Ghost Block Sauvignon Blanc wine bottle from MorganLee Vineyard, Napa Valley.

2024 Ghost Block Sauvignon Blanc MorgaenLee Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancUSAYountville

Ghost Block

Sauvignon Blanc
MorgaenLee Vineyard
Yountville 2024

Ghost Block Sauvignon Blanc wine bottle from MorganLee Vineyard, Napa Valley.

In a valley defined by Cabernet, crafting a Sauvignon Blanc of substance takes conviction. Yountville provides ideal conditions, with warm afternoons and cool evenings that sharpen flavor while preserving texture. The 2024 Ghost Block Sauvignon Blanc captures that equilibrium with precision, layering lemon citrus, grapefruit, and fresh florals over structure shaped by old vines and intentional blending. This is Sauvignon Blanc with lineage and depth, built with purpose.

Its foundation is organically farmed, dry-farmed vines, some planted in 1978, their roots set deep in Yountville soils. The block is harvested in three measured passes, each pick capturing a distinct point of maturity, from vibrant citrus tension to fuller ripeness. Together, they form a complete portrait of one vineyard, amplifying complexity without losing sense of place.

In the cellar, that detail is preserved and refined. Whole-cluster pressing maintains purity, while barrel fermentation and seven months of aging shape integration and lift. A modest 2 percent of Sémillon adds subtle breadth to the mid-palate, extending the finish without softening the wine’s edge. The result is poised and luminous, a Sauvignon Blanc of precision, texture, and lasting presence.

Ghost Block
Sauvignon Blanc
MorgaenLee Vineyard
Yountville 2024
Retails at: $35

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“The Ghost Block 2024 MorgaenLee Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc hails from Yountville in Napa Valley and opens with an exuberant bouquet of cherry blossoms, jasmine, gooseberries, freshly cut lemon slices, ruby grapefruit, passion fruit, mangos, golden apples, and a wet stone minerality. On the palate, the wine is bright and energetic, with crisp acidity, flavors of lemon zest, white peaches, and guavas, all seamlessly layered. This wine has a clean, focused precision and structure, enhancing its freshness, with a long, refreshing finish.”

94 Points

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

Napanook

by Dominus
Napa Valley Red 2023

2023 Napanook by Dominus Napa Valley Red

A beautiful entry into the wines of Dominus Estate, the 2023 Napanook captures the essence of a vineyard that has shaped Napa Valley for nearly two centuries. Drawn entirely from the historic Napanook Vineyard in Yountville, first planted in 1836 by George C. Yount, the wine reflects the authority of a site whose gravelly valley-floor soils have long proven ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine takes inspiration from the classic structure of Left Bank Bordeaux while remaining unmistakably Napa in character. The vineyard is farmed with an unwavering focus on balance and site expression. Dry-farmed vines send their roots deep into gravelly clay-loam soils threaded with volcanic material, while meticulous cane pruning and careful cluster thinning ensure each vine yields fruit of concentration and purity.

In the cellar, the philosophy is one of moderation and transparency. The 2023 Napanook matures for twenty months in French oak barrels, about twenty percent of them new, a measured approach that frames the wine without overshadowing it. The emphasis remains firmly on allowing the voice of the Napanook Vineyard to come through with precision.

Napanook
by Dominus
Napa Valley Red 2023

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“Aromas of blueberries, ash and stones with hints of blackberries, orange peel and chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with medium-round tannins that are polished and velvety but always in check. Cedar and baking spices like nutmeg on the palate. Lovely soft and silky texture with a long finish. Enchanting and delicious. 92% cabernet sauvginon, 4% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.”

97 Points

2022 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

2022 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

Ponzi Vineyard

Pinot Noir 2022
Laurelwood District
Willamette Valley

2022 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Founded in 1970 by Dick and Nancy Ponzi, Ponzi Vineyards helped define modern Oregon wine. Long before the Willamette Valley earned global acclaim for Pinot Noir, the Ponzis believed in its potential. The 2022 Laurelwood District Pinot Noir carries that conviction forward with five decades devoted to place, precision, and an unwavering faith in Oregon’s promise.

Ponzi sources this wine predominantly from its estate vineyards Avellana, Aurora, and Linda Vista, all within the Laurelwood District. Beneath the vines lies fractured basalt capped by layers of windblown loess, soils that shape architecture as much as flavor. The wine delivers a fine mineral tension that speaks directly to its origin.

The cellar work sharpens that expression. Ten percent whole-cluster fermentation adds aromatic lift, while ten months in French oak refines the tannins and adds polish. Bottled by gravity to preserve purity, the wine finishes with focus and persistence, carrying Laurelwood’s signature tension from first impression to final note.

Ponzi Vineyard
Pinot Noir 2022
Laurelwood District
Willamette Valley
Retails at: $47

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“The 2022 bottling of the Ponzi entry-level Pinot Noir punches well above its weight class. The savoury and earth-driven elements buoy the dark fruits that predominate on the wine’s finish. Rich soil notes and dried violets introduce the effusively aromatic wine, with hints of smoky clove and freshly turned soil. The palate offers redolent muddled blackberries with mint, whisps of graphite mineral tones and a finish of warm spices.”

