes smooth and very long, with gentle tannins providing shape. This hefty, seamless example of Tempranillo will be delicious in its youth but also has the depth to age. (Drink between 2019-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2013 |
Estate Proprietary Blend |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2015): Formerly labeled as the Alchemist, the 2013 Booker Estate is 84% Syrah, 11% Tempranillo and the rest a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Inky colored, deep, savory and spicy, with the Tempranillo front and center at the moment, it offers lots of dark fruits, truffle, dried spice and meaty aromatics, full-bodied richness and enough tannic grip to warrant another year or two in bottle.
VM 94 (9/2015): Bright purple. Deeply perfumed, complex bouquet of dried cherry, licorice, potpourri and smoky minerals, with a subtle note of raw meat. Very sweet and creamy on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that gain depth and spiciness with air. Picks up notes of candied flowers and vanilla on the back end, finishing with superb energy, suave tannins and lingering sweetness. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Fracture Syrah |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 99 (8/2015): The 2013 Fracture is an utterly sensational blend of 100% Syrah, all from the estate Booker Vineyard, that exhibits off-the-chart notes of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, licorice, vanilla bean and toasted spice. Possessing perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol, tannin and acidity, it's full-bodied and incredibly seamless, with terrific concentration, a full, layered mid-palate and a blockbuster finish. Paso Robles Syrah at its finest, this incredible wine will benefit from a year or two in the cellar, yet thrill through 2025. Hats off to Eric Jensen for this absolutely killer effort and readers who doubt the quality of wine coming from these rolling hills west of Paso Robles need to try this wine.
VM 93 (9/2015): Brilliant purple. Sexy, focused mineral- and smoke-accented dark fruit liqueur and potpourri scents are complemented by suggestions of anise and cola. Sweet, seamless and spicy on the palate, with intense boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors becoming livelier with aeration. Really stains the palate and finishes sappy and very long, with smooth tannins. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Fulldraw Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-95 (8/2014): A new cuvee, the 2013 Fulldraw is a GSM blend of 48% Syrah, 35% Grenache and 17% Mourvedre. While it’s from young vines, you wouldn’t know it by tasting it, and it has a serious, mineral-laced profile to go with full-bodied, richness, incredible purity and lots of finely polished tannin. It should easily be an Outstanding wine and thrill for 5-8 years. |
|
|
2013 |
My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend |
$169 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 99 (8/2015): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the inky colored 2013 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend is a heavenly blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Petit Verdot and 29% Syrah that spent 18 months in French oak. Thrillingly pure, layered, unctuous and massively concentrated, it exhibits classic notes of blueberries, violets, black raspberries, spice and graphite. These give way to a full-bodied, seamless and layered 2013 that has building tannin, incredible purity of fruit and a blockbuster finish. Give it a year or two and enjoy bottles through 2025. |
|
|
2013 |
Oublie 24 Proprietary Blend |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2016): Checking in as a blend of 46% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre and 20% Counoise that spent 24 months in barrel, the 2013 Oublie 24 offers an open, sexy style in its mulled red fruits, dried flowers, spice and dried soil aromas and flavors. Sporting a semi translucent ruby color, this full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, a beautiful core of sweet fruit, and an endearing hard to resist personality that will drink well for 5-7 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Oublie Proprietary Blend |
$74 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 94 (8/2015): The ruby/semi-opaque colored 2013 Oublie is a sensational blend of 46% Grenache, 34% Mourvedre and 20% Counoise that offers a seamless, layered and complex array of blueberry, black raspberry, dried flowers, vanilla bean and spice on the nose. Pure silk on the palate, with full-bodied richness and no hard edges, this impeccably balanced red has a full, layered mid-palate, sweet tannin and a terrific finish. One of those wines where the bottle's empty before you know it, drink this beauty over the coming 5-8 years.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque ruby. Highly perfumed red and dark berry scents, along with a smoky mineral quality and a hint of lavender. Spicy black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors become fleshier with air, picking up an exotic touch of floral pastille. Maintains good focus and energy through a long, gently tannic finish, with the floral note echoing. Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Vertigo 24 Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 93-96 (8/2015): The extended barrel-aged release of the Vertigo cuvee, the 2013 GSM Vertigo EXT was still in barrel at the time of this tasting. Similar in style, with full-bodied depth and richness, it has more toasted bread, meaty, bloody notes and spice as well as a sexy, voluptuous and seamless style on the palate. I actually prefer the earlier bottling release at present, but this is still and knockout wine. |
|
|
2013 |
Vertigo Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94-96 (8/2014): The 2013 Vertigo (45% Syrah, 29% Mourvedre and 26% Grenache) has an almost Cornas-like purple fruit, liquid violets and caramelized meat profile that gives way to a layered, seamless and vibrant wine that has excellent concentration and a big finish. Despite being a big, rich wine, it has a pretty, elegant style that should allow it to shine on release. |
|
| Cadence |
2013 |
Bel Canto Red Mtn. Cara Mia Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (6/2016): One of the reserve wines from Ben Smith, the 2013 Bel Canto is a fabulous blend of 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Merlot that saw just under two years in 50% new French oak. It shows the lengthy elevage on the bouquet with a spicy, ripe, incense, dried flowers and currants driven style that shows a hint of evolution at first, yet continues to gain freshness and purity with time in the glass. This gives way to a complex, layered red that has fabulous mid-palate depth, building, ripe tannin and a big finish. Even with the slightly evolved style, this beauty will age gracefully. Give bottles 3-4 years and plan on drinking through 2030. |
|
|
2013 |
Camerata Cara Mia Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2016): A significantly different blend from the 2012, which was over 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Camerata checks in as 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, which like the Bel Canto spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. Possessing a fabulous bouquet of black currants, toasted spice, licorice and wild herbs, this full-bodied 2013 is concentrated, incredibly elegant and textured, with ripe tannin and a balanced, layered style that will evolve gracefully. It should be at its best from 2020-2033. |
|
| Caldwell |
2013 |
Carmenere |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Cayuse |
2013 |
Camaspelo Proprietary Blend Slightly Raised Cork |
$87.20 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): Leading off the 2013s, the 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, complex Bordeaux blend that would pass undetected in a lineup of Pauillacs. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2033.
VM 93+ (11/2016): Healthy dark red. Very black aromas of cassis, blackberry, black olive, spices and mint. Densely packed and very sweet, boasting a terrific combination of urgent crushed cassis and black cherry fruit and savory complexity. Not yet hugely complex or particularly floral, but this very intense wine is still a baby. Finishes very long and savory, with youthfully edgy tannins and excellent energy and lift. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Col Solare |
2013 |
Proprietary Red |
$50 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): Coming from the Col Solare and Quintessence vineyards on Red Mountain, the 2013 Proprietary Red is a rich, fabulously textured, full-bodied effort the has tons of black cherry and cassis fruits intermixed with notes of licorice, smoked herbs, graphite and lead pencil aromas and flavors. Made from a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Malbec that spent 22 months in 100% new French oak, drink this pure, layered and polished Red Mountain Bordeaux blend over the coming 15-20 years.
VM 92 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Claret-like aromas of raspberry, currant and spices lifted by a floral quality. Juicy, spicy and intense, with well-delineated red berry and mineral flavors sweetened by spicy oak. Finishes with a firm spine of broad, dusty tannins and excellent length. Very classy wine. (Drink between 2018-2026). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Colgin |
2013 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend |
$395 |
3 |
|
| |
VM 98 (10/2015): The 2013 Cariad is fabulous. Pliant, expressive and nuanced in the glass. Here, the tannins are suave and supple, which makes the wine unusually accessible today. There is plenty of delineation in the dark, mineral-laced flavors, but the 2013 impresses for most of its superb textural depth. Cariad is made mostly from fruit sourced from David Abreu's Madrona Ranch vineyard in St. Helena. ANtonio Galloni.
WA 98 (10/2015): The 2013 Cariad Proprietary Red Wine, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot, shows great intensity, with a slightly more burning ember and scorched earthiness to it, giving it a more Graves-like character compared to the purity of the Tychson Hill. The wine is full-bodied, rich, layered and possibly slightly more tannic and backward than the Tychson Hill, but that could be because it had recently been bottled. It should evolve over the course of 30+ years.
JS 97 (1/2016): Superb aromas of black fruits, black truffle and leather. Black olives. Full body, fabulous soft and velvety tannins, and superb length. The texture to this is so luxurious and sexy. Cardamom, game, earth and intense fruit. Yet poised. A blend as always of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Hard not to drink now. |
|
| Constant |
2013 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Syrah |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Continuum |
2013 |
Proprietary Blend |
$196.90 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 97 (10/2015): Graphite, lavender, sage, cloves and menthol race out of the glass in the 2013 Continuum, a wine that is just as impressive in bottle as it was from barrel. An intensely saline, mineral-drenched wine endowed with serious depth and precision, the 2013 shines with exceptional structural intensity and power, all that despite just having been bottled. In 2013 the Cabernet Franc is way up, which helps give the wine more aromatic top notes as well as greater overall complexity. Simply put, the 2013 is a real knock-out. |
|
| Corliss |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (1/2024): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is moody in the glass, slowly evolving with nuances of blackberry, mocha, sage and mint. This is cool-toned and sleek, with silky textures and medium-bodied weight, taking on a cocoa bitterness toward the close—like biting into an extra-dark chocolate bar. The 2013 finishes with a mentholated freshness and gritty tannins, coming across as both structured and remarkably fresh for a warm-vintage wine. (Drink between 2024-2032). Eric Guido. |
|
|
2013 |
Proprietary Blend |
$85 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Robert Craig |
2013 |
Diamond Mtn. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District, which is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, but treated almost identically to the other wines (18 months in 90% new French oak) is another big-time winner from Robert Craig. Backward and dense, but gorgeously pure blackberry and almost blood-like meaty notes combine with earth, spice and subtle oak to create a back-strapping, muscular, full-bodied, rich and concentrated wine with a good 20-25 years of upside. This was hard not to get blown away by, but it patience is needed, and 4-5 years is suggested. |
|
|
2013 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 94 (12/2015): Traditionally, Robert Craig has done a brilliant job with their selection from Mount Veeder, and the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) shows that haunting blueberry, raspberry, black raspberry and floral notes that seem characteristic of that AVA. A dense ruby/purple color, beautifully sweet purity, full-bodied opulence with a layered mouthfeel as well as sweet tannin make for another great 2013 that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt. Veeder) opens with a blast of dark blue/purplish fruit, spices, menthol and licorice. A host of graphite, slate, game, iron and savory notes appears later, adding considerable nuance throughout. The 2013 packs plenty of intensity, but the style is distinctly fruit-driven for the year. (Drink between 2020-2033). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cresta Velia |
2013 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| The Debate |
2013 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (10/2015): The ever-humorous and clever Jean Hoefliger says about the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon, “It has the complexity and depth of Sigmund Freud and the integrity of Abraham Lincoln.” Perhaps my tasting notes can’t say it much better than that. It’s a prodigious Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of charcoal embers integrated with blueberry, blackberry and cassis, some lead pencil shavings, unsmoked cigar tobacco, and a massive, full-bodied mouthfeel with incredible purity, structure and intensity. Forget it for 4-5 years and drink it over the following 30+. |
|
| DeLille Cellars |
2013 |
Merlot |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (6/2016): The 2013 Merlot is a fleshy, forward and charming effort that gives up lots of black cherry, currants, graphite and smoked herb characteristics in a medium-bodied, charming, balanced and very drinkable style. I'm not sure it will make old bones, but it should continue to impress through at least 2023.
