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

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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

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

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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

2021 Scarlett Zinfandel McGah Vineyard Rutherford Estate

2021 Scarlett Zinfandel McGah Vineyard Rutherford Estate

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSAZinfandel

Scarlett

Zinfandel 2021
McGah Vineyard
Rutherford Estate

2021 Scarlett Zinfandel McGah Vineyard Rutherford Estate

Scarlett’s 2021 Zinfandel vividly embodies the generosity of Rutherford’s storied terroir through a vibrant lens. Born from soils enriched by centuries of mountain runoff, woven with gravelly loam and sandy alluvium, this wine draws its essence from Napa Valley’s heart. Here, Zinfandel flourishes, intertwining bold raspberry, wild bramble, and exotic spice into an evocative tapestry that honors Rutherford’s heritage while forging a distinct path.

Renowned winemaker Mike Smith skillfully crafts this captivating Zinfandel, drawing on artistry honed alongside Napa’s Thomas Rivers Brown. Celebrated for his work at distinguished estates like Maybach Family, Carter Cellars, and Tamber Bey, Smith infuses this wine with striking depth and seamless balance, masterfully blending vibrant fruit intensity with graceful refinement.

Emerging from the remarkable 2021 vintage, this wine exudes charm and accessibility. Beneath its lively character lies a deeper narrative—a profound connection to place, inviting you to savor Rutherford anew.

Scarlett
Zinfandel 2021
McGah Vineyard
Rutherford Estate

Retails at: $55

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“Ripe red, blue, and black fruits, cigar, and incense notes all emerge from the 2021 Zinfandel, a brilliant example of the variety that’s medium to full-bodied, has a soft, supple mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. This complex, layered, incredibly satisfying wine will evolve for 7-8 years and is well worth drinking.”

94 Points

2021 Dehlinger Goldridge Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Dehlinger Goldridge Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Dehlinger

Goldridge Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley 2021

2021 Dehlinger Goldridge Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Dehlinger’s 2021 Goldridge Pinot Noir flows with the grace of a dancer and the quiet strength of nature—elegant, poised, and deeply tied to its origins. Established in 1975 by Tom Dehlinger, the winery played a pivotal role in shaping the Russian River Valley’s character. With expertise in biochemistry and viticulture, Tom crafted winemaking into a precise integration of science and terroir.

This wine derives its vitality from the renowned Goldridge soils—ancient, sandy loams formed from uplifted marine beds, lending finesse and vibrancy. These soils, valued for their excellent drainage and mineral depth, produce fruit of exceptional purity and complexity. At Dehlinger’s estate vineyard, the vines’ deep roots draw a unique intricacy, yielding fruit with striking clarity.

Sustainably and dry-farmed, the vineyard flourishes without irrigation, cultivating resilience in the vines and authenticity in every sip. In the cellar, meticulous care prevails—grapes ferment with native yeasts and age in French oak, allowing the wine to mature while preserving its sense of place. It was the first bottle emptied at a recent tasting, a clear sign of its captivating charm and impeccable quality.

Dehlinger
Goldridge Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley 2021

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“A medium ruby color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Goldridge is highly expressive out of the gate, offering spicy and well-layered with notes of baking spice, cinnamon, dried violets, ripe raspberries, and brambly herbs. Medium-bodied, it has a great spine of acidity, a texture of fine tannins, and a long finish with a note of perfume. Drink it over the next 15 years.”

95 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

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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

2021 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Two Old Dogs

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2021 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of what a memorable $50 Napa Cabernet should offer—vibrant, layered, and beautifully balanced with an engaging complexity. This exceptional wine expands the JACK portfolio through a collaboration between Major League luminaries Chris Iannetta and Vernon Wells, joined by vintner Jennifer Lamb, whose unwavering commitment to quality radiates throughout this creation.

Guiding this endeavor is Julien Fayard, a masterful talent in Napa Valley’s winemaking scene. With origins in Bordeaux and a refined skill set honed at the renowned Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Fayard infuses Two Old Dogs with precision and a wealth of experience. His aim is deliberate: to produce a Cabernet that reveals the depth and richness synonymous with Napa’s finest, while keeping it within reach.