94 Points

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Favia

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

With a 98-point affirmation, Favia’s 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet stands as a clear statement of intent. Andy Erickson’s aim is direct: to bring Coombsville and Oakville together not as opposites, but as complements. Coombsville contributes freshness and mineral tension; Oakville delivers depth and structure. The result is a composed expression that captures Napa in full scale and proportion.

This is not blending for effect. It is calibration. Coombsville’s edge tightens the spine, carving a clean line through the wine’s core, while Oakville provides weight and gravitational pull. The structure feels deliberate and exact, with each element measured and placed with precision. Nothing drifts beyond its frame.

The proportions reinforce that design. Seventy-six percent Cabernet Sauvignon establishes foundation and breadth. Twenty-one percent Cabernet Franc introduces lift, definition, and structural tension, with Petit Verdot completing the architecture. After careful tannin extraction, the wine matures for twenty months in French oak, building depth without softening its lines. The final impression is complete and resolved, powerful yet controlled, undeniably Favia.

Favia
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2023

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“In a new beginning for Favia, an equal blend of Coombsville and Oakville represents the best of both appellations—the fresh, savory, mineral edge of the former intertwining with the deep flavor and floral lift of the latter. Layers of fruit, supported by graphite, dried herbs, flowers and spices, lead to a luscious yet refined palate with finely tuned tannins and a bright line of acidity. A complete, balanced expression of Napa. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Excellent. Drink or hold.”

98 Points

2022 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

260313 2022 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Salus

Cabernet Sauvignon
by Staglin Family Vineyard
Rutherford Estate 2022

2022 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Estate

 

Some estates define a place so completely that their story becomes inseparable from the soil itself. On the southwestern edge of Rutherford, where a century and a half of viticultural history lies layered in gravel and clay, the Staglin family continues a legacy first planted in the 1860s. Each vintage conveys that sense of place, making it unmistakably Staglin and setting the bar for Rutherford excellence.

At the helm is winemaker Fredrik Johansson, whose precision and judicious winemaking define the modern Staglin style. Trained under Thomas Rivers Brown and guided by vineyard maestro David Abreu, Johansson shapes the estate’s organically farmed fruit into a Cabernet Sauvignon that radiates purity and structure.

Power meets intention in this wine. Beneath its layers of fruit lies a more profound generosity: the Staglin family’s ongoing commitment to healing the mind. Through One Mind, each bottle of Salus extends that mission, bridging the worlds of fine wine and philanthropy with rare authenticity while donating 100% of its profits. In the Staglin tradition, greatness is measured not only by acclaim but also by compassion. Bravo!

Salus
Cabernet Sauvignon
by Staglin Family Vineyard
Rutherford Estate 2022

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“Staglin Salus Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2022: This Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon displays a deep ruby color with impressive concentration. The nose reveals black and blue fruits, graphite, pipe tobacco, crushed stone, and red rose petals, offering complexity without excess. On the palate, blackberries and boysenberries dominate, supported by a deep, lush, and powerful structure. The oak is balanced and integrated, adding depth rather than overwhelming the fruit. Intense and concentrated, it finishes long and elegant, with fine tannins suggesting 15-20 years of evolution. A strong effort from Staglin. Drink 2026-2042.”

96 Points

2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown Margaux Gran Cru Bordeaux

2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown Margaux Gran Cru Bordeaux

with No Comment $70-$80BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

Château Cantenac Brown

Margaux 2018
Grand Cru Classé 1855
Bordeaux, France

2018 Chateau Cantenac Brown Margaux Gran Cru Bordeaux

In Margaux, pedigree is never accidental. The 2018 Cantenac Brown stands securely within its 1855 Third Growth lineage, yet speaks with striking modern precision. Built on 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and shaped through deliberate élevage, it marries classical Left Bank structure with precision and control. History is present, but never heavy. The result is a wine where tradition and exacting craftsmanship meet in seamless proportion.

Beneath the estate’s vineyards, deep gravel soils define the wine long before it reaches the cellar. In 2018, that geology found eloquent expression. The Cabernet-led blend carries the unmistakable signature of the Médoc: firm architecture first, perfume rising gradually behind it, longevity always implied.

What ultimately sets the 2018 apart is its texture. The tannins are finely structured yet composed. Aged in 60% new French oak, the élevage brings polish and depth, reinforcing the wine’s frame rather than embellishing it. The finish is long and mineral, steady and assured, leaving a lasting impression of Margaux rendered with both conviction and balance.

Château Cantenac Brown
Margaux 2018
Grand Cru Classé 1855
Bordeaux, France

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“The 2018 Cantenac Brown is fabulous. Dark rich and expansive, the 2018 wraps around the palate with stunning depth. Dark red/black fruit, iron, cedar, chocolate, dried herbs and a whole range of earthy notes are pushed forward as this ample Margaux shows off its considerable allure. The 2018 is a big, rich wine. Give it at least a few years to fully come together.”

