2018 Morlet Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petits Morlet Oakville

2018 Morlet Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petits Morlet Oakville

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Morlet

Cabernet Sauvignon
Le Petits Morlet
Oakville 2018

2018 Morlet Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petits Morlet Oakville

Few winemakers bridge the traditions of Bordeaux and the vitality of Napa as effortlessly as Luc Morlet. The 2018 “Les Petits Morlet” embodies that balance, uniting Old World refinement with New World energy. Drawn from his Oakville Estate, just south of Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, it reflects heritage, ambition, and a vision honed over decades.

From the younger vines of Morlet’s Coeur de Vallée Vineyard, this Cabernet channels the pulse of Oakville with remarkable purity while carrying the unmistakable signature of its lineage. Every facet of its creation bears the mark of Morlet’s meticulous craftsmanship, from the precision of harvest to the quiet patience of aging. The result is harmony in motion, a portrait of a vineyard rendered in balance and grace.

Sixteen months of élevage in French oak have refined the 2018 “Les Petits Morlet” into something both vibrant and composed. Guided by native fermentations, restrained new oak, and a philosophy of minimal intervention, Luc Morlet allows the vineyard’s voice to ring clear and true. The wine resonates with clarity and confidence, unfolding in layers of dark fruit, subtle spice, and polished tannin to reveal a Cabernet of authenticity and soul.

Morlet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Le Petits Morlet
Oakville 2018

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“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet is a delightful wine from Luc and Jodie Morlet. Soft, open-knit and so inviting, the 2018 is beautifully done. It captures all the house signatures, but in an accessible style, making it easy to drink and enjoy right now. Succulent dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, spice and licorice linger on the long, understated finish. This is an absolutely gorgeous second wine. Most of the fruit is from the Morlets vineyard in Oakville, with some fruit from their sites in St. Helena and Knights Valley.”

93 Points

2021 Adamvs Teres Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2021 Adamvs Teres Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

Adamvs

Téres Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain, 2021

2021 Adamvs Teres Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

High on the volcanic spine of Howell Mountain, ADAMVS shapes Cabernet with precision, under the steady hand of winemaker Alberto Bianchi, supported by the seasoned insight of Philippe Melka. The 2021 Téres is the estate at its most expressive: an elevated Cabernet that channels Howell Mountain’s raw power into something remarkably refined.

This evolution begins in the vineyard, where ADAMVS farms its estate as a fully certified Organic and Biodynamic® ecosystem. Each of the five vineyard sites contributes its own voice to the wine, shaped by iron-rich red soils and rugged hillside exposures. Rather than force uniformity, the team leans into this mosaic, allowing the diversity of clones, soils, and elevations to create a Cabernet defined by nuance rather than density.

That rich diversity of vineyard character met its ideal match in the 2021 growing season. Conditions favored small berries with concentrated flavor, vibrant acidity, and exceptional aromatic lift. In the cellar, the team preserved that energy through restrained extraction and meticulous aging. The result is a Cabernet deeply rooted in Howell Mountain power, yet carried by a brightness and refinement that lingers long after each sip.

Adamvs
Téres Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain, 2021

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“Opaque ruby-coloured core, leading to a dark ruby rim. A robust, broad-shouldered, muscular Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain. The Téres is a field blend of grapes from their 32.37ha estate. Black cherry, mulberry, and blueberry fruit frame wild herbs, toasty oak and graphite. Full-bodied with chewy dark fruit and tannins framed by palate-coating chalky minerals and nuanced by a pop of capsicum. Dried floral notes and ironstone infuse the refreshing finish. Proprietors Denise and Stephen Adams work with Philippe Melka, Alberto Bianchi, and viticulturist Michael Wolf to craft their wines.”

97 Points

2023 Vieux Telegraph Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

2023 Vieux Telegraph Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

with No Comment $100 and overChateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone Valley

Vieux Télégraphe

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Crau 2023

2023 Vieux Telegraph Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

High above the Rhône plain, on the stony expanse of La Crau, the Brunier family tends one of France’s most storied vineyards. Each vintage of Vieux Télégraphe distills a century of devotion to this harsh and beautiful place, where vines grow not in soil but among stones. The 2023 release captures that heritage at its purest: a wine of sculpted structure, radiant fruit, and the unmistakable clarity that only this plateau can impart.

From hand-harvest to slow fermentation in concrete, every step at Vieux Télégraphe reflects patience. The old vines, some planted before the Second World War, yield small, concentrated berries that speak not of abundance but of endurance. Matured in large, neutral foudres, the wine develops a strength and texture that feels carved rather than built.

