2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCalistogaKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSAYountville

ERIKSON & CARADIN

ARCHER & THORN
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Erikson & Caradin Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Erikson & Caradin proprietors are keenly aware that soil, elevation, and climate play crucial roles in fine wine production; however, expertise and ambition can take wine to the next level. Erikson & Caradin began in 2013, selling their small production to friends, and continue to remain craft-focused, with only around fifty barrels produced across eight different designations.

Their specialty is producing terroir-driven wines, which aligns with winemaker Kevin Morrisey’s skillset after interning at Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux before Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude, and Ehlers Estate. 

Based around a core of Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced with Merlot and Petite Sirah, the winery’s 2019 Archer & Thorn Proprietary Red, from Calistoga, Yountville, and Oakville, captures the essence of Napa Valley, delivered with penetrating fruit framed by firm tannins and remarkable balance. 

At $90, this wine earned well-deserved scores, but at $30, I’ll let you decide…

ERIKSON & CARADIN
ARCHER & THORN
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $90

Your Price: $29.99

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“Aromas of black cherries, plums, fresh herbs and fresh mint. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Succulent black fruit with light dried-citrus character. Earthy herbal notes as well. Best after 2025.”

93 Points

2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

MERUS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Merus is Latin for “pure” or “undiluted.” The purity behind the winery humbly came to fruition in 1998, with Erika J. Gottl and Mark Herold having crafted the inaugural vintage in their garage behind their house in Napa. The wine won international renown, and in 2007 Bill Foley added Merus to his Foley Family Wines group and restored an old ghost winery into a winemaking facility worthy of the brand.
 
The winery’s small size and long-term relationships with many Napa Valley growers allow the team to control many factors in the vineyard, including yield size, pruning, irrigation, and harvest times. The 2019 vintage is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from a unique site in the Coombsville AVA with 3% Petit Verdot, sourced from a selected plot in Yountville, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak giving the already concentrated fruit additional flavor complexity, depth, and a lasting finish. 
 
MERUS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $225
 
 
 
“A killer bottle of Napa Valley magic, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Merus is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. It’s a powerful, full-bodied, uber-ripe beauty that stays lively and balanced, with beautiful blue fruits, as well as smoked tobacco, chocolate, and scored earth-like aromas and flavors. A beast of a wine with a great mid-palate and velvety tannins, it should shed its considerable baby fat over the coming 4-6 years and have two decades of overall longevity.”
97 Points
2015 Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

CASA PIENA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2015

2015 Casa Piena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Located in Yountville, Casa Piena Winery focuses on responsible, sustainable farming techniques that respect the environment and Napa Valley’s natural beauty. The winery’s estate vineyard, the Policy Vineyard, is managed by viticultural icon Jim Barbour, who’s worked with many well-respected, premium vineyards and been a part of some of Napa’s most highly-rated wines.
 
Casa Piena’s founding winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown, uses a minimalistic approach to craft this profound representation of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley’s 2015 harvest produced a small crop of concentrated berries, leading to powerful, intensely flavorful, and complex Cabernet Sauvignon that is entering a seductive period in its aging and is guaranteed to indulge the senses for years to come.
 
CASA PIENA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2015
Retails at: $175
 
 
 
“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. Lifted, floral and beautifully perfumed, the 2015 has come together nicely since I last tasted it. The 2015 has so much to offer. Specifically, it is remarkably nuanced for such an overly ripe, racy wine. A rush of sweet red berry, kirsch, mint and rose petal graces the expressive, inviting finish. This is a terrific showing from proprietor Carmen Policy and winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.”
94 Points
2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

ROCCA

VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red
Rocca Family Vineyards’ team makes wines from two certified organic estate vineyards awarded Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming. The Grigsby Vineyard in Yountville is the source of the lush fruit for the Vespera Red Blend, a hand selection of barrels highlighting the philosophy of sharing a bottle of wine with family and friends.
 