95 Points

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtTuscany

La Rasina

Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

The 2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino reflects precision under pressure. In a year that challenged even the most experienced growers, this wine emerged not through excess or generosity, but through balance achieved by careful decisions at every stage. Its poise reveals a producer deeply attuned to vineyard and vintage, crafting a Brunello that favors brilliance, elegance, and authenticity over overt power.

La Rasina’s vineyards, positioned on the northeastern slopes of Montalcino, played a critical role in navigating the season. Higher elevation, cooler nights, and steady air movement helped moderate the warmth of 2020, preserving freshness and structure. Farmed organically, these vines benefit from a philosophy that prioritizes observation and patience, allowing the vineyard’s natural balance to assert itself.

Aging for more than two years in traditional large oak casks, the wine settles into a rhythm defined by balance and clarity. The wood frames the fruit without dominating it, preserving the wine’s natural tension and energy. What emerges is a Brunello of regal confidence, layered and precise, offering immediate appeal alongside the promise of long-term reward.

La Rasina
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020
Retails at: $55

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“Some complexity here with smoky-woodland and licorice-root notes. Lead pencil is mixed with blood orange. The attack is tense and firm with crisp acidity and tight, chalky tannins. Yet, it’s ripe on the finish and quite warming. This will improve with age. Drink from 2025.”

93 Points

2016 The Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard Calistoga

2016 The Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard Calistoga

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

The Grade

Cabernet Sauvignon
Winfield Vineyard
Calistoga 2016

2016 The Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Winfield Vineyard Calistoga

Nearly a decade has passed since the fruit for this wine came in, and time has only sharpened its voice. The Grade’s 2016 Winfield Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a composed, confident expression of Calistoga, shaped by an exceptional vintage and the measured hand of Thomas Rivers Brown. It is a wine that has fully grown into itself, revealing structure and authority.

Winfield Vineyard occupies a rare position in Calistoga, offering a level of definition and consistency more often associated with Napa’s most celebrated sites. Its interplay of elevation, parcel diversity, and natural balance gives the vineyard a pedigree that seasoned Cabernet drinkers immediately recognize and respect.

The 2016 Winfield Vineyard Cabernet now enters a compelling window, where maturity and vitality converge. Its structure remains intact, its energy undiminished, and its expression unmistakably clear. For those who value Cabernet at this stage, it offers the pleasure of readiness today alongside the promise of graceful evolution ahead.

The Grade
Cabernet Sauvignon
Winfield Vineyard
Calistoga 2016
Retails at: $130

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“Coming from the Winfield Vineyard in Calistoga, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is another brilliant wine from the hands of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. This deep purple-colored effort boasts tons of blueberry and jammy blackberry fruits as well a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet elegant style on the palate. It has the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of the vintage, ripe, sweet tannins, and no hard edges, and is already hard to resist.”

94 Points

2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

Mt. Brave

Cabernet Sauvignon
Mt. Veeder 2021

2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

High on Mt. Veeder, where vineyards cling to fractured slopes and fog drifts beneath the canopy, Mt. Brave finds its voice. The 2021 Cabernet rises from this unforgiving terrain, shaped by elevation, exposure, and time rather than convenience. What emerges is a wine of uncommon gravity, carrying the mountain’s tension and resolve through every layer.

Chris Carpenter guides that expression with the authority of experience, drawing on decades spent understanding Napa’s most demanding mountain vineyards. At Mt. Brave, his approach balances discipline with intuition, allowing the intensity of Mt. Veeder fruit to speak without losing precision. Thoughtful choices in the vineyard and cellar bring structure into proportion, refining the mountain’s natural edge rather than softening it.

The 2021 vintage captures Mt. Brave at a moment when structure and harmony fully align. Dense fruit, firm architecture, and underlying freshness point to a long, measured evolution in bottle, even as the wine already shows composure and depth. This is mountain Cabernet built with patience in mind, rewarding contemplation today and cellaring in the years ahead.

Mt. Brave
Cabernet Sauvignon
Mt. Veeder 2021
Retails at: $125

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“A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.”

99 Points

2022 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Duckhorn

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

From its earliest days, Duckhorn Vineyards has approached Napa Valley Cabernet not as a showpiece, but as a discipline. The 2022 vintage carries that philosophy forward, shaped by decades of experience and a conviction that greatness lies in proportion. Its strength comes from a deliberate balance of mountain and valley-floor fruit, yielding a wine that feels assured, composed, and unmistakably rooted in place.

That balance is established well before the cellar. By drawing from both mountain and valley-floor vineyards, the blend captures Napa Valley’s natural balance between structure and generosity. Mountain fruit brings linear intensity and aromatic lift, while valley-floor sites contribute breadth and texture. Together, they form a cohesive expression that feels layered and dimensional.

In the glass, the wine offers both immediacy and promise. Its structure and harmony invite enjoyment now, while its depth and freshness point to a long, measured evolution in the cellar. Every element feels deliberate, resulting in a wine that is authentic, grounded, and deeply satisfying from first impression through the finish.

Duckhorn
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022
Retails at: $80

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“Bright and refined with aromas of blackberries, cassis, fresh tobacco, crushed stones and dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and polished with fine tannins and vibrant fruit. Defined and balanced with a touch of minerality. Drink or hold.” 

92 Points