Few wines so seamlessly capture the paradox of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the marriage of Mediterranean warmth and mountain freshness. The 2023 Vieux Télégraphe radiates both: the generosity of ripe Grenache framed by the cool austerity of limestone. It stands as proof that in the right hands, hardship becomes harmony, and from the stones of La Crau, true beauty is born.

Vieux Télégraphe
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Crau 2023

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“In spite of its extreme youth, this great Chateuneuf-du-Pape leaps out at you with its depth of wet-earth, ripe red-berry and dried-flower aromas. Rich and concentrated, but so suave and refined. Incredible length! Already delicous, but this has a great future ahead of it. Drink or hold.”

98 Points

2022 Ovid Experiment No. N7.2 Napa Valley

2022 Ovid Experiment No. N7.2 Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

Ovid

Experiment No. N7.2
Napa Valley, 2022

2022 Ovid Experiment No. N7.2 Napa Valley

At OVID, winemaking has always existed on the edge of science and poetry. The 2022 Experiment No. N7.2 embodies that balance, translating raw mountain intensity into fluid grace. Crafted from fruit grown on Pritchard Hill, this wine channels volcanic soils, unrelenting sun, and meticulous viticultural precision into a Cabernet blend that feels both sculpted and spontaneous, bringing a rare equilibrium of intellect and instinct.

Winemaker Austin Peterson, drawing on mentorship from Andy Erickson and Michel Rolland, explores how subtle variations in elevation and canopy height can reshape a wine’s voice. The wine spent 20 months in French oak, allowing the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon to merge gracefully with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The blend reveals OVID’s signature balance between extraction and elegance, where intensity never overshadows finesse.

Inspired by the Roman poet Ovid, celebrated for his transformative “Metamorphoses,” the winery embraces a philosophy of innovative exploration. Every vintage from OVID is a conversation with nature, and N7.2 feels like its most eloquent reply yet. This is OVID at its most articulate: bold, cerebral, and effortlessly beautiful.

Ovid
Experiment No. N7.2
Napa Valley, 2022
Retails at: $225

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“The 2022 Ovid Experiment No. N7.2 is a compelling Napa Valley red, blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and lower percentages of Merlot and Petit Verdot, sourced from high-elevation Pritchard Hill vineyards. On the nose, it blooms with precise layers of red currants and spiced black plum, supported by cedar, warm baking spices, wet-stone minerality, cocoa powder, and a dusting of white pepper, revealing an intricate aromatic profile. The palate delivers sweet blackberries with bright, intensely flavored fruit that maintains a very linear, focused foundation. Firm yet satiny tannins provide structure without aggression, leading to a long, elegant finish that echoes the nose’s complexity. This wine possesses genuine depth and balance, promising evolution over the next 15+ years, gaining further complexity.”

95 points

2021 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2021 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

The Mascot

Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2021

2021 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Few wines manage to balance prestige with accessibility as seamlessly as Will Harlan’s The Mascot. Born from the younger vines of Napa’s most revered estates, it offers a glimpse into the extraordinary and a rare opportunity to taste the DNA of Harlan, BOND, and Promontory in a form that’s vivid, expressive, and alive.

Every detail of The Mascot is shaped by its remarkable provenance. The fruit is drawn from parcels that, while younger, share the same meticulous farming, low yields, and uncompromising standards as their iconic parent estates. It is at once a reflection of its iconic lineage and a celebration of potential, capturing the raw energy of terroir before it matures into legend.

With its seamless integration of fruit, structure, and nuance, The Mascot achieves a level of refinement that belies its price. The 2021 vintage captures the essence of the year: vibrant yet composed, generous yet finely etched, offering an experience that is both intellectually engaging and deeply pleasurable. It’s a wine that doesn’t simply hint at greatness, but delivers it. 

The Mascot
Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2021

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“The 2021 Mascot Proprietary Red from Napa Valley emerges as a compelling blend, showcasing the estate’s younger vines with remarkable depth and precision. On the nose, it unfolds layers of blackberry pie and red currants, accented by violets, crushed rocks, menthol, and a hint of cocoa powder, all integrated seamlessly. The palate mirrors this intensity, dominated by black currants, chocolate-covered cherries, and kirsch, with silky tannins framing a supple mouthfeel and sweet fruit. Concentration defines the core, yet opulent fruit finds equilibrium through firm tension, avoiding heaviness. This wine’s structure suggests seamless evolution, with bright acidity carrying through a persistent finish marked by mineral notes and subtle spice. Drink now for its vibrancy or cellar through 2035-2040 for added complexity. A standout effort from the Harlan family.”