The 2021 vintage unfolds with generous notes of dark fruit, cradled by smooth tannins and a silky texture that carries through to a lingering, graceful finish. It’s a wine that marries strength with elegance, delivering a compelling experience at an impressive value—a true delight for Cabernet enthusiasts.

Two Old Dogs
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $55

Your Price: $49.99

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“The Two Old Dogs 2021 Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of blackberry, boysenberry, dark chocolate, violets, cigar box, and toast. On the palate, the wine is penetrating and concentrated with flavors of blueberry, plum, cocoa, and cassis. The wine has fine-grained tannins and is beginning to show brilliantly with just a few years in the bottle. Great acidity and concentration will allow this wine to age for several years, but you won’t be disappointed if you can’t wait.”

95 Points

2021 Ovid Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2021 Ovid Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaPritchard HillProprietary RedUSA

Ovid

Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Ovid Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Ovid’s 2021 Napa Valley Red captures the majestic allure of Pritchard Hill, a terroir renowned for its ability to yield wines of exceptional quality, as evidenced by two prestigious 100-point scores. Nestled on slopes rich with volcanic history, Ovid stands alongside revered estates such as Colgin, Bryant, and Chappellet, producing wines that resonate with profound depth and character.

Guided by winemaker Austin Peterson, whose craft has been honed under the mentorship of luminaries Andy Erickson and Michel Rolland, this vintage reflects meticulous artistry. Peterson aged the wine for 20 months in French oak, blending approximately 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The result is a masterful wine, harmoniously balancing robust power with elegant finesse.

Inspired by the Roman poet Ovid, celebrated for his transformative “Metamorphoses,” the winery embraces a philosophy of innovative exploration. This spirit infuses wines crafted to evolve gracefully over time. As critic Jeb Dunnuck proclaims, “this is a killer bottle of wine!”—a view underscored by its dual perfect scores, making this release an essential treasure for discerning collectors and devoted enthusiasts.

Ovid
Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $425

Your Price: $399

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“Moving to the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and the balanced 7% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Insanely pure, it offers kaleidoscope-like aromatics of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, chocolate, burning embers, and bouquet garni. Full-bodied on the palate, it doesn’t get any better, and it’s concentrated, has building tannins, and a monster of a finish. Offering more generosity and opulence than just about every other wine in the vintage, this is a killer bottle of wine! It will make your eyes roll back in your head today, yet will ideally be given 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. Bravo!”

100 Points

2021 VIK Milla Cala Red Blend Millahue Valley Chile

2021 VIK Milla Cala Red Blend Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $40-$50ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

VIK

Milla Cala Red Blend
Millahue Valley, Chile 2021

2021 VIK Milla Cala Red Blend Millahue Valley Chile

Vik’s 2021 Milla Cala embodies the pinnacle of Chilean winemaking, confidently ranking among the world’s finest wines under $50. Its profound character has earned prestigious recognition, securing #36 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2024 and a remarkable 95-point endorsement from James Suckling, affirming its captivating expression.

Milla Cala hails from the Millahue Valley, known as “Lugar de Oro,” or “Golden Place,” by the indigenous Mapuche. Nestled in the Andean foothills, its vines flourish across a mosaic of valleys shaped by cooling Pacific breezes and crisp mountain air, yielding grapes of exceptional purity and intensity.

Milla Cala elegantly blends Old World tradition with New World innovation, balancing nature’s influence with a refined human touch. Hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, showcasing an authentic style that vividly reflects its origins. Comprising nearly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, skillfully blended with Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, the 2021 vintage offers seamless complexity and purity—a vibrant reflection of its remarkable terroir, lingering gracefully after each sip.

