2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley

2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley France

with No Comment $60-$70Chateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

M. Chapoutier

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bernardine 2021
Rhone Valley, France

2021 M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Rhone Valley

At the intersection of tradition and innovation, Chapoutier’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine captures over a century of expertise in a single glass. Guided by Michel Chapoutier’s visionary approach and commitment to biodynamics, the 2021 vintage achieves a rare balance: power without heaviness, purity without austerity.

The wine draws its character from the Rhône’s storied terroir: ancient quaternary soils strewn with massive pebbles, remnants of a long-lost glacial river. These galets, mingled with clay and sand, form a natural oven by day and a cool haven by night, yielding fruit of remarkable intensity and elegance unique to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The 2021 vintage is a masterclass in restraint and clarity. A Grenache-driven blend rounded out with Syrah and Mourvèdre, and raised for fifteen months in concrete, preserving purity of fruit and the unadorned voice of the vineyard. Elegant, concentrated, and profoundly expressive, La Bernardine 2021 is an eloquent reminder of why Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains one of the world’s great red wines.

M. Chapoutier
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bernardine 2021
Rhone Valley, France

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“A textural, refined and velvety Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of forest berries, wet stones, roasted meat, wild herbs and some bark. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. There is a refined texture here, silky at the center, with a delicate core of dark cherries challenged by an intense array of spices that provide verve and energy. Lively and focused finish with length. Try after 2026.”

93 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 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Patz & Hall

Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast 2021

2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Named one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100, the 2021 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a benchmark for what California Pinot can achieve when precision, heritage, and terroir converge. For more than three decades, Patz & Hall has earned a place at the table of collectors and sommeliers, crafting wines defined by their vibrant acidity, graceful structure, and seamless balance.

The secret to its depth lies in the mosaic of vineyards woven into the final blend. From the cool, wind-swept ridges near the Pacific to the fog-kissed valleys further inland, each of the sixteen individual sites contributes a distinct layer of character: vibrant red fruit from sandy soils, savory spice from clay-rich slopes, and a saline edge from marine-influenced pockets. 

Winemaker James Hall brings this raw potential to life with uncompromising attention to detail. Partial whole-cluster fermentations add aromatic complexity, while full malolactic fermentation in barrel lends texture and depth. The result is a Pinot Noir that shimmers with energy, and with a 96-point score from Decanter, this is a wine to be remembered, celebrated, and cellared.

Patz & Hall
Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast 2021
Retails at: $45

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“Delightful, extra juicy red and black fruits give graciously and generously with a mouth-filling texture and soft, silky tannins. The coolness of the Sonoma Coast takes the salty sea air and places it squarely on the grapes to give this wine a lovely saline finish. The great structural envelope will protect this wine for the future. It will last and last.”

96 Points

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

Silver Oak

Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley 2021

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

With a commanding 96-point score, the 2021 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a continuation of a legacy nearly five decades in the making. Since its founding in 1972, Silver Oak has pursued a singular vision: to craft world-class Cabernet Sauvignon aged exclusively in American oak, a commitment that has defined its unmistakable style. 

Alexander Valley provides the perfect stage for this vision. Cradled by the Mayacamas mountains and influenced by cooling fog from the Russian River Valley, the region balances warm days with dramatic nighttime temperature swings, ensuring fruit that achieves full ripeness while retaining vibrancy and lift. Beneath the vines lie ancient alluvial soils, imparting depth, freshness, and a mineral clarity that defines the best expressions of this AVA.  

The beauty of this wine lies in its duality: supple enough to enchant now, yet structured to evolve gracefully over decades. Aged for two years in Silver Oak’s signature American oak barrels, this is a wine that honors tradition while showcasing innovation. It is a wine that reaffirms why Silver Oak remains one of California’s most iconic names in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley 2021
Retails at: $100

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“The 2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley was harvested between 4 September and 8 October. The blend comprises 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. After blending, it was barrel-aged for 24 months in American oak, 50% of which was new, followed by 14 months of bottle ageing prior to release. The wine is beautifully layered and highly fragrant, with remarkable precision and focus in this vintage. Medium- to full-bodied, it integrates the hallmark Silver Oak American spice character through cedarwood aromatics, elegant whispers of vanilla bean, and nuances of fresh fennel (from more refined American oak barrels crafted after precision trials of both seasoning and toasting from the American oak cooperage they own in Higbee, Missouri). Supple dark-cherry and blackberry fruit are framed by graphite minerality, violets and clove, building in richness and complexity across the palate. Suave and silken, the dark-berry fruit is wrapped in a tapestry of velvety tannins, gliding to a focused finish of brown baking spices and crisp, clean acidity.”