95 Points

2021 Simon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Simon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRutherfordUSAYountville

Simon

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Simon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Simon’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a thrilling benchmark for what modern Napa can achieve: powerful yet polished, expressive yet restrained. Shaped by star winemaker Maayan Koschitzky, whose journey spans Screaming Eagle and his role as Director of Winemaking at Atelier Melka, it embodies a synthesis of pedigree and precision, earning 97-point acclaim and placing it among the valley’s most compelling wines. 

Its foundation lies in a pantheon of Napa’s most revered vineyards: Sleeping Lady in Yountville, Vine Hill Ranch and Tench in Oakville, Beckstoffer Georges III in Rutherford, and Collinetta in Coombsville. Each site contributes a vital voice: benchland fruit for structure, eastern slopes for intensity and minerality, and Coombsville’s volcanic soils for freshness and aromatic lift.

Koschitzky’s hallmark is clarity, and it shows in every detail of this 2021 Cabernet. The élevage in French oak provides sculpted edges rather than ornament, allowing terroir to speak in a clear, resonant voice. The wine is penetrating but not ostentatious, refined but not restrained—a true reflection of a winemaker at the height of his craft.

Simon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $180

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“Extremely precise and focused Napa Cabernet sporting black currants, black cherries, and coriander, bright minerality, with fragrant wild herbs and white pepper nuances. Medium to full-bodied. The tannins are very pointed, precise, and long and have a beautifully sweet edge that seamlessly resolves into perfectly ripe black cherry fruit and currants with a mineral-rich finish. It’s fresh, lacy, and compact. A new project with winemaker Maayan Koschitzky at the helm, who, through the owners, is contracting for fruit with Rocca Family Vineyards in Coombsville, the famous Tench Vineyard and Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, Beckstoffer Georges III in Rutherford, and Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville. This Cabernet includes grapes sourced from Rocca, Tench, and Sleeping Lady.”

97 Points

2021 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley

2021 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Ulysses

Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville, Napa Valley 2021

2021 Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley

One of the great wines of the vintage, the 2021 Ulysses Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is an instant classic and a profound example of what is possible when visionary winemaking meets exceptional terroir. With Tod Mostert, the acclaimed artisan behind Dominus, guiding every nuance, the wine encapsulates the subtle power and refined character unique to Oakville’s revered vineyards.

Nestled in the heart of the Oakville Bench, Ulysses’ vineyard thrives in gravelly clay-loam soils, enriched by half-century-old vines and meticulous organic farming practices certified by CCOF. Dry-farmed to encourage deep root growth, the vineyard produces grapes of extraordinary purity, vibrant complexity, and concentrated flavors, giving a true reflection of their prestigious terroir.

Composed predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Ulysses unfurls in slow, deliberate waves. Rich tones of Scharffen Berger dark chocolate, intense blackberries, and exotic spice swirl together, underscored by Italian espresso. A wine of staggering presence and poise, it delivers a rare convergence of place, precision, and polish, earning its place among Napa Valley’s most revered.

Ulysses
Cabernet Sauvignon
Oakville, Napa Valley 2021

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“Simply put, Christian Moueix’s Napa Valley project Ulysses is a wine every collector of Napa Cabernet should have in their cellar. The 2021 release of the Oakville red is a knockout that is never too bombastic, entirely reserved even in its generosity, and one that will last a very long time… Opaque purple-ruby to the rim. A wine showing all the best qualities you’d expect from a prime Oakville site. This is a beautifully balanced red, imbued with a tremendously fresh streak of acidity. The nose leads with prime, ripe, dark black fruits, cassis, violets, creme de menthe, and crushed slate.—medium to full-bodied with impressively fashioned tannins that are robust and build through the extravagantly long finish. Marked by ripe black cherry and spiced plum notes, the length is extended by zesty blood orange acidity. Fragrant with sage and thyme, nuanced by brighter cherry blossom freshness and mineral tension. Impressive depth and density with a core of pure, ripe, and juicy fruit. Exceptional. This was the last wine in a complete vertical tI tasted with Moueix and winemaker Tod Mostero in a tasting room tucked within the barn on the Ulysses Vineyard site. ‘I’m thrilled,’ commented Moueix, ‘There’s a real dignity to the wines.’ Moueix said that until this tasting, he hadn’t quite noticed the style signature but found it emerging, though cautioned, ‘Even with our experience next door at Dominus, we are still figuring it out.’ For Mostero, ‘Making these has been a discovery of place. With our mature vines, we’re just beginning to get a sense of the true resonance of the place. The 2021 typifies what we can expect. This arrow-like structure that is piercing, resonant, and strong.'”