VM 90 (11/2016): Bright medium red. Aromas of raspberry, mint and spicy oak. A very juicy style, with lovely inner-mouth energy and spice character to its intense red fruit flavors. Not especially complex but not at all an overripe style of Washington Merlot. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Chaleur Estate Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
15 |
|
| |
WA 93 (6/2016): The Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 2013 Chaleur Estate (there's smaller parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc) was brought up in new French oak and has a classic, beautiful bouquet of cassis, cedar, tobacco leaf, gamey meats and graphite. This gives way to a full-bodied, structured, tannic Cabernet that has beautiful purity, a big, mouth-filling texture and a killer finish. This is a serious effort that needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will have two to three decades of overall longevity.
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Sexy, nuanced scents of currant, black raspberry, cocoa powder, licorice and graphite. Wonderfully silky, plush and chocolatey, hinting at an almost porty ripeness; seems considerably riper than the 2012 version. Long hang time here brought outstanding density and richness. Finishes with big, ripe, noble tannins and outstanding length. This beauty will be approachable early. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
D2 Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2016): Ruby-red. Complex, perfumed aroma of blueberry, licorice and cocoa powder. Plush, sweet and deep; this round, seamless, fruit-driven blend boasts terrific immediate appeal. There's a hint of intriguing salinity here but not quite the umami richness of the outstanding 2012 example, even if this wine possesses riper fruit. Velvety and delicious right now and long and lush on the aftertaste. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2016): Billed as the second wine of the estate, the D2 Proprietary Red Wine is nevertheless a fabulous, outstanding Bordeaux blend that's brought up all in new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by solid notes of black currants, lead pencil, damp herbs and licorice, and while it might not have the complexity of the top cuvees, it has beautiful purity. Medium to full-bodied, balanced, with ripe, polished tannin and solid mid-palate depth, drink this beautiful 2013 anytime over the coming two decades. |
|
|
2013 |
Doyenne Aix Syrah |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. High-toned aromas of blackberry, clove oil, white pepper, licorice and game. Wonderfully silky and sweet but with terrific acidity giving grip and shape to the middle palate. Very concentrated, juicy wine with a wild suggestion of garrigue and a faintly animal character. Reminded me of something in the Mas de Daumas-Gassac/La Grange des Pères neighborhood. This very successful blend boasts superb fruit and finishes wonderfully sweet and ripely tannic. I'd love to slip this wine into a blind tasting with some cult reds from the Languedoc. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 93 (6/2016): Tasting like a rich, ripe red from Provence, the 2013 Doyenne Aix (60/40 Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up a fabulous bouquet of ripe black currants, melted licorice, roasted herbs and pepper in a full-bodied, concentrated, even unctuous, style on the palate. Despite all of the fruit and texture, this beauty has solid underlying structure and will drink well for another 10-15 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Doyenne Signature Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of spiced plum and wild herbs showed a livelier note of raspberry with air. Suave and seamless on the palate, offering sexy, slightly high-toned flavors of raspberry and more exotic red apricot (from the Viognier?), plus a note of pastry dough. Boasts compelling sweetness and fine-grained texture. Finishes ripely tannic, smooth and long. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (6/2016): The 2013 Doyenne Syrah Signature is a beauty. Ripe, layered and nicely concentrated, with lots of black cherry and black berry fruits, smoke, peppery herbs and olives, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, polished tannin and a clean, lengthy, elegant finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's beautiful today, but should be at its best from 2018-2025. |
|
|
2013 |
Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2016): Up there with the incredible 2012, yet in a more focused, tight, backwards style, the inky colored 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Four Flags comes from four separate vineyards (Klipsun, Grand Ciel, Ciel du Cheval and Upchurch) and exhibits classic Red Mountain characteristics of black fruit, smoked herbs, licorice, graphite and dusty minerality on the nose. Possessing serious intensity, full-bodied richness, ripe, yet present tannin and a fabulous finish, it needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years, and it will drink beautifully through 2038.
VM 93 (11/2016): Deep ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, licorice and crushed rock, plus a very ripe suggestion of plum brandy that winemaker Chris Upchurch says is from the Klipsun fruit. Wonderfully dense, fine-grained and broad, combining Latour-like saline, gravel and graphite notes with the vibrant blueberry and mineral aspect of Ciel du Cheval. Seriously structured, sharply focused, very pure wine with lovely floral lift and elegance. Finishes with sweet tannins and outstanding breadth. (Drink between 2018-2025). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95+ (6/2016): A spitting image of a top Pauillac, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Grand Ciel comes from one of the top terroirs in the state, the Grand Ciel Vineyard on Red Mountain. Aged all in new French oak, its offers sensational notes of lead pencil shavings, black currants, campfire, graphite and crushed flowers. Full-bodied, seamless and incredibly elegant, yet with serious density and power, it's surprisingly approachable given its polished tannin and overall balance, yet I've no doubt it will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity.
VM 94 (11/2016): Ruby-red. Very pure, vibrant scents of blueberry, cassis and cedary oak. Densely packed, pliant and savory, conveying a restrained sweetness to the flavors of currant and spices. An outstanding example of this bottling, with a touch of pyrazine lift contributing to its impression of lift. Plush and very long, finishing with harmonious noble tannins. This wine conveys an impression of through and even ripening and has the balance and structure for graceful aging. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tenzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Harrison Hill Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): he elegant 2013 Harrison Hill is reminiscent of lighter weight Chateau Margaux with its beautiful aromatics of tobacco leaf, sandalwood, lead pencil and black cherries. These give way to a medium to full-bodied, supple, seamlessly textured 2013 that has sweet tannin, no hard edges, and beautiful purity and focus in the finish. It's already approachable, but will evolve gracefully on its balance and overall harmony.
VM 92+ (11/2016): Medium-deep red. Sexy, claret-like herbal complexity to the perfumed aromas of redcurrant, strawberry, lavender, rose petal, tobacco and licorice. Fat, suave and subtly sweet, with wonderfully fine-grained blue and red fruit and savory mineral flavors complicated by truffle and hints of dried flowers and light pyrazines. In a rather Old World style, and long on personality. Finishes ripe and persistent, with dusty, firm-edged tannins. Very distinctive and very smooth. (Drink between 2017-2027). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Metier Proprietary Blend |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/2016): I loved the 2013 Doyenne Metier Proprietary Red Blend, and this mix of 39% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache and the rest Cinsault offers ripe, textured, downright sexy notes of ripe black cherries, ground herbs, melted licorice and caramelized meats to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, unctuous style on the palate. Beautifully concentrated, textured and with solid underlying structure, it should continue to drink beautifully through 2025.
VM 91 (11/2015): Good dark red. Sexy, sappy aromas of raspberry syrup, licorice and wild herbs. A fat fruit bomb of raspberry, strawberry and boysenberry, complicated by clove and meaty nuances. A wonderfully plush, broad, dry blend with a slightly liqueur-like ripeness that lends itself to early consumption. Spreads out horizontal on the lingering, ripely tannic back end. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Shaw Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$39 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 95 (6/2016): A new cuvee from this estate and from a vineyard in the northeast portion of Red Mountain, the sensational 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Shaw Red Mountain Vineyard is a big, concentrated Cabernet that offers tons of blackcurrants, graphite, crushed rock, licorice and sweet oak in a full-bodied, seamless and elegant package. Possessing fabulous purity and tons of tannic grip, a good portion of which are covered by sweet fruit, this beautiful wine is certainly approachable now due to its balance and purity of fruit, but needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 15-20 years.
VM 91 (11/2016): Bright medium ruby. Aromas of blackberry, black pepper and bitter chocolate. Densely packed, sweet and rich; an almost California-like bomb of dark berries and chocolate. Finishes ripely complex and long, but without the complexity of the best red wines from this producer. (Drink Between 2017-2022). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| DeSante |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Donelan |
2013 |
Cuvee Moriah Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
12 |
|
| |
| JD 93 (7/2017): The 2013 Cuvee Moriah is 87% Grenache and 13% Syrah that’s all from the Dry Stack Vineyard in the Bennett Valley. It has a gorgeous (as well as complex) bouquet of ripe cherries, cranberry, dried flowers and incense. This carries to an ethereally textured, elegant Grenache that that has sweet fruit, medium-bodied richness and a great finish. It’s not going to make old bones, but it’s going to be impossible to resist over the coming 4-5 years. This may be my favorite vintage of this cuvee to date. |
|
|
2013 |
Kobler Family Vyd. Syrah |
$60 |
1 |
|
| |
| JD 95 (7/2017): Coming from the Green Valley region of the Russian River Valley (this is a cooler terroir), the 2013 Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard is always cofermented with a big chunk of Viognier (10% in 2013) and is aged mostly in neutral oak. It offers an ethereal, elegant and seamless style as well as classic notes of black raspberries, white pepper, rose petals and white cherries (no doubt from the Viognier). Nuanced and deep, with a great finish, it’s never the largest scaled wine in the lineup, but it shines for it complexity and incredible elegance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. |
|
|
2013 |
Two Brothers Pinot Noir |
$49 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (2/2016): The 2013 Pinot Noir Two Brothers is pretty, floral and lifted, all qualities that make it quite appealing for near and medium-term drinking. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries and cinnamon are all given an extra kick of savory lift from the 30% whole clusters. The Two Brothers is now a Sonoma County wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Walker Vine Hill Syrah |
$59 |
2 |
|
| |
| JD 97+ (7/2017): One of the larger scaled examples of this cuvee I’ve tried, the 2013 Syrah Walker Vine Hill saw only partial destemming and 20 months in 25% new French oak. Reminding me a great vintage of Hermitage Les Bessards from Delas, it boasts phenomenal notes of crème de cassis, graphite, roasted herbs, melted licorice and burning embers. Rich, voluptuous, seriously ripe and decadent, yet with density, tannin and structure, it needs 3-4 years of cellaring (it needs an hour decant or more if drinking today) and will have two decades of overall longevity. This is what great California Syrah tastes like! |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (12/2015): An expensive and impressive bottle is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 1886. This is a brilliant example of Cabernet Sauvignon showing deep ruby/purple, loads of crème de cassis, spice box and beautiful purity, the wine is full-bodied, opulent and multi-dimensional. This is a superb 2013 and the packaging is pretty amazing. Drink it over the next decade.