Vespera is the Latin word for “evening,” which perfectly represents a setting where loved ones share conviviality and joy without being pretentious. The 2017 vintage is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Syrah, and Merlot, aged in French oak for 22 months. The wine is a diamond in the rough and an incredible value for a high-quality, hand-made Napa Valley Blend.
 
ROCCA
VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“Charming nose of dark fruit, violets and chalk. Some chocolate, too. It’s medium-bodied and savory with an inky note and firm tannins. Energetic finish with fresh acidity. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

MATIAS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
For years, Matias was a paragon producer of value Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, beloved for their sophistication and balance, far exceeding their price level. Now entering the Cabernet Sauvignon market, Matias sources fruit from Yountville AVA, with a small portion coming from north of Calistoga, combining depth, concentration, and balance, making anyone do a double-take when they try it at this price.
 
The wine was aged in 66% new French oak from Saury and Taransaud, striking an optimal balance between the fruit and oak. This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has silky smooth tannins that make it easily drinkable at the moment but also has the depth and intensity of a wine that can easily lay down for a decade or so.
 
MATIAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Rich boysenberry, opulent black plum, dark chocolate, and crushed granite combine with purple flowers and hints of vanilla spice. The satiny tannins and supple mouthfeel help make this an extraordinary value. It is rare to find a wine of this quality at this price.”
92 Points
2015 Corley Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2015 Corley Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaOak KnollProprietary RedRutherfordSaint HelenaUSAYountville

CORLEY

PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Corley Proprietary Red Napa Valley
The Corley family and their dedicated team are well known for creating single vineyard premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from their vineyards in Rutherford, St. Helena, Yountville, and Oak Knoll. In 1990 they planted Cabernet Franc in their Oak Knoll vineyard with the vision of producing a Meritage of the three varieties.
 
The 2015 vintage is a small production of just 506 cases comprised of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 32% Merlot, created to be approachable in its youth while also having the capability to age and can be enjoyed at every phase of its development. With over five years in the bottle, the 2015 perfect showcases Chris Corley’s winemaking ability, the strong vintage, and choice of vineyards.
 
CORLEY
PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“The 2015 Corley Proprietary Red Wine opens with lavender, cassis, freshly picked blackberries, cherry cola, cloves, and crushed volcanic rocks. The palate is intense and complex, with flavors of black plums and cocoa powder with a hint of savory black olives. This wine is simply stunning at the moment and is an excellent food wine that will age gracefully for the next decade or so.”
96 Points
2019 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

DUCKHORN

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2019 NAPA VALLEY

2019 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Duckhorn made their first Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in 1978 and has only missed one vintage in over 40 years. Their Cabernet consistently delivers a lush, rich, eclectic taste of Napa because it’s a blend of many of their estate properties, including Rector Creek in Yountville, Monitor Ledge in Calistoga, Stout on Howell Mountain, and even their historic Three Palms Vineyard.
 
The 2019 vintage saw an ideal summer without any significant heatwaves, ensuring an even ripening of the grapes and more complex flavor development. The blend consists of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot aged 16 months in 100% French oak (50% new and 50% neutral), creating a soulful balance between the fruit and the oak.
 
DUCKHORN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2019 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at: $78
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“The Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a rich, powerful wine with deep concentration and firm structure. The nose and palate are in sync with wild mountain blackberries, ripe Bing cherries, cedar, pie spices, dried herbs, and vanilla hints. Although compact and firm now, the intensity of sweet fruit on the palate blooms from under the youthful, slightly gripping fruit tannins, after a little time in the glass. The intensity of fruit combined with the foundational structure tells me this one has a couple of decades of good living ahead of it.”
94 Points
2019 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSAYountville

SILVER GHOST 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 NAPA VALLEY

2019 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Named after Weston Eidson’s great-grandfather’s love for the legendary automobile of the same name- the 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet embodies the same precision, power, and class. Weston’s winemaking parallels in quality, gaining much of his experience from mentors Jason Moore and Russell Bevan.
 
