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

2021 Lorenzi Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

2021 Lorenzi Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Lorenzi Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon
Reserve 2021
Napa Valley

2021 Lorenzi Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

At once bold and impeccably refined, the 2021 Lorenzi Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon channels the raw intensity of Howell Mountain into something transcendent. Crafted from meticulously selected fruit by Julien Fayard and shaped with quiet precision by Don Lorenzi, this wine is a singular expression of place, pedigree, and purpose.

Aging for thirty-two months in new French oak has sculpted the wine into something both majestic and deeply harmonious. Plush yet restrained, it glides across the palate with a velvet intensity. The confident yet composed tannins promise a graceful arc of evolution, while its inner tension suggests decades of potential.

It is built on a foundation of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, subtly elevated by Merlot’s plushness, Petit Verdot’s depth, and Malbec’s intrigue. The result is a wine of striking clarity and dimension. With only 250 cases produced, its scarcity is as real as its brilliance. 

Lorenzi Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon
Reserve 2021
Napa Valley
Retails at: $125

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“With the addition of some Merlot and Petit Verdot, this is a 28-month, 100% French-oaked aged Cabernet Sauvignon with chewy, but approachable suede tannins. Dusted with cocoa and blueberry. The wine comes on like a heavyweight, but broadens across the palate, reining in its powerful message. A sprinkle of white pepper, graphite, licorice, and soy sauce drench the palate on the finish.”

95 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

2022 Jett Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

2022 Jett Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtUSAWashington State

Jett

Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley 2022

2022 Jett Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

Few wines arrive with the profound poise of the 2022 Jett Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—a masterpiece born from visionary artistry and remarkable terroir. Guiding its creation are two prodigious talents: Chris Carpenter, Napa Valley’s revered craftsman behind Lokoya and Cardinale, and Gianna Ghilarducci, a rising talent whose skills were honed at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and through collaboration with Carpenter at Mt. Brave and Lokoya.

The Jett Cabernet Sauvignon is an evocative portrait of Skysill Vineyard, nestled within the elevated folds of Walla Walla’s Upper Mill Creek district, not far from Leonetti. Perched between 1,200 and 1,600 feet, the vines thrive amidst cool mountain breezes and Aeolian soils, rich with ancient volcanic and sedimentary deposits.

After twenty months in French oak, the wine emerges with captivating finesse and structured depth. Pouring forth in an alluring cascade, it weaves together deep, rich intensity with intricate notes of graphite, crushed herbs, and aromatic spices. It leaves a lasting memory on the palate and a quiet conviction that something truly special is unfolding in the Walla Walla Valley.

Jett
Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley 2022

Your Price: $79.99

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“The Jett 2022 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon brings together complex, powerful, yet elegant aromas of violets, blackberries, cassis, forest floor, dried herbs, dark chocolate, and a pencil-lead-like minerality. On the palate, the wine has fine-grained, chalky tannins with bright acidity, enhancing flavors of baking spices alongside black and blue fruits, balanced by subtle savory notes. This wine is penetrating and concentrated at the moment and will age gracefully with time.”

97 Points

2021 O'Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2021 O’Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

O’Shaughnessy

Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2021

2021 O'Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

O’Shaughnessy’s 2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating tribute to one of Napa Valley’s most revered terroirs, elegantly embodying the region’s signature intensity, striking depth, and complexity. Perched at elevations surpassing 1,500 feet, the vineyard blocks thrive amidst volcanic soils and cooler mountain temperatures, culminating in a Cabernet of extraordinary longevity and compelling presence.

Founded by visionary Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls, the estate has steadily forged a reputation built upon the seamless union of power and finesse. The 2021 vintage exemplifies her original vision, representing the pinnacle of her pursuit to craft wines of unparalleled elegance and expressive clarity.

Under the expert guidance of acclaimed winemaker Sean Capiaux, formerly of Peter Michael Winery, the 2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon reflects its high-altitude heritage. With impressive high-90s ratings, this wine is a distinguished addition to any cellar, promising years of graceful evolution, making now the perfect time to procure a wine that beautifully captures the essence of Howell Mountain.