VM 89 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is ripe, fleshy and voluptuous, with good-up front intensity and fine overall balance. The style is racy, ripe and intense to the core. Succulent red cherry, raspberry, spice and mint give the 2013 much of its soft, open-knit finish. Drink this soft, forward Cabernet over the next handful of years. (Drink between 2016-2023). Antonio Gallloni. |
|
| Fairchild Estate |
2013 |
G III Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (10/2015): Like the Sigaro, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges III has really come together over the last year. An attractive mélange of minerals, iron, smoke and rose petal adds nuance to the jammy, red-tone fruit. Veins of classic George III tannin give the wine much of its shape, energy and inner tension. This powerful, structured Cabernet needs a few years to come together, but it is firing on all cylinders today. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Far Niente |
2013 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2015): A dark, explosive wine, the 2013 hits the palate with masses of dark, super-concentrated fruit. Spice, new leather, menthol and tobacco appear with air to round things out. The 2013 is not especially subtle, but it is racy, opulent and voluptuous, all qualities that will hold considerable appeal to readers looking for immediacy and near-term pleasure, all of which the 2013 has in abundance. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Figgins Estate |
2013 |
Proprietary Blend |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (6/2016): The flagship is the 2013 Estate Red Wine, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot that spent 20 months in 62% new French oak, with the balance in second fill barrels. Coming from a cooler, higher elevation site on the eastern edge of Walla Walla, this beauty possesses fabulous purity in its cassis and black raspberry fruit, violets, graphite and spring flower-like aromas and flavors. These give way to a full-bodied impeccably balanced 2013 that has fine tannin, nicely integrated acidity and a great finish. I don’t think it has the density of the 2012, but it shines for its overall harmony and purity. This beauty is enjoyable now, but should be at its best from 2020-2033.
VM 93+ (11/2016): Very bright ruby-red. Cassis, licorice and stony minerality on the nose, plus a strong minty quality that's probably from the Petit Verdot component. Superconcentrated black fruits hint at creamy depth but are still very tightly wound and in need of patience. The wine's sweetness is nicely countered by an impression of high-altitude acidity. This extract-rich, extremely primary wine offers outstanding promise. The Mill Creek Upland vineyard can be dry-farmed in most years, according to Chris Figgins, as it receives about 22 inches of rain (high for Walla Walla Valley), vs. just 12 at Seven Hills, just 16 miles to the southwest as the vulture flies. (Drink between 2021-2033). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Force Majeure |
2013 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (11/2016): Bright, full ruby. Pungent oaky lift to the aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and licorice, plus an iron-like tobacco nuance. Plush and sweet in the mouth, offering slightly chunky dark fruit, spice and sweet oak flavors. Finishes with substantial, chewy, oak-driven tannins that turned a bit drier with aeration. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Force Majeur Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (6/2015): Made by Todd Alexander and coming from the new estate vineyard, the 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is backward and structured, with gorgeous dark fruits, scorched earth, graphite and crushed rock giving way to a full-bodied, concentrated tannic feel on the palate. This is a serious effort that will need a decade of cellaring, yet should have 25+ years of overall longevity. |
|
| Gallica |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| The Grade |
2013 |
Winfield Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Gramercy Cellars |
2013 |
John Lewis Reserve Syrah |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93+ (11/2015): (made entirely with whole clusters; 13.5% alcohol): Deep red-ruby. Wild, musky aromas of dark raspberry, graphite, licorice, brown spices, dried flowers, crushed rock and peppery herbs. Wonderfully fine-grained and savory in the mouth, showing outstanding tension and peppery lift to the raspberry, black olive and mineral flavors. A very subtle, sharply delineated Syrah with a restrained sweetness and a long, slowly building finish featuring suave, palate-dusting tannins. I find this more complex and much easier to taste than the 2012 at a similar stage of its evolution. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Lagniappe Syrah |
$59 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2016): Slightly more fruit driven than the meaty, peppery John Lewis release, the 2013 Syrah Lagniappe is a drop dead gorgeous Syrah that does everything right. Its almost opaque purple color is followed by a complex, layered bouquet that includes ample black and blue fruits, ground pepper, lavender, olive and hints of bacon fat. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, layered, silky 2013 that has a great mid-palate, juicy acidity and a great finish. I’d happily drink it today, but it should be at its best from 2018-2028. |
|
|
2013 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (6/2016): The 243-case 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a beautiful, elegant Cabernet that incorporates 12% Merlot and comes from the Bacchus, Phinny Hill and Loess vineyards. Aged 22 months in 65% new French oak, it offers tons of toasted bread, espresso roast, lead pencil shavings and dried herbs to go with a core of black cherry and darker currant-like fruits. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, impeccably balanced, and with terrific length, it shows the more streamlined style of the vintage, yet has enough density and depth to reward short-term cellaring, and drink well for two decades or more after that. |
|
| Greer |
2013 |
Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$185 |
3 |
|
| |
| JD 98+ (1/2021): Purchased at the great Napa restaurant Press, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon showed brilliantly. A powerful, locked-and-loaded 2013 that’s just about as good as anything out there, it reveals a deep purple color as well as a blockbuster nose of blackcurrants, scorched earth, violets, candied flowers, and chocolate. With building minerality on the palate, full-bodied richness, a monster of a mid-palate, and a great finish, this is another insanely good 2013 that will take another 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30-40 years. (Drink between 2025-2066). |
|
| Hall Winery |
2013 |
Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon |
$167 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall from Napa is another blockbuster, exhibiting an opaque bluish purple color, notes of charcoal, graphite, blackberry, chocolate and exotic spices, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long, long finish. Like most 2013s, it is just hinting at its ultimate potential, but this wine is loaded and exciting. Forget it for another 4-5 years and drink it over the following three decades.
VM 92 (12/2016): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is dark, powerful and juicy. Raspberry jam, mocha, new leather and dark spices, along with supple, forward fruit give the Kathryn Hall its soft, succulent personality. This is one of the more approachable, racy 2013 Cabernets readers will come across. Silky tannins add to the wine's finesse and texture. Antonio Galloni.
JS 88 (12/2016): Very ripe and raisiny with dense and rich fruit. A little hot. Dialling it back a few notches would make this Outstanding but alas, there's just too much here, and what there is overdone. |
|
| he-li-an-thus |
2013 |
Napa Valley Proprietary Blend |
$109 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Hendry |
2013 |
Block 13 Merlot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Block 7 & 22 Zinfandel |
$35 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
HRW Pinot Noir |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Hobel Wine Works |
2013 |
Engelhard Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Horsepower Vineyards |
2013 |
The Tribe Vyd. Syrah |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2015): More straight and focused than the Sur Echalas Vineyard, the 2013 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is slightly darker in color, with lots of gunpowder, blackberry, blueberry, smoked game and beef blood aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, yet elegant and silky, with a great finish, it's a gorgeously complex, balanced and complete Syrah that has lots of Rocks character, as well as 15 years of more of longevity. I have a slight preference for the Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah, but these share lots of similarities and are both brilliant wines. |
|
| Thomas Hsi |
2013 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
4 |
|
| |
| JD 96+ (1/2019): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder checks in as a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that spent 30 months in 65% new French oak. It’s a backward, concentrated, full-bodied bruiser of a wine that has loads of blackcurrants, sagebrush, graphite, and lead pencil-like aromas and flavors. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring and is a 30-year wine. |
|
| Hunnicutt |
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (12/2015): Hunnicutt’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, is stunning. Overseen by winemaker Kirk Venge, the son of legendary Nils Venge, this 568-case cuvée a is terrific. Sweet blackberry fruits jump from the glass, the wine broad, savory and full-bodied with beautiful purity and intensity. It’s also a great value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon given the quality. Drink it over the next 20 years. |
|
| Inglenook |
2013 |
Rubicon Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
11 |
|
| |
| JA 97 (11/2020): Tasted during a fascinating conversation with Elaine Chukan Brown held over Zoom (what else) about the centuries of exchange between California and Bordeaux. I suggested it to the Decanter panel for the Wines of the Year tasting, and was thrilled to see it made it through to the final list. This is a wine that is built to last, and still young, but already giving so much pleasure and an excellent example of why Cabernet Sauvignon is such a rewarding grape in Napa. Rippling in rich berry fruits, damson and cassis, edged in slate and black chocolate, softening into campfire, leather and black truffle edging. A signature Napa Cabernet. 75% new oak. |
|
| K Vintners |
2013 |
The Creator Proprietary Blend |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Kerr Cellars |
2013 |
Reserve Red Wine |
$109.65 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2017): What a delight it is to taste Kerr's 2013 Reserve Red in such great shape. Dark, powerful and structured, with forbidding tannins that are going to need time to soften, the 2013 is terrific. A host of espresso, mocha, leather, licorice and cedar infuse a core of dark fruit in this imposing yet expressive red blend. All of the class of this great Napa Valley vintage comes through a highly expressive yet mid-weight wine. I suspect the bottle I tasted last fall was flawed, as this bottle is on another level entirely. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Reserve Red Wine |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (8/2017): What a delight it is to taste Kerr's 2013 Reserve Red in such great shape. Dark, powerful and structured, with forbidding tannins that are going to need time to soften, the 2013 is terrific. A host of espresso, mocha, leather, licorice and cedar infuse a core of dark fruit in this imposing yet expressive red blend. All of the class of this great Napa Valley vintage comes through a highly expressive yet mid-weight wine. I suspect the bottle I tasted last fall was flawed, as this bottle is on another level entirely. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Kutch |
2013 |
Falstaff Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$45 |
12 |
|
| |
VM 91 (1/2015): Rose petals, mint, spices and sweet red berries are all laced together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard. This is the most lifted and aromatic of the wines in this range. The 2013 is intensely saline, lifted and perfumed. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy aromatic, mid-weight Pinots. The 2013 is all about precision and nuance. It is also a bit light, even within the context of this style. (Drink between 2015-2025). Antonio Galloni.