VIK
Milla Cala Red Blend
Millahue Valley, Chile 2021
Retails at: $49

Your Price: $42

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“Dark chocolate, black olives and a touch of sweet tobacco to the sweet blackberries. Rich and deep but very fresh at the same time. Firm, full and pretty seamless. Very long finish. 68% cabernet sauvignon, 16% carmenere, 4% cabernet franc, 7% syrah and 5% merlot. Drink or hold.”

95 Points

2021 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District Sonoma County

2021 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District Sonoma County

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainSonomaUSA

Kamen

Cabernet Sauvignon
Moon Mountain District
Sonoma County 2021

2021 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District Sonoma County

Kamen’s 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a cinematic masterpiece—an epic of power and precision, written by the land and directed by a man who knows storytelling like few others. When screenwriter Robert Kamen first encountered the wild slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in 1980, he saw a story waiting to unfold. With volcanic soils and wind-swept ridgelines, it was a rugged, high-altitude stage destined for greatness. Partnering with legendary viticulturist Phil Coturri, Kamen began shaping the vineyard like a screenplay—layer by layer—where the struggle of the vines yields fruit of striking intensity.

Since its debut in 1999, Kamen’s Estate Cabernet has become a defining voice in the Moon Mountain AVA—a district that whispers of the wild and rewards the bold. With each passing vintage, the wine has grown more nuanced, more layered—like the best kind of protagonist: complex, charismatic, unforgettable.

In 2021, winemaker Mark Herold crafts a pure Cabernet Sauvignon as expressive as a finely tuned monologue. It moves with structure and grace, revealing scene after scene of black fruit, crushed rock, violets, and spice—each sip a nod to the mountain’s raw beauty and Kamen’s relentless pursuit of excellence. 

Kamen
Cabernet Sauvignon
Moon Mountain District
Sonoma County 2021

Your Price: $125

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“A richly fruited red, with lush flavors of plum and blackberry compote, this cruises steadily, offering flashes of warm earth, sweet bay, tobacco and licorice root. The fruit is polished, and the other elements show a little growl, creating a nice contrast throughout. Best from 2025 through 2036.”

93 Points

2021 Summit Lake Zinfandel Howell Mountain

2021 Summit Lake Zinfandel Howell Mountain

with No Comment $40-$50Howell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSAZinfandel

Summit Lake

Zinfandel 2021
Howell Mountain

2021 Summit Lake Zinfandel Howell Mountain

Summit Lake Vineyards’ 2021 Estate Zinfandel weaves a compelling tale of heritage, dedication, and the distinctive terroir of Howell Mountain. Here, among ancient, head-trained Zinfandel vines nurtured by vintners Bob and Sally Brakesman, the mountain’s bold essence shines through in every vibrant sip. At this lofty elevation, lively fruit intertwines with deep, concentrated flavors, embodying the heart of this celebrated appellation.

Founded in 1971, Summit Lake Vineyards spans a scenic 28-acre estate, home to eight acres of historic Zinfandel vines—some rooted in the pre-Prohibition era. These time-honored vines, having weathered over a century of harvests, impart profound depth and character to the wine.

Howell Mountain, known for its robust and intricate reds, provides a perfect stage for Zinfandel. The 2021 vintage, crafted from a blend of heritage vines dating to 1900 and younger plantings from the early 2000s, delivers a captivating, richly layered wine. Bursting with youthful energy yet steeped in tradition, it offers a memorable expression of Howell Mountain’s iconic spirit.

Summit Lake
Zinfandel 2021
Howell Mountain

Your Price: $45

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“The Summit Lake 2021 Howell Mountain Estate Zinfandel opens with vibrancy and fresh notes of black cherries and raspberries, complemented with Baker’s chocolate, clove, and white pepper spice. On the palate, the wine has flavors of blackberries, boysenberries, fudge brownies, cinnamon, and a specific graphite-like minerality that is typically found in Howell Mountain fruit. The wine has a smooth texture and velvety tannins that coat your mouth as the wine finishes with finesse and grace. Not even close to being overripe or jammy, this wine shows the elegant side of Zinfandel with impeccable balance.”

94 Points