O’Shaughnessy
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2021

Your Price: $115

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“Darker currants, scorched earth, iron, violets, dark chocolate, and smoked tobacco all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, along with small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, and St. Macaire, it’s full-bodied and rich, with an iron-laced, meaty character and powerful structure. Aged two years in French oak followed by a year in bottle, this killer effort will need 4-5 years of patience and keep for two decades.”

97 Points

2021 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Napa Valley

2021 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Staglin

Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford Estate
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate Napa Valley

Staglin’s 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon commands attention with its layered complexity, intricate detail, and deep connection to its origins. It embodies the essence of Rutherford: a harmonious balance of structured tannins and supple fruit, anchored by the distinctive earthy minerality known as “Rutherford dust.”

The vineyard, rooted in history, lies on the gravel-rich benchlands at Rutherford’s southwestern edge. First cultivated in the 1860s, these venerable soils flourish under the Staglin family’s thoughtful stewardship, guided by care, conscience, and a vision for the future. Their approach yields not only exceptional fruit but also wines that carry the weight of their heritage, reflecting the character of their place rather than mere style.

Winemaker Fredrik Johansson, shaped by his time at Outpost, Schrader, and Maybach, shapes this expression with precision. In the 2021 vintage, he crafts a wine of remarkable balance—powerful yet refined, poised yet vibrant. This Cabernet leaves a lasting impression, offering a pure and enduring glimpse into one of Napa Valley’s most storied and soulful sites. One taste, and you’ll be instantly seduced.

Staglin
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford Estate
Napa Valley 2021

Your Price: $325

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“The finest example of this estate I’ve ever tasted, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a flat-out sensational effort that hits perfection. Exhibiting a deep purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like array of cassis, scorched earth, chocolate, and spicy wood, it has a Pauillac-like cedar pencil character, full-bodied richness, and voluptuous, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and sweet tannins. While there’s considerable structure, it’s concealed by the wine’s extravagant fruit, richness, and opulence. This prodigious, sensationally pure, heavenly Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will have another three decades of overall longevity.”

100 Points

2011 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard

2011 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard Knights Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtKnight's ValleySonomaUSA

Anakota

Cabernet Sauvignon
Helena Montana Vineyard
Knights Valley 2011

2011 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard

Anakota’s 2011 Helena Montana Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating expression of patience, precision, and the rugged splendor of Knights Valley. Over a decade in bottle has shaped this wine into a refined experience of commanding power, depth, and seductive charm. Founded in the early 2000s by visionary vintner Jess Jackson, Anakota draws from the volcanic slopes of Mount St. Helena to craft wines of remarkable distinction.

Under the guidance of celebrated vigneron Pierre Seillan and acclaimed winemaker Chris Carpenter, Anakota employs a micro-cru approach, vinifying individual vineyard blocks to highlight terroir. Initially underappreciated due to the cool, wet 2011 vintage, this Cabernet has evolved, its concentrated fruit and robust tannins maturing into a wine of striking elegance and depth.

Perched at 950 feet, the Helena Montana Vineyard benefits from gravelly volcanic loam soils, impeccable drainage, and cooling Pacific breezes, defining its extraordinary character. Anakota’s commitment to meticulous viticulture has elevated Knights Valley’s global standing, with the 2011 Cabernet vividly showcasing the vineyard’s ability to produce wines of profound complexity and enduring allure.

Anakota
Cabernet Sauvignon
Helena Montana Vineyard
Knights Valley 2011
Retails at: $175

Your Price: $119.99

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“Inky, deep and gorgeous, the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard emerges from the glass with blackberry jam, cassis, sweet spices, menthol and cloves. This is a surprisingly juicy, full-bodied wine with superb depth for the year. Typically firm Knights Valley tannins support the finish. All the elements fall into place nicely. I am intrigued to see how the 2011 ages. There is certainly plenty to look forward to here.” 

91+ Points

2021 Frogs Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

2021 Frogs Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Frog’s Leap

Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford Estate 2021

2021 Frogs Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

Frog’s Leap 2021 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon offers remarkable value, embodying the essence of Napa Valley’s storied terroir through organic and dry farming. Each sip reveals the vision of founder John Williams, whose dedication to organic agriculture has shaped the estate since 1981. Drawing inspiration from his early years at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Williams cultivates his vines with a deep trust in nature.