BH 91 (10/2015): Notes of dried rose petal, anise, herbal tea, red currant and a hint of cinnamon introduce silky-textured medium-bodied flavors that deliver fine length on the dusty, balanced and lingering finale. This too will need a few years but less than either the Sonoma Coast or Bohan, as the overall palate impression is notably finer. Note however that the balance should allow this to age, and improve, gracefully for up to a decade. (Drink starting 2019). |
|
|
2013 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$35 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (1/2015): Dark red cherries, plums, spices, menthol and rose petals meld together in the 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. Dark, mysterious and supple in the glass, the 2013 is super pure and pretty today. Expressive savory notes from the 100% whole clusters add lift and nuance on the finish. The 2013 is a blend of fruit from Sonoma Stage, where the terrain is rich in clay, and McDougall, which is characterized by sandier soils. This is one of the best artisan Sonoma Coast Pinots readers will find for the money. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$95 |
7 |
|
| |
WA 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (White Label) is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in about two-thirds new French oak. Very Bordeaux-like, with a St.-Julien-like personality, there are notes of crushed stones, gunflint, licorice, cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake and loads of red and blackcurrants. It is a powerful wine with a hint of chocolate as well. This beautiful and structured yet elegant wine should drink well for at least 15-25 years.
VM 92 (10/2015): A dark, powerful wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (white label) hits the palate with masses of dark fruit, cedar, tobacco, savory herbs and leather. Today the tannins are a bit rustic, but the 2013 possesses remarkable density and the pedigree to age for many years. The distinctly ferrous, iron-infused and meaty notes are some of the key Larkmead signatures. Antonio Galloni.
JD 92 (10/2023): Looking first at the classic 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, this still deep plum-hued Cabernet has a touch of lightening at the rim as well as youthfully mature, Bordeaux-like aromatics of darker currants, truffle, smoked cigar, leather, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, round, nicely textured, and concentrated, with a great finish, this classic, impeccably made Cabernet Sauvignon is fully in its prime drink window, with another decade of longevity ahead of it. |
|
|
2013 |
Firebelle Proprietary Blend |
$92 |
8 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Firebelle Proprietary Red is a blend of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine shows loads of roasted espresso notes mixed with white chocolate, plum, black cherry and currant. The wine is ripe, opulent, full-bodied and a very sexy, lush example of 2013 to drink over the next 15 or more years. |
|
|
2013 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (10/2015): The 2013 Proprietary Red LMV Salon, which is a proprietary red of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Cabernet Franc, is stunning. The Cabernet Franc seems to give this wine a tremendous fragrance, as the opaque purple color offers notes of cedar wood, underbrush, forest floor and spring flowers along with creme de cassis and black cherries. With a full body, ripe texture and moderately high tannins, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep 30-35 years. |
|
|
2013 |
The Lark Proprietary Blend |
$249 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Leonetti Cellars |
2013 |
Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2016): Leading off the 2013s, the 2013 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon comes all from estate vineyard and is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 7% Malbec, all of which spent 22 months in new and once used French oak. It’s vibrant purple color is followed by classic notes of crème de cassis, violets, tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings and graphite. This full-bodied, ripe, yet still elegant Cabernet (which checks in at 14.7% alcohol) has terrific purity, ripe, polished tannin and a great finish. It has the purity and finesse to drink beautifully today, but it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity.
VM 93 (11/2016): (70% new French oak): Bright red-ruby. Very sexy aromas of blueberry, dark raspberry, pomegranate, mocha, cola and top-quality oak, lifted by violet and mint high tones. Very rich, deep, creamy wine, with its intense, vibrant red and darker berry flavors accented by spices. Slightly edgy acidity and youthfully clenched tannins call for patience; I would not be at all surprised if this seriously structured but plush and very long wine eventually merited an even higher rating. |
|
|
2013 |
Walla Walla Valley Reserve Red Wine |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2016): Similar to the straight Cabernet release, the 2013 Walla Walla Reserve has even more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and is 81% Cabernet, 11% Petit Verdot and 8% Merlot. It does nicely in the vintage and has beautiful purity and elegant as well as textbook Cabernet notes of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, scorched earth and hints of chocolate. A touch fresher and more focused than the Cabernet Sauvignon release, this beautiful concentrated, impeccably balanced 2013 will need 4-5 years of cellaring and have 20-25 years of overall longevity.
VM 94+ (11/2016): Saturated medium ruby. Less showy on the nose than the Cabernet Sauvignon, with brooding but very ripe aromas of black cherry, mocha, dusty rose and violet. Compellingly sweet and fine-grained, with deep black cherry and dark berry flavors complicated by an element of Belgian chocolate that carries through the very long, building finish. Tannins saturate the palate and cheeks. This is less harmonious today than the Cabernet Sauvignon bottling but longer on the aftertaste. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Lewelling Vineyards |
2013 |
St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (10/2015): The inky purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon displays plenty of classic creme de cassis and lead pencil shavings along with some licorice, charcoal and vanilla notes. It is full-bodied and opulent, with good integration of sweet tannin and bright acids. This wine is still young but approachable, and certainly capable of evolving for 10-15+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Wight Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 93+ (10/2015): Very Pauillac-like (as usual), the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight has a similar character, with loads of creme de cassis, smoke, licorice and graphite as well as a full-bodied texture, dense, rich fruit, impressive purity and ripe tannin. This is a beauty, but interestingly, it doesn’t show the dramatic difference in quality that it often does at such a young age, although that may well evolve. Give it several more years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades. |
|
| Lewis Cellars |
2013 |
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$175 |
12 |
|
| |
|
| Linne Calodo |
2013 |
Problem Child |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (9/2015): Saturated ruby. A heady, explosively perfumed bouquet displays scents of ripe raspberry, incense and rose oil, with an intense spicy nuance adding lift. Stains the palate with potent red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, with juicy acidity providing spine. Youthfully firm tannins build slowly through the strikingly long finish, which strongly repeats the red fruit and floral qualities. (Drink between 2021-2026). Josh Raynolds. |
|
|
2013 |
Sticks and Stones |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (8/2015): A sensational expression of California Grenache, Matt's 2013 Sticks and Stones gives up tons of sweet cherries, raspberries, crushed, flowers and spice characteristics in a medium to full-bodied, pure, elegant profile. Made from 70% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault and 8% Syrah, it shines for its overall balance, purity of fruit and light, ethereal mouthfeel that keeps you coming back to the glass. It's already drinking great so don't be afraid to crack open a bottle. It should still be going strong in 2022. |
|
| Marciano |
2013 |
Estate Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$199 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2016): A gorgeous wine, the 2013 Marciano Estate has really come together since I tasted it last year. Black cherry, mocha, espresso, dark spices and new leather flesh out in the glass. Dark, powerful and enveloping, the 2013 captures the power and intensity of this site beautifully, with soft, sensual tannins that give the wine much of its immediacy and appeal. Today, the 2013 is a knockout. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Matthews |
2013 |
Colombia Valley Claret |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 92 (6/2016): Readers looking for a longer term prospect should check out the 2013 Claret (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot), which is firm, concentrated and structured; it has plenty of oak in its tobacco leaf, incense, and crème de cassis aromas and flavors. Give this full-bodied 2013 about 5-6 years of cellaring and drink over the following decade.
VM 90 (11/2015): Bright, deep ruby-red. Perfumed, oaky aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet, dark chocolate and graphite minerality. Plush, fine-grained and moderately sweet in the mouth, with the dark berry flavors lifted by enticing floral perfume and nicely framed by sound acidity for the year. Really builds subtly on the long, smooth, savory back end, which features suave, building tannins and lingering black fruits. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Colombia Valley Reserve Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2016): Another sensational wine is the 2013 Reserve, which is largely Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 28% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged 21 months in new French oak. It reveals fabulous purity of fruit and full-bodied richness, as well as textbook Bordeaux-like notes of black currants, cassis, lead pencil shaving and leafy herbs. It shows more and more tannin with time in the glass, but it never loses its overall sense of elegance and purity. Well-stored bottles should be at their best from 2020-2038. |
|
| Maybach |
2013 |
Amoenus Cabernet Sauvignon |
$150 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus comes from a completely different terroir, a western hillside vineyard near Calistoga that averages 10-15 degrees cooler than the eastern part of the valley in what is known as the Black Mountain Gap. The wine shows incredible minerality, beautiful notes of forest floor, floral scents, blackcurrant liqueur, licorice and graphite. The wine is dense, full-bodied and seems even more backward and broodingly powerful than the Materium. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a long-distance runner that should age beautifully for 30-40 years. Production of this is much less, usually averaging under 300 cases of wine per year. |
|
|
2013 |
Materium Cabernet Sauvignon |
$350 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2015): There are roughly 600 cases of the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Materium, all of which comes from the Weitz Vineyard on the eastern Vaca Mountain hillside of Oakville at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the Silverado Trail. This is shallow soil interspersed with loads of pebbles and stones. This wine is incredible first-growth material – a magical Cabernet Sauvignon with an opaque purple color, an extraordinary nose of blackberry and cassis, white flowers, crushed rock and minerality followed by a full-bodied majestic mouthfeel with phenomenal balance, purity and overall equilibrium. Stunningly rich and impressive, this wine will hit its peak in 8-10 years and has the potential to last 40-50 years. For those who keep track of such things, the wine was completely aged in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels. |
|
| Meteor Vineyard |
2013 |
Estate Special Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
$228.65 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Family Reserve has a dense, opaque, black/purple color, enormous extract and massive fruit, full-bodied power and stunning purity and depth. Readers are often too young to remember what some of the great classics of the late 1960s and 1970s tasted like, particularly the Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignons of 1968-1974. Well, I bought those wines, and tasting these Meteor Vineyard wines reminded me of their super-richness and almost overwhelming extract and power. This is another great achievement, but a real connoisseur's wine in that it's going to take 8-10 years to come around and last 30-40 years, if not longer.