99 Points

2021 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Merus

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

With striking intensity and a captivating balance between muscle and finesse, the 2021 Merus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is unapologetically bold and commands attention. Once a cult garage label founded by Mark Herold, Merus rose swiftly in the late 1990s, earning a reputation for producing Cabernets with both swagger and substance. Now under the stewardship of Bill Foley, Merus reclaims its place among Napa’s elite with stunning authority.

At the helm of the 2021 vintage is Eric Baugher, a scientist turned artisan who, during his 27-year tenure at Ridge Vineyards, crafted two 100-point Monte Bello vintages. Known for his precision, restraint, and deep respect for structure, Baugher brings an exacting lens to Merus, elevating the brand with a style that marries power with poise.

Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, this wine is both muscular and magnetic. Aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak, it’s a wine of immense presence, but also one of clarity and control, bringing a commanding expression of modern Napa Valley.

Merus
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $225

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“Beautiful plum and blue fruits, sappy herbs, violets, and sandalwood notes all emerge from Merus’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, a deep purple-hued, ripe, sexy 2021. Despite all its upfront baby fat, it has a rock-solid underlying structure and is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and should be long-lived.”

97 Points

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, Oakville

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Fait-Main

Cabernet Sauvignon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Oakville 2022

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

From the gifted hands of Benoit Touquette, a protégé of legends Michel Rolland and Andy Erickson, comes a wine that doesn’t merely reflect Oakville—it redefines it. At Fait-Main, Touquette applies the same precision that led to 28 perfect 100-point wines at Realm Cellars. The 2022 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon embodies everything he’s learned, resulting in a wine of riveting definition.

Located on Oakville’s Western Benchland, neighboring To Kalon, Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper site is shaped by the marine breezes of San Pablo Bay, offering a rare combination of richness and restraint. The silty-clay loam soils challenge the vines, driving them deep and yielding fruit with density, polish, and an unmistakable sense of place.

The 2022 vintage exemplifies this balance, being plush and concentrated yet lifted by sculpted tannins and effortless structure. Jeb Dunnuck describes it as “ready to go,” yet its poise and depth suggest it will evolve beautifully over the next decade or more. This is Oakville through the lens of a master, a Cabernet Sauvignon that captures its remarkable origins.

Fait-Main
Cabernet Sauvignon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Oakville 2022

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“Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, chocolate, incense, and flowery incense are just some of the aromatics in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, a concentrated 2022 that has terrific purity, ripe, polished tannins, a lively spice of acidity, and a great finish. This valley floor site can be hit or miss (it’s a large vineyard), but when it’s on, it can rival the best. As with most 2022s, this is upfront, ripe, front-end-loaded, and ready to go. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade or so.”

95 Points

2021 Azur Proprietary Blend Napa Valley

2021 Azur Proprietary Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

Azur

Proprietary Blend
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Azur Proprietary Blend Napa Valley

Azur’s 2021 Napa Valley Red defies expectations, delivering an elegance and depth of sophistication rarely encountered at this price. Each sip feels a bit like discovering a carefully kept secret. Its effortless grace, remarkable richness, and mesmerizing complexity beg the question: How can something so extraordinary remain within reach?

At the heart of Azur’s charm is the visionary craftsmanship of Elan Fayard, whose Provençal heritage leaves an indelible imprint on every bottle. With masterful precision, Fayard seamlessly marries the timeless finesse of French winemaking traditions to the vibrant spirit and sunlit energy of Napa Valley. Her artistry produces wines that speak with authenticity, nuance, and a distinctly memorable voice.

Sourced from select vineyards across Napa Valley, this proprietary blend of nearly 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash of Malbec captures the essence of the region’s exceptional landscape. The 2021 vintage unfolds gracefully, revealing a plush, velvety texture supported by rich fruit and refined structure. Azur’s Red is an invitation to savor Napa at its most compelling, delivering an experience that resonates long after the final sip.

Azur
Proprietary Blend
Napa Valley 2021

Retails at: $125

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“The Azur 2021 Proprietary Red Blend is polished and approachable with aromas of violets, juicy blackberries, blueberries, plums, and black cherries. On the palate, the wine offers flavors of sweet baking spices, fudge brownies, and mixed berry pie, with hints of savory notes. The wine has ripe and fine-grained tannins, offering a structure that is nicely balanced by the depth of fruit, which lends harmony and approachability.”

94 Points