The heart of this wine lies in Frog’s Leap’s commitment to dry farming, a deliberate choice to forgo irrigation, encouraging the vines to delve into Rutherford’s fertile, mineral-rich soil. Through this struggle, the grapes yield intense, distinctive flavors, marked by the region’s iconic Rutherford dust and a profound, unique identity.

Frog’s Leap embraces sustainability not as a passing trend but as a core responsibility, guiding every step from vine to bottle. The 2021 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, lauded with a 95-point score from Decanter, is a wine to experience, contemplate, and remember.

Frog’s Leap
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford Estate 2021

Retails at: $75

Your Price: $59.99

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“Dry-farmed Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes are aged 20 months in mostly neutral French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. A rather dark, meaty, and savoury expression from this iconic Rutherford Estate helmed by founder and proprietor John Williams. Opaque ruby in colour shows black olive, dusty earth, and graphite. Medium-bodied and intensely perfumed on the palate, wit builds in elegance, almost defying its rather muscular aromatic profile. Fresh, balanced, quite complex, and quite cellar-worthy.”

95 Points

2022 Maquis Revela Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

2022 Maquis Revela Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonChileKevin Vogt

Maquis

Revela Gran Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon
Colchagua Valley 2022

2022 Maquis Revela Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

The 2022 Maquis Revela Colchagua Valley Cabernet Sauvignon captivates with its bold, intricate, and elegantly crafted profile. Viña Maquis, rooted in one of Chile’s oldest estates, traces its origins to the 18th century, when Jesuit priests produced sacramental wine on this storied land. Since 1916, the Hurtado family has upheld this heritage, refining the vineyards and embracing a meticulous, hands-on approach to winemaking that vividly captures the essence of the terroir.

In 2022, a cool growing season followed a dry winter, yielding fruit of remarkable balance—crisp acidity, vibrant aromatics, and rich concentration. Sourced primarily from a rare 1997 block planted on ungrafted European rootstock, the Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Chile’s phylloxera-free soils, safeguarded by the Andes’ natural barrier. The result is a wine of exceptional purity and character, rarely matched elsewhere.

Blended with Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot, this wine evokes a Left Bank Bordeaux spirit while distinctly reflecting its Chilean roots. Lively spice, refined structure, and elegance unite in a wine that narrates a compelling story of heritage, resilience, and place—far surpassing its price.

Maquis
Revela Gran Reserva
Cabernet Sauvignon
Colchagua Valley 2022

Your Price: $24

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“I like the restraint of this cabernet sauvignon, which almost delivers a Bordelais touch with its lead-pencil and graphite character. Structured and medium-bodied with firm, creamy tannins and a tight finish. Sustainable. Better from 2025.”

92 Points

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Haute Montagne

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon remains a closely guarded treasure among Napa Valley connoisseurs—a refined expression of mountain-grown fruit from a distinguished, yet undisclosed, vineyard. Sourced from lofty elevations above Lake Hennessy, where Cabernet Sauvignon often exceeds $300 per bottle, this declassified jewel offers a rare chance to savor premier pedigree at an accessible price.

Douglas Danielak, a winemaker of subtle brilliance, guides its creation. Schooled at UC Davis and honed in Burgundy, Danielak marries precision with instinct. His tenure at Knights Bridge earned him Wine Spectator’s “Winemaker to Watch” acclaim. Each vintage he crafts exudes disciplined elegance, harmonizing innovation with deep reverence for tradition.

Fermented in small lots, aged in fine French oak, and shaped by Bordeaux-inspired methods, the 2021 Haute Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon balances restraint with grandeur. Its sculpted tannins and layered complexity weave power with poise, where each sip hints at a deeper story still untold. 

Haute Montagne
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

Your Price: $75

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“The Haute Montagne Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 begins with an elegant nose of red and black fruits, cocoa powder, white flowers, and baking spices. The complex palate continues with concentrated blackberries, juicy black cherries, red currants, Italian black plums, liquid minerals, dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, and sweet vanilla. It’s made in a concentrated, compact style with firm, focused tannins and a long, sophisticated finish. Enjoy this one now and over the next decade or more.”

94 Points