VM 96 (8/2017): Creamy and dense, with plenty of tannic spine in support, Meteor's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely gorgeous. Bittersweet chocolate, espresso, menthol, licorice grow as the 2013 saturates every corner of the palate. Exotic spice, flowers, wild cherry, leather and espresso infuse the unctuous, inviting finish. The 2013 Family Reserve is a big wine, but all of the elements are impeccably balanced. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Myriad |
2013 |
Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$225 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2015): An absolutely fabulous wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard has an inky bluish/purple color, extraordinary nose of graphite, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, forest floor and spring flora. The wine hits the palate with a full-bodied richness, stunning purity and an absolutely magnificent texture and length. It would be difficult to want more in a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon than this. Drink it over the next 25 years.
JS 93 (1/2016): Wet earth, black currant, clove and spice aromas follow through to a full body, velvety tannins and a chewy finish. Big style but shows form and freshness. Give it a couple of year of bottle age to soften. Try in 2019.
VM 92+ (10/2015): Myriad's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III is just as delicious from bottle as it was from barrel. Iron, smoke and exotic red-fleshed fruit are all pushed forward. The Georges III offers plenty of nuance and detail to balance the creamy, voluptuous fruit. Today, the 2013 is a bit closed, but that is not surprising given its recent bottling. |
|
|
2013 |
Three Twins Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard emerges from a site that winemaker Mike Smith has found in Conn Valley. The wine shows a more earthy side to his brilliant winemaking skills, showing blueberry and blackberry fruit, but there is more of an underlying minerality and loamy soil, earthiness. It is full-bodied, rich, pure, and multilayered aa well as textured. It should drink well for at least 20-25 years. |
|
| Nine Suns |
2013 |
Proprietary Blend |
$269 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (3/2016): Much more tightly knit, structured, and built for the long haul is the 2013 Proprietary Red, which is a 600-case blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. The ceiling on this wine is probably higher than the 2012, but it needs another 2-4 years of bottle age. Opaque purple in color, with hints of white chocolate, black truffle, sweet crème de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as a touch of wood smoke, this wine has great richness, an extraordinary, singular personality, and a fabulous finish of close to 50+ seconds. Kudos to the Chang family and winemaker Sam Kaplan for turning out two profound wines from Pritchard Hill. Look for the 2013 to hit its prime in 5-6 years and last for three decades or more.
VM 93 (12/2016): The 2013 Proprietary Red is quite a bit more tannic and structured than the 2012 tasted alongside it, with notable depth and persistence throughout. Crème de cassis, lavender, mocha, dark spices and graphite infuse the powerful finish. Like most of these wines, the 2013 is quite concentrated, but it also appears to have the depth to stand up to the oak. Needless to say, it will be fascinating to see where the 2013 goes. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| No Girls |
2013 |
Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo |
$76 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 92+ (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Dark aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice lifted by rose petal. Sweet, plush dark raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors show noteworthy energy, with the sexy rose petal quality providing a lively foil to the wine's salinity. Finishes with building, ripe tannins that should hold this wine for a decade or more. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| O'Shaughnessy |
2013 |
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95+ (10/2015): Deep, inky and powerful, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a classic wine endowed with tons of regional character and personality to burn. The inclusion of all seven Bordeaux varieties in the blend adds layers of nuance and complexity. Hints of game, smoke, licorice and dark spices add nuance to a somber, brooding Cabernet Sauvignon that is going to need at least a few years to fully open up. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is O’Shaughnessy’s largest cuvee of wine, nearly 3,300 cases from her vineyard, with a final blend that is somewhat unusual - 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenère, and a rather obscure one, 3% St. Macaire. Dense purple in color, with notes of mulberry, blackberry, graphite and spring flowers, the wine has great fruit, a dense, full-bodied mouthfeel, and wonderfully sweet, well-integrated tannin. The acidity is sound, the purity impressive, and the wine long and reassuring. Drink it over the next 20+ years. |
|
|
2013 |
Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
6 |
|
| |
VM 97 (10/2015): A great example of Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, O'Shaughnessy's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder offers compelling nuance and pure power. The flavors are bright, vibrant and beautifully focused throughout. Sweet floral and spice notes add aromatic intrigue, but above all else, the 2014 is a wine of textural richness. This is a great example of the vintage. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (12/2015): The blockbuster 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and 100% from Mt. Veeder. This is magnificent, with blue and black fruits galore, a dense, opaque purple color, and notes of creamy oak interwoven with enormous quantities of highly extracted fruit and velvety tannins in a voluptuously textured, multi-layered stunner. This wine still shows plenty of grip and tannin, so give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30 years. This is a big-time winner. |
|
| Outpost |
2013 |
True Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$229 |
4 |
|
| |
WA 99 (10/2015): Absolutely as close to perfection as one probably can get is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a selection of their very best material. This cuvee represents 375 cases aged 20 months in 90% new French oak. Opaque purple in color and more packed and concentrated than its sibling, it is full-bodied, with blackberry and blueberry fruit, perhaps a slight suggestion of charcoal and volcanic earth and burning embers. The wine has huge structure, massive extract and is as packed and stacked as a Cabernet Sauvignon can be. Forget it for 7-10 years and drink it over the following 40-50.
VM 95+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard is every bit as impressive as it has been on the several occasions I have tasted it from cask. An exotic concoction of smoke, graphite, black cherries and lavender makes a strong impression in a towering, distinctive Howell Mountain wine that is going to need a good few years in bottle to truly come together. This is a fabulous showing from Outpost. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pahlmeyer |
2013 |
Malbec |
$69 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Merlot Bin-Soiled Label |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Merlot is dark, powerful and also quite tannic, all signatures of the vintage. Black cherry, mocha, graphite, plum, smoke, licorice and menthol are bold and intense in the glass, but the 2013 is only showing a hint of its potential. Far from an easygoing Merlot, Pahlmeyer's 2013 is going to need time to be fully expressive. This is a rare vintage that is 100% Merlot. Most of the fruit in the 2013 is estate grown, with a dollop of grapes (15%) from Rancho Chimiles in Coombsville. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Peay Vineyards |
2013 |
Pomarium Pinot Noir |
$55 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (2/2016): One of the real surprises in this tasting, the 2013 Pinot Noir Estate Pomarium has really blossomed over the last year. The Ama possesses quite a bit more tannin and structure than the Ama, along with a darker flavor profile that tend towards the dark red/purplish end of the spectrum. Violet, lavender, mint, cloves and crushed rocks add further shades of dimension. This is an especially vertical, structured Pinot from the Peay family. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Savoy Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$50 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (2/2016): Peay's 2013 Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard is pretty, open-knit and expressive. The bright flavors are typical of the Peay style, but there is an extra level of richness from this warm Anderson Valley site that softens the contours and gives this wine much of its near to medium-term appeal. I find the wine's exuberant, racy personality compelling. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
$30 |
6 |
|
| |
| VM 89 (1/2015): Peay's 2013 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is quite pretty and lifted, with lovely aromatic brightness. Sweet red cherry, raspberry and rose petal notes meld together in an effortless, gracious Pinot built on silkiness. This tasty Pinot is a good introduction to the Peay house style. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Pott |
2013 |
Kaliholmanok Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$195 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok, from a site on Spring Mountain, is one of the most sensual wines in Aaron Pott's range. Super-ripe red cherry, plum, mint, spice and rose petal meld into the voluptuous, racy finish, all with silky tannins that enrobe the fruit while conveying finesse and pure sensuality. Next to Pott's 2013s, the Kaliholmanok is a bit less powerful and is also likely to be more accessible young. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Original Gangster Grenache |
$72.25 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
The Arsenal Greer Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$129 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 95 (10/2015): Nothing in particular stands out in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal. Instead, it is the wine's overall balance that truly impresses. Lavender, mint, sweet spices and red stone fruit are all finely spun into the racy finish. Sadly, this is Pott's last vintage of The Arsenal, as proprietor Rob Greer has opted to keep all of the fruit for his own project. Antonio Galloni.
WA 94+ (10/2015): A big-time wine is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Arsenal from the Greer Vineyard in Rutherford. I believe this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is dense purple, with loamy soil undertones interwoven with creme de cassis, blackberry, spice box and cedar wood. The wine is deep, rich opulent and a big-time winner with sweet tannins. This wine should drink well for two decades as well. |
|
| Pulido-Walker |
2013 |
Melanson Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 94 (10/2015): Pulido-Walker's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard has turned out beautifully. Rich, creamy and voluptuous, the Melanson is quite forward for the year. Lavender, savory herbs, tobacco, mint and sweet floral notes are expressive throughout. This distinctive, explosive Pritchard Hill Cabernet is loaded with personality. Antonio Galloni.
WA 96 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard definitely eclipses its older sibling. It is similarly opaque purple in color, but reveals greater fruit intensity, more massive concentration, but still keeps its delineation and vibrancy on display. Loads of blueberries, blackberries and white flowers jump from the glass of this full-bodied wine, which shares a wonderful opulence and extravagant fruit nature with the Panek, but comes across slightly more floral. This is a beauty to drink over the next 20+ years. |
|
| Purlieu |
2013 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (12/2015): From the iconic site, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard was aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months prior to bottling. This is a blockbuster effort with a dense purple color, sweet toasty oak, licorice, incense and layers of concentration. It comes across as a first-growth Pauillac in need of a good 8-10 years of cellaring. Purlieu has certainly hit a home run with this effort. It tips the scales at 15.5% alcohol. Forget it for 5-8 years, and drink it over the following 25-30 years. |
|
|
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Purlieu was aged in 70% new French oak for 22 months. This just has a Napa appellation, but is very concentrated -- even profoundly so -- and I have to argue that it's even deeper, richer and potentially even finer than the Martinez Vineyard from Pritchard Hill. Very long, impressive and intense, this looks to be a great value in the scheme of Napa Cabernet pricing. It is also no shy wine at 15.5% alcohol. This is a big-time sleeper of the vintage. Drink now-2030.
VM 89 (12/2016): Napa Valley) The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is powerful, dense and explosive, with plenty of inky blue/purplish fruit, spice, menthol, bittersweet chocolate, licorice and white flower notes. Drink this concentrated, inky wine over the next handful of years. (Drink between 2017-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Quilceda Creek |
2013 |
Columbia Valley CVR Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
9 |
|
| |
| WA 92 (6/2016): Always a terrific value, the 2013 Cvr Columbia Valley Red Wine is a medium to full-bodied, ripe, sexy 2013 that has tons of plums, licorice, lead pencil shavings and spice to go with a rounded texture, ripe tannin and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade. |
|
|
2013 |
Galitzine Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2016): An utterly prodigious effort that would most likely be the wine of the vintage if not for its big brother, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and was raised in 100% new French oak. Revealing a healthy ruby/purple color and classic notes of sage brush, graphite, black cherries, currants and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness; building, present, yet ripe and polished tannin; perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol and oak; and awesome length. This is a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds onto a sense of elegance and finesse. Forget it for 4-5 years and drink bottles over the following two decades.