Crafted from a selection of high-quality grapes from Rutherford, Calistoga, and Yountville, Silver Ghost is bold and expressive with 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 5% Petite Verdot aged 22 months in 50% new French oak barriques. This value-driven wine compares to other Napa Valley Cabernets that are double and triple the price and thoroughly impressed our tasting panel when it stood out in a lineup of a few dozen respected producers within Napa Valley.
 
SILVER GHOST 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at $40
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“I’m always impressed by the quality to value this producer offers in his wines, and this new release is another absolute winner. The 2019 Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with a nose including black cherries, pink peppercorns, dried sage, bay leaf, and violets. The palate showcases red currants, wild red berries, fresh tobacco leaf, cardamom, delicate mint, and oak spice. While this bottle will certainly benefit from a few extra years of aging, it is drinking beautifully now and will continue to for another decade.”
92 Points
2018 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Yountville

2018 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Yountville

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

FRISSON

PROPRIETARY RED
TOUCHER VINEYARD
2018 YOUNTVILLE

2018 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Yountville
Yountville marks the convergence of extremes where cool mornings meet warm afternoons producing vibrant wines with fully developed flavors and rich, diverse soils create dark, intense, and extracted Cabernet Sauvignon. Frisson’s Yountville proprietary blend bears these majestic hallmarks with supple fruits embroidered with earthly hedonism lengthened by fresh, natural acidity. 
 
Winemaker Paul Colantuoni is adept with Yountville terroir, gaining experience at Rocca Vineyards, where he crafts their high-scoring Yountville wines, eloquently revealing the region’s signature characteristics. This wine highlights the vintage’s power by embellishing its best qualities with additions of Merlot and Petite Verdot to a base of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
FRISSON
PROPRIETARY RED
TOUCHER VINEYARD
2018 YOUNTVILLE
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard 2018 begins with sweet-spice aromas of cinnamon and cloves, leading into vanilla, cherry cola, cassis, black plums, and a savory tapenade. The wine is refreshingly balanced between the fruit and spice components on the palate, leading to a great complexity of flavors that continue to evolve until the finish. This wine is ready to drink now but will display more developed flavors and aromas after a few years.”
92 points
2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaCarnerosKevin VogtMerlotNapaOak KnollUSAYountville

DUCKHORN 

2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley
Inspired by Bordeaux and a foundational focus of Duckhorn Winery since 1978, Merlot’s mesmeric identity and profound elegance were recognized by Dan Duckhorn as underappreciated in North America, and he set out to fix it. Having unwavering consistency and exemplary varietal character, Duckhorn dominates California Merlot. The 2018 release is a consummate example of the winery’s cumulative growth over the past four decades, and at $45, this deserves a spot on the table. 
 
Duckhorn’s Napa Valley Merlot reflects the diversity of Napa Valley terroir, enriched by Estate Vineyards and other top sites in Carneros, Oak Knoll, Calistoga, and Yountville. A quarter of the blend is harvested from the winery’s Three Palms, Rector Creek, Stout, Monitor Ledge, Patzimaro, and Cork Tree Vineyards, balanced with other renowned sites like Stagecoach, Hyde, and Hudson. 
 
A hallmark of Duckhorn’s Napa Merlot is the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon for added depth, structure, and signature black cherry, plum, and spice characteristics. Quality was propelled even further by the 2018 vintage, and after resting for 15 months in barrel, this wine is ready to delight.
 
DUCKHORN 
2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $56
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“From its tempting aromas of ripe cherry and black raspberry to its sweet, dusty tannins and supple texture, this a lush and expansive expression of Napa Valley Merlot. Luxurious flavors of black plum, rhubarb crumble and chocolate-covered raspberry mingle with hints of graphite and clove on the long, vibrant finish.”