96 Points

2021 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos Valle De Apalta

2021 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos Valle De Apalta

with No Comment $50-$60ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

Clos Apalta

Le Petit Clos 2021
Valle De Apalta

2021 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos Valle De Apalta

When Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, heiress to the Grand Marnier legacy, rooted her family’s vision in Chile’s Apalta Valley, she sought to craft a wine that could stand among the world’s finest, blending Bordeaux’s artistry with the wild elegance of Apalta. Guided by the renowned Michel Rolland from the inaugural vintage, these wines bear a hallmark of sophistication and depth, each bottle reflecting the family’s French lineage.

The vineyard is a marvel of nature, a steep amphitheater etched into the Apalta hills, where granitic soils, sunlit slopes, and cooling river breezes converge to yield fruit of extraordinary balance. Here, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc ripen gradually under the valley’s distinctive conditions, capturing a purity of flavor and vibrancy unique to this terroir.

The final impression is one of poise and drama: Carmenère’s velvet depths intertwined with Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, Merlot’s gentle charm, and Cabernet Franc’s aromatic lift. Together they create a blend that resonates with power and harmony, a vivid portrait of one of Chile’s most iconic vineyards.

Clos Apalta
Le Petit Clos 2021
Valle De Apalta
Retails at: $65

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“A nice touch of baked cherries and dark chocolate to the deep blackberry fruit. Ink and a touch of graphite and dried herbs. Full-bodied and pretty powerful with fine-grained tannins and a long, extensive finish. 68% carmenere, 16% cabernet sauvignon,15% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. Give it two more years to let the fruit settle more. Drink or hold.”

96 Points

2021 Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon Gary Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford

2021 Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon Gary Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Trujillo

Cabernet Sauvignon
Gary Morisoli Vineyard
Rutherford, 2021

2021 Trujillo Cabernet Sauvignon Gary Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford

Some vineyards whisper their pedigree, while others proclaim it boldly. The Gary Morisoli Vineyard, rooted in Rutherford’s gravelly soils since 1902, speaks with unmistakable authority. In 2021, Michael Trujillo captured that voice in pure Cabernet form, yielding a wine that radiates the classic power, elegance, and “Rutherford Dust” that define Napa at its best.

The Morisoli family has farmed this vineyard since 1902, passing its stewardship through five generations, each shaping the evolution of Rutherford’s legendary benchland. Michael Trujillo has walked these rows for over thirty harvests, translating their fruit into wines of depth and authenticity. In 2021, he recognized a harmony of ripeness and structure so compelling that it demanded a vineyard designation.

Every so often, a vintage comes along that defines a winemaker’s career and elevates a vineyard’s legacy. For Michael Trujillo and the Morisoli family, 2021 is such a year. It is both a celebration of over a century of farming and the culmination of a winemaker’s devotion. Claim yours now to enjoy a Cabernet that exemplifies Napa Valley at its pinnacle.

Trujillo
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gary Morisoli Vineyard
Rutherford, 2021
Retails at: $165

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“Always some of the best grapes Trujillo has had to work with, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gary Morisoli Vineyard marries black cherries and dusty earth with hints of cedar and vanilla. It’s full-bodied, silky yet rich and complete—it’s hard to find anything to critique on the palate, while the long finish adds beguiling hints of licorice and dark chocolate.”

97 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 Guthrie Electric Syrah Mendocino County

2021 Guthrie Electric Syrah Mendocino County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMendocinoSyrahUSA

Guthrie

Electric Syrah
Mendocino County 2021

2021 Guthrie Electric Syrah Mendocino County

Guthrie’s 2021 Mendocino County ‘Electric’ Syrah radiates with energy from the dramatic, volcanic slopes of Eagle Point Vineyard. Set high amid Mendocino’s rugged terrain, this site’s red soils instill a distinctive intensity into the grapes, translating directly into a wine that pulses with mineral character and savory depth. 

The visionary behind this electric expression is Blair Guthrie, a winemaker whose journey has traversed both hemispheres. Born in New Zealand, Blair absorbed lessons from some of the world’s most revered wine regions before settling into California’s embrace. At Guthrie Wines, he champions an ethos rooted in sustainable farming and minimal intervention, allowing the vineyards to express themselves with authenticity. 

Blair’s meticulous craftsmanship finds its ultimate expression in this pure, organically farmed Syrah, vinified with care and respect through whole-cluster fermentation. Ten months in French oak impart a subtle polish without overshadowing the wine’s vibrant character. The resulting Syrah balances beautifully on the palate: texturally rich, elegantly structured, and irresistibly nuanced.

Guthrie
Electric Syrah
Mendocino County 2021

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“The Guthrie Family 2021 Mendocino County Syrah gives a captivating expression of cool-climate Syrah with vibrancy and elegance, presenting blooming notes of lavender, violets, fresh roses, dried herbs, juicy blackberries, boysenberries, and a touch of white pepper. On the palate, the wine is balanced with a bright acidity enhancing the wine’s stony minerality, complemented by black tea leaves, sweet tobacco, and black fruits that unfold gradually with fresh energy and complexity.”

96 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