VM 94+ (11/2016): Deep ruby-red color. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis and violet lifted by a pungent licorice note that may come from the very expensive, long-seasoned, tight-grained Taransaud T5 barrels. Tighter and less pliant in the early going than the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon but with a remarkably juicy intensity and superb inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of dark berries, wild rose and Belgian dark chocolate. Still youthfully imploded but boasts uncanny energy for this warm year. The tannins saturate the front teeth. This wonderfully cerebral wine is Lafite to the more powerful, densely packed flagship wine's Latour. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Palengat Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2016): More Merlot dominated in 2013 (they plan to move this back to a more Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend in the future), the 2013 Palengat Vineyard is another terrific 2013 that makes the most of vintage. Sexy, voluptuous and rounded, with no hard edges, it gives up classic notes of plums, graphite and licorice in its full-bodied, mouth-filling and impossible to resist style. While I’d happily drink a glass (or three) today, it will drink well for another 10-15 years. |
|
| Quivet Cellars |
2013 |
Kenefick Ranch Syrah |
$75 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (1/2015): Quivet's 2013 Syrah Kenefick Ranch, from a warm site in Calistoga, hits the palate with masses of intense, dark fruit. Game, smoke, tobacco, licorice and leather add complexity, but the wine remains marked by its intense heaviness and ripeness, which ultimately convey a one-dimensional view of what this vineyard has to offer. |
|
| Realm |
2013 |
Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$575 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is another perfect wine. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot (400 cases produced) aged in 100% new French oak, this gravelly site produced a wine with notes of wet pebbles, Haut Brion-like scorched earth and volcanic notes, some smoke, dark chocolate, forest floor, and massive amounts of blueberry and blackberry fruit. A wine of great intensity, depth and richness, if somehow Bordeaux's Haut Brion were injected with steroids, it might taste like this monumental effort from Napa. This is pure perfection and should drink well young as well as 30 years from now. Bravo!
JS 99 (1/2016): So intense and aromatic with spices, blueberries and blackberries. Incredible nose. Then turns to dried mushrooms. Full body, extremely layered and beautiful. Powerful. Turns to iodine and oyster shell. Goes on for minutes. Superb. Try this in 2020, but so irresistible already. 225 cases.
VM 96 (10/2015): One of the signature wines here, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard is one of the more voluptuous, racy wines in this lineup. Deep, powerful and intense, the Dr. Crane captures the silkiness and spherical creaminess that is such a signature of this great site. Racy, voluptuous and totally seamless on the palate, the Dr. Crane captures the best of the Realm style. Raspberry jam, sweet spices, mocha and licorice add shades of nuance, but the Crane is all about texture and feel. The 2013 shuts down quickly in the glass, which is probably a good thing for the future, but something readers should keep in mind if opening the wine young, which, by the way, I do not recommend. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$339 |
1 |
|
| |
JS 100 (9/2016): This is extraordinary on the nose with cold stones, minerals, wet earth and fresh spices. Full body, incredible backbone of tannins, and great length. It really lasts for minutes. When you taste it, it brings you down to the root and soul of the wine. Extraordinary. This is what To Kalon is supposed to taste like. Pure cabernet sauvignon. 450 cases.
WA 98+ (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and again aged in 100% new oak. The production is slightly higher than the Dr. Crane at 500 cases. This opaque colored wine offers up blueberry liqueur, crème de cassis, coffee bean, roasted meats, and a floral note. It is rich, powerful, dense and primordial, but wow, is it spectacular! Produced from clones 4 and 337 of Cabernet, this is another 30-year effort and a great classic.
VM 91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard is an example of where ripeness and intensity are pushed too far. There is a good amount of To-Kalon character here, but the bitter tannins suggest overextraction while the alcohol is elevated. This is a rare miss from Realm. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
The Absurd Proprietary Blend |
$950 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (12/2015): Another perfect wine (but very limited in production at 200 cases) is the 2013 The Absurd, a blend of 17 components dominated by 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Benoit Touquette told me that this wine is produced with no rules and no restrictions, and is considered their super-blend of the best they have in any given vintage. (I guess I would look stupid if I didn't give it 100 points, given the fact that two other Realm wines already hit that maximum score.) There is something different in this wine, with an opaque purple color for sure, but then there's the cassis, the blackberries, the roasted meats, some spicy pepper, and then an extravagantly rich, cascading palate that seems to be built like a skyscraper, but without one hard edge. This is a seriously endowed, super-rich, incredibly well-balanced wine that should drink well for 25 or more years.
VM 95 (10/2015): A dark, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2013 Absurd is a terrific example of the Realm style at its best. Surprisingly open for such a young wine, the 2013 offers gorgeous textural richness and voluptuousness. Sweet dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, spices and crushed rocks are laced into the powerful yet seamless finish. The Absurd is remarkably nuanced for a wine with this much intensity. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
The Falstaff Proprietary Blend |
$269 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Reynvaan Family Vineyards |
2013 |
The Contender Syrah |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2016): Incorporating 3% Marsanne, the 2013 Syrah The Contender reveals a healthy ruby color to go with lots of ripe red and black fruits, mulled spices and peppery herbs in its medium-bodied, elegant, pretty style. Like all of the 2013s from this estate, it shows a more elegant, mid-weight style. Drink bottles over the coming decade or so. |
|
|
2013 |
The Stonessence Syrah |
$75 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 93-69 (6/2015): Also lacking some of the weight found in the '12, the 2013 Syrah Stonessence saw only 5% stem inclusion to go with a similar elevage as the '12. It's still full-bodied and concentrated, however, and offers classic raspberry, big minerality, cracked pepper and some Cornas-like iron and bloody notes. Shining for its complexity and elegance, it should merit a score in the upper end of this range if it puts on weight in bottle. |
|
|
2013 |
The Unnamed Syrah |
$50 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (6/2016): A unique blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache Blanc that spent 18 months in 25% new French oak, the 2013 The Unnamed Syrah is a medium to full-bodied, elegant effort (like all of the 2013s here) that has lots of kirsch, iron, licorice and dried underbrush in a silky, elegant, slightly mid-weight package. It’s taking freshness and elegance to the extreme, yet is certainly an outstanding wine that has plenty to love. Drink it over the coming 8-10 years. |
|
| Rhys |
2013 |
Alpine Hillside Pinot Noir (1.5 L) |
$297.50 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96+ (10/2015): Not made since 2006 and described by Kevin as the ultimate expression of the vineyard, the 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside Vineyard was a cellar selection (done blind) that ended up coming all from the same block of steep, east-facing vines. It has an almost Horseshoe like level of minerality in its gunpowder, flinty minerality, dusty soil, dried roses, and sweet red fruit aromas and flavors. Fresh, vibrant and weightless, yet with rocking depth and texture, it's a serious wine that tastes like the Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir on steroids. It has more fruit and depth than the straight Alpine release, so its actually more enjoyable today, yet will age even better.
VM 96 (7/2015): The 2013 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard Hillside is endowed with a real sense of vertical lift. Beams of tannin give the 2013 much of its energy and overall tension. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, graphite, mint, lavender and spices are all super-expressive, with considerable aromatic intensity added by the inclusion of 100% whole clusters. This powerful yet sleek Pinot won't be ready to drink for a number of years, but it is compelling, even today. Antonio Galloni.
BH 92 (4/2016): An overtly floral-suffused nose offers up cool and admirably pure aromas of red cherry, pomegranate and subtle spice nuances. There is fine energy and volume to the lightly mineral-laden middle weight flavors that possess both good focus and delineation, all wrapped in a dusty and ever-so-mildly austere finale. This is beautifully harmonious and understated and while there is sufficient mid-palate fat to allow it to be enjoyed young, the supporting structure is sufficiently firm to suggest that it will require at least 5 to 7 years to soften and reward at least a decade's worth. Drink 2021+. Outstanding! |
|
| Ridge Vineyards |
2013 |
Geyserville Proprietary Blend |
$59 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 93 (7/2014): The 2012 Zinfandel Geyserville is quite exuberant in this vintage. Savory herbs, tobacco, smoke, menthol and dark red/blackish-toned fruit burst from the glass in an exotic, juicy Zinfandel-based field blend loaded with personality. The tannins could use another year to soften, but readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. The brisk, energetic finish is incredibly appealing. The blend is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (Mourvèdre). |
|
|
2013 |
Lytton Springs Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 95 (7/2015): The 2013 Lytton Springs has really come together over the last year, far exceeding my early expectations. Powerful and explosive in the glass, the 2013 boasts tons of inky blue/purplish fruit, mocha, spices, new leather, lavender and licorice. Readers will have to give the Lytton Springs at least a few years to shed some baby fat, but it is nearly impossible to resist, even at this early stage. Once again, the team at Ridge has produced an absolutely compelling Lytton Springs. The 16% Petite Sirah in the blend adds an unmistakable air of gravitas. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Rivers Marie |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is plump, juicy and expressive. Sweet and open-knit in style, the 2013 is best enjoyed young, while the fruit retains its vibrancy. Sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate add a final burst of energy on the close. (Drink between 2017-2028). Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga, which comes from the so-called Olmo clone (the same as the Eiesle clone), exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet creme de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as licorice, wet pebbles giving it minerality, and a long, full-bodied, opulent texture. This stunning wine comes from a single block of the Larkmead Vineyard. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.
VM 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga emerges from the most historic portion of Larkmead, where the Olmo clone (said to be the precursor to Eisele clone) and pure Cortina soils yield wines of tremendous pedigree. That is exactly what comes through here. Dense and powerful, with distinctly earthy, savory notes, the 2013 delivers serious intensity and explosiveness. Readers will have to be patient, however, as the 2013 needs time to be at its best. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Corona Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$115 |
4 |
|
| |
VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard has also turned out beautifully, which is indeed saying something, as Corona is a site that does not perform consistently from year to year. Dark cherry jam, graphite, blueberry compote, tobacco and sweet French oak blossom in a powerful, radiant Cabernet endowed with real breadth and volume. I suspect the Corona will drink well earlier than some of the other wines in this range, specifically the Calistoga and Lore Cabernets. This is one of the very best Coronas I can remember tasting at Rivers-Marie. Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2015): Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the western Oakville hills, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard is a backward, almost first-growth Pauillac style of wine, with notes of lead pencil, licorice, wet stones, cedar wood and fruitcake. Fine-grained tannins are significant, giving the wine considerable grip and earthiness. This is a big, backstrapping, broodingly primordial style of wine that clearly will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. |
|
|
2013 |
Lore Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$209 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 97+ (10/2015): Another killer effort from Rivers-Marie is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard, from a steep and rocky single vineyard in the Vaca foothills of eastern Napa above the Rudd Winery. The wine comes across with fabulous intensity and loads of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, licorice, camphor and incense. This is great stuff, backward, as all of these 2013s tend to be. It’s the smallest of these cuvees, with about 250 cases, or ten barrels produced. This wine is another one to benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more.
VM 97 (10/2015): The undisputed crown jewel in this lineup, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is every bit as fabulous in bottle as it was from barrel. Here the impression is of explosive energy and pure verticality. A rush of dark red and black fruit, melted road tar, cloves, licorice and leather punctuates the explosive, creamy finish. All the magic of eastern Oakville comes through in spades. Antonio Galloni. |
|
|
2013 |
Panek Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard comes from a five-acre, valley-floor vineyard just north of St. Helena near Vineyard 29's Aida. There are 450 cases of this magnificent Cabernet Sauvignon. Notes of Mediterranean herbs intermixed with licorice, blackberry and cassis jump from the glass of this opaque purple wine. Stunningly proportioned, full-bodied, super-intense, with great purity, structure and depth, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for three decades.
VM 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard, from a site on the valley floor, shows all the voluptuousness and raciness that is typical of this sector in the northern reaches of St. Helena. Dark red cherry, plum, pomegranate and spice blossom as this full-bodied, racy Cabernet shows off its personality. There is just enough acidity to give the aromatics enough lift to balance the super-ripe fruit. As always, the Panek is a very showy wine. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Round Pond |
2013 |
Estate Malbec |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Estate Syrah |
$35 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Rudius |
2013 |
Kaley Elizabeth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 96+ (10/2016): A killer effort from Jeff Ames is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaley Elizabeth. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon from clone 7, this is a beauty, aged in a combination of new Taransaud and Darnajou cooperage. Inky, opaque blue/purple in color with notes of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, creosote, charcoal and graphite, the wine is full-bodied, multilayered, deep, powerful, concentrated and moderately tannic. Give this wine 5-8 years of bottle age and drink over the following 35-40+ years, as it is a keeper. |
|
| Mark Ryan |
2013 |
Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2016): Made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2013 Dead Horse Ciel du Cheval Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and spent 21 months in 72% new French oak. It’s a quintessential Red Mountain Cabernet with its crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rock-like minerality and spring flower-driven profile. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with incredibly polished tannin, it shows the prettier side to the region, will benefit from short-term cellaring, and have two decades of overall longevity. |
|
|
2013 |
Long Haul Red Wine |
$51 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 93 (6/2016): The Merlot dominated 2013 Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (51% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aged in 62% new French oak) is impressive in the vintage, where the heat spikes hurt the more think-skinned Merlot. Forward, charming and elegant, yet with more and more tannin coming through with time in the glass, it offers lots of incense, flowers and crème de cassis on the nose. It’s a beautiful, classy 2013 to drink over the coming 10-15 years. |
|
| Saunter Wines |
2013 |
Clone 685 Red Head Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Eagle Summit Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Saxum |
2013 |
James Berry Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$120 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2016): The 2013 James Berry Vineyard Proprietary Red is made from 45% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 8% Counoise (which Justin commented was a blend that was put together relatively late). It saw a big chunk of whole cluster (the Grenache was mostly destemmed though) and was brought up all in puncheons and foudre (the normal concrete component went to the Rocket Block). It offers up gorgeous notes of black raspberries, cherries, cassis, ground herbs and flowers. This beauty hits the palate with incredible purity, fine tannin and an overriding sense of elegance and finesse, backed up by full-bodied richness and depth. It needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and it will drink beautifully through 2028.
VM 93-95 (9/2015): Deep violet with a bright rim. Heady, smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, floral pastilles and minerals, with a strong Asian spice topnote. Fresh, expansive and pure in the mouth, offering palate-staining black raspberry, cherry-cola and violet flavors. At once weighty and energetic, this very promising blend finishes with Outstanding focus and sappiness and insistent florality. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2013 |
Paderewski Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$139 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 97 (8/2016): One of the more accessible 2013s is the 2013 Paderewski Vineyard, which checks in as a blend of 34% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 12% Syrah and the rest Tempranillo. Its deep ruby, vibrant color is followed by sensational notes of caramelized black cherries, spice box, peppery herbs and chalky minerality. Rich, full-bodied, utterly seamless and gorgeous on the palate, it's an incredible expression of this higher elevation, warm site that readers shouldn't miss.
VM 94 (9/2015): Bright violet color. The nose displays a complex array of black and blue fruit and floral scents, along with suggestions of incense, mocha and licorice. Stains the palate with powerful blueberry and violet pastille flavors sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity. Concentrated, sappy and pure, finishing with Outstanding thrust and smooth tannins that are overwhelmed by the wine's dense fruit. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2013 |
Terry Hoage Vyd. Proprietary Blend |
$115 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 96 (8/2016): Lastly, the 2013 Terry Hoage Vineyard is a forward, exotic effort that's made from 57% Syrah, 29% Grenache and 14% Mourvedre. It is one of the more fresh and lively wines in the lineup, with notes of passion fruits, jolly rancher, plums, spice and green herbs (Justin always finds a touch of watermelon rind from this site). This beauty is full-bodied, silky and beautifully textured on the palate, with impeccable balance and a great finish. Drink this puppy anytime over the coming decade or so.
VM 93 (9/2015): Inky ruby. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, sandalwood, vanilla and smoky minerals, with a suave floral pastille nuance coming up with air. Broad, seamless and sweet on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and lavender flavors and a deeper suggestion of bitter chocolate. Energetic and deep, with no excess fat. Finishes with superb clarity and persistence, leaving a sweet red fruit liqueur note behind. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Schrader |
2013 |
MMXIII "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$1,500 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 100 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Old Sparky, which is essentially made from clone 4 from two separate blocks, clone 6 and clone 337, is another perfect wine from the Schraders. I suppose it’s a little boring to say, and perhaps I can be accused of creating unrealistic expectations on the part of readers, but this is as great as Cabernet can be. Tasting like a first-growth Pauillac, the wine is opaque purple and has a fabulous nose of lead pencil, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry and the telltale cassis. There is also some licorice and sweet oak, the tannins are ripe, and the wine full-bodied. Built like a skyscraper, with an incredible finish (like most of these wines) going on for 50 seconds to a minute, this amazing wine should still be drinking splendidly well at age 25 or 30. |
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| Sea Smoke |
2013 |
Southing Pinot Noir |
$85 |
6 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Ten Pinot Noir |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Seavey |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$149 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 97 (5/2024): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Seavey Vineyard is a huge, inky wine made in a riper style. Black cherry, plum, cloves, licorice and grilled herbs saturate the palate. This deep, potent Cabernet is seriously impressive. It captures the year's intensely ripe, structured style to a T. The aromatics are beginning to open, which leads me to think the tannins will outlast the fruit. Drink this over the next decade. (Drink between 2023-2033). Antonio Galloni.
WA 95+ (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 97.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2.5% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in new French oak and is typically young, backward and for serious connoisseurs to stow away for at least 5-8 years prior to consumption. The 2013 is typically coiled, deep purple in color, with notes of burning embers, créme de cassis, a touch of earth, spice and tobacco leaf. It is full-bodied, moderately tannic and needs to be respected in terms of it not providing a whole lot of pleasure for another 5-8 years. |
|
| Sheridan Vineyard |
2013 |
Block 1 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
7 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2016): One of the wines of the vintage, the 2013 Block 1 (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a sensational effort that offers a Lafite-like elegance and purity as well as textbook Cabernet notes of lead pencil shavings, cassis, graphite, cedar and forest floor. Full-bodied, seamless, silky and weightless on the palate, it's less exuberant and decadent than past vintages, yet excels for its seamless texture, impeccable balance and incredible overall harmony. Give bottles 6-7 years of cellaring and enjoy through 2043. |
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|
2013 |
L’Orage Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (6/2016): The classic blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, the smokin' good 2013 L'Orage shows lots of Cab Franc character in its forest floor, dried flowers, sappy underbrush and darker fruit driven profile. Picking up more textbook Cabernet notes of lead pencil shavings and cassis with time in the glass, this full-bodied beauty has no hard edges, beautifully polished and sweet tannin, and terrific persistence and elegance on the finish. It's already hard to resist given its seamless personality, yet it will be even better with 3-4 years of cellaring and drink well for over two decades. |
|
|
2013 |
Singularity Syrah |
$55 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 97 (6/2016): The La Turque of Washington state, Scott Greer's 100% Syrah 2013 Singularity is a sensational wine that always comes from the same parcel of Sheridan Vineyard and is raised all in new French oak barrels. It offers a meaty, rich, chocolaty, dark fruit and espresso-scented personality to go with a full-bodied, rich concentrated feel on the palate that always stays graceful and balanced. It's a big, rich wine, but it's never cumbersome, heavy or over the top; for the multiple days I followed this bottle, it held up beautifully. It's one of the Syrahs of the vintage, and while it's certainly a joy to drink today, it deserves 5-6 years of cellaring and will have two decades (or more) of longevity. Bravo to Scott for this stunning effort! |
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| Sine Qua Non |
2013 |
Male Syrah |
$279 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 98 (5/2016): The 2013 Syrah Male is an elegant, seamless Syrah that exudes class in its creme de cassis, black raspberry, smoked meats, graphite and asphalt-laced bouquet. This is a blend of 80% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvèdre, 3.5% Touriga National and 3.5% Viognier, fermented with 28% whole clusters and aged 25 months in 65% new French oak. It's full-bodied, beautifully layered, silky and seamless, with no hard edges and wonderful freshness in both the aromatics and palate. Give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 10-15. |
|
| Charles Smith |
2013 |
Royal City Syrah |
$89 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (6/2016): A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Royal City is as expansive, sexy and voluptuous as they get in the vintage, hands down. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of wild herbs, lavender, gamey meats, olive paste and sweet dark berry fruits. Full-bodied, relatively forward and charming, it still packs a wealth of material and has building tannin, all suggesting it will drink nicely for 10-15 years.
VM 92 (11/2016): Medium red. Raspberry, pepper and herbs on the nose. Boasts lovely sweetness but also a distinctly savory quality to its red fruit and floral flavors. This Syrah manages to combine power and restraint, not to mention very good definition. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins and subtle length. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Sojourn Cellars |
2013 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Torn Label |
$27.50 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (12/2014): The 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast exhibits a dark color along with a sweet nose of cola, raspberries and black cherries, medium body, soft tannins and a gentle, gracious follow-through on the palate. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. |
|
| Clos Solene |
2013 |
Harmonie Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
3 |
|
| |
WA 93 (8/2015): Made from 62% Grenache, 28% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre that spent 16 months in mostly neutral puncheons (roughly 15% new), the 2013 Harmonie is another full-bodied, beautifully pure and impeccably put together wine from Guillaume. Creme de cassis, licorice, mint and olive notes all emerge from the glass and it has a hedonistic, voluptuous slant that's just hard to resist. Drink it anytime over the coming 5-8 years.
VM 92 (9/2015): Opaque purple. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes red and blue fruit liqueur, potpourri and incense, with a peppery quality adding lift. Supple, expansive raspberry and cherry compote flavors put on weight with air and pick up a suave lavender pastille quality. Silky tannins build on the finish, which clings with excellent fruit-driven tenacity. |
|
| Solomon Hills |
2013 |
Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir |
$39 |
8 |
|
| |
WA 92 (8/2016): The 2013 Pinot Noir Solomon Hills offers lovely notes of spice, autumn leaves, red currants and framboise in a medium to full-bodied, silky, polished package. Fermented with 30% whole clusters and raised 18 months in 40% new French oak, it has terrific complexity, and its tight, lively feel on the palate should allow it to age gracefully over the coming decade as well.
VM 90 (9/2016): The 2013 Pinot Noir Solomon Hills Vineyard is dark, pliant and expressive. Sweet black cherries, plum, menthol, licorice and lavender blossom in the glass. I would prefer to drink this soft, mid-weight Pinot over the next handful of years. Antonio Galloni. |
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| Sparkman Cellars |
2013 |
Wonderland Grenache |
$25 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 90 (6/2015): A step up over the 2012, the 2013 Grenache Wonderland is outstanding, with lots of Provencal character in its savory herbs, mulled red and black fruits and dried lavender-like aromas and flavors. These give way to a ripe, sexy and hedonistically styled Grenache that stays lively and fresh on the palate, with a great finish. Incorporating 12% Syrah and seeing 30-50% whole clusters, it spent 12 months in 25% new French oak prior to bottling, it should drink nicely for another 5-6 years.
VM 89 (11/2015): Bright, moderately saturated red. Slightly diffuse nose is dominated in the early going by aromatic spices. Then surprisingly smooth and sweet on the palate, and more concentrated than its color would suggest. Raspberry fruit is complemented by hints of smoke, olive and garrigue. The tannins show a touch of dryness but avoid austerity. Finishes very good persistence. (Drink between 2015-2021). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Spottswoode |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$229 |
2 |
|
| |
JS 98 (1/2016): Glorious blueberries, blackberries, violets and hot stones. Cloves and other spices. Even sliced mushrooms. Full body, very firm tannins and persistent and savory finish. A tight and polished young cabernet.
VM 96 (10/2015): Vivid, nuanced and explosive, the estate's 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses remarkable intensity and pure power. The 2013 is one of the most precise wines I have tasted here in some time. Dark blue and black fruits, cedar, lavender and leather are all vivid and beautifully articulated throughout. The flavors build effortlessly to the huge, dramatic finish.
WA 95+ (12/2015): The flagship wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which in this vintage is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 60% new French oak. It is elegance personified. Dark blueberry and black raspberry fruit with crème de cassis, licorice and spring flowers emerge from this juicy, medium to full-bodied wine with everything in ideal balance. The acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol are subtle and disguised. This is another beauty from Spottswoode. Slightly less dramatic than the 2012, but classic, it offers 20-25 years of aging potential. |
|
| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2013 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| JS 96 (5/2016): A super refined and pretty young wine with mineral, fresh blackberry, blueberry and floral character. Full-bodied yet refined, very polished and subtle. Better in 2019, but wonderful. Intellectual wine. |
|
| Stone the Crows |
2013 |
Fallen Feather Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 94+ (12/2015): A concentrated, firmly structured, tannic wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Fallen Feather has a dense purple color, excellent, rich, pure fruit, but still tightly knit and coiled. This wine needs 3-4 years cellaring and should drink well for up to 20 or more years. (Drink between 2020-2040). |
|
| Stonestreet |
2013 |
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
3 |
|
| |
|
| Orin Swift |
2013 |
Papillon Proprietary Blend |
$69 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Ulysses |
2013 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Upchurch Vineyard |
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2016): About as sexy as Red Mountain gets, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch Vineyard offers almost overflowing notes of creme de cassis, graphite, licorice and building minerality to go with a full-bodied hedonistic, voluptuous and luxuriously textured style on the palate. Coming from a site on the southern end of the appellation and aged in new oak (there's a splash of Merlot in here as well), this beauty has tons of sweet fruit, ripe tannin and an already approachable, hard to resist style. I'm sure there's plenty of tannin hidden in here, but they're covered by layers of fruit and certainly don't detract. This fabulous 2013 can be enjoyed today, or cellared for 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Brambly blackcurrant, cocoa powder and dusty oak on the nose. Wonderfully suave, fine-grained Cabernet with terrific concentration and complexity to its flavors of cassis, huckleberry, violet and licorice. This remarkably suave, broad wine shows a restrained sweetness and a very long, ripely tannic, edge-free finish that's as much about red fruits as black. If this wine doesn't have quite the complexity and grip of the 2012, it's not far off. (Drink between 2018-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2013 |
Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$175 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 96 (6/2016): About as sexy as Red Mountain gets, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch Vineyard offers almost overflowing notes of creme de cassis, graphite, licorice and building minerality to go with a full-bodied hedonistic, voluptuous and luxuriously textured style on the palate. Coming from a site on the southern end of the appellation and aged in new oak (there's a splash of Merlot in here as well), this beauty has tons of sweet fruit, ripe tannin and an already approachable, hard to resist style. I'm sure there's plenty of tannin hidden in here, but they're covered by layers of fruit and certainly don't detract. This fabulous 2013 can be enjoyed today, or cellared for 10-15 years.
VM 93 (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Brambly blackcurrant, cocoa powder and dusty oak on the nose. Wonderfully suave, fine-grained Cabernet with terrific concentration and complexity to its flavors of cassis, huckleberry, violet and licorice. This remarkably suave, broad wine shows a restrained sweetness and a very long, ripely tannic, edge-free finish that's as much about red fruits as black. If this wine doesn't have quite the complexity and grip of the 2012, it's not far off. (Drink between 2018-2028). Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Venge |
2013 |
Bone Ash Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$119 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 96-98 (10/2014): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard should be as good as the 2012. It reveals sweet blackberry and blueberry fruit, a creamy, opulent, voluptuous texture, and incredible richness and length. It should drink well for 20-25 years. |
|
| Verite |
2013 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend |
$249 |
4 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2023): The 2013 La Muse is maturing gracefully and offers noticeable detail at this stage. Deep garnet in color, its dried wild black and blue berry fruit is complemented by umami-like wafts of shiitake, steak sauce and aniseed. The full-bodied palate is softening and fresh, with a generous core of juicy fruit, heightened complexity from savory notes of maturity and a singular, umami-and-berry finish. It's drinking wonderfully, although it's not quite at its peak. |
|
|
2013 |
La Muse Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$605.15 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (8/2023): The 2013 La Muse is maturing gracefully and offers noticeable detail at this stage. Deep garnet in color, its dried wild black and blue berry fruit is complemented by umami-like wafts of shiitake, steak sauce and aniseed. The full-bodied palate is softening and fresh, with a generous core of juicy fruit, heightened complexity from savory notes of maturity and a singular, umami-and-berry finish. It's drinking wonderfully, although it's not quite at its peak. |
|
|
2013 |
Le Desir Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$614.25 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 99 (10/2015): The 2013 Le Desir represents 2,500 cases. This is the softest of the three wines in 2013, and this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec emerges with more than half of the cuvée coming from Hillsides in Alexander Valley, 37% from Chalk Hill and the rest tiny dollops from Bennett Valley and Knights Valley. Opaque purple, like its siblings, the wine is showing incredible floral, blueberry and espresso notes, exotic Asian spices, velvety texture, a supple, multilayered mouthfeel and incredible finish, with incense and licorice. This is magnificent young wine, with a good 40-50 years of upside potential. Pierre Seillan is justifiably proud of what he has achieved, and his first vintage of Vérité was only 1998, but they go from strength to strength. |
|
| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2013 |
Correlation Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 90-92 (12/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Correlation spent 26 months in 95% new French oak and shows a heavy dosage of vanillin and graphite. The color is a dense ruby/purple, the wine pure, ripe, medium to full-bodied, powerful and masculine. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20-25 years.
VM 89-91 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Correlation is a big, dramatic wine. Black cherry, mocha, cloves, chocolate, licorice and new leather are all pushed forward. This is an especially succulent, unctuous wine for the vintage, but there is also quite a bit of underlying power as well. The Correlation is made from estate fruit, with the addition of fruit from a neighboring property, and also includes a bit of Merlot. (Drink between 2017-2025). Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Whetstone |
2013 |
Bella Vigna Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
|
|
2013 |
Pleasant Hill Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$25 |
4 |
|
| |
|
| WildAire Cellars |
2013 |
Shea Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$19 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Andrew Will |
2013 |
BTG Petit Verdot & Malbec |
$25 |
6 |
|
| |
|
| Woodward Canyon |
2013 |
Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon |
$55 |
7 |
|
| |
| JD 94 (4/2018): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series checks in as a blend of 92% Cab Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Like all the wines here, it's inky colored. Exhibiting a great bouquet of fresh blueberries, leafy herbs, violets, and wet stone, with subtle background oak, this beauty is full-bodied, wonderfully pure, layered, and textured. It's one of the standouts in the lineup. |
|
| World's End |
2013 |
Money Talks Beckstoffer Georges III Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|