Varietal - Vinrare - Buy Fine Wine Online - Fine Wines International

2001 Bryant Family California (750ml)

$295.00

Robert Parker 91

"The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits the classic Bryant bouquet of melted creosote intermixed with blackberry liqueur and other black fruits. It is medium to full-bodied, opulent and sumptuous, but the finish is shorter, with drier tannin than it would have had if it had been bottled unfiltered. Give it 3-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 10-15 years."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93-96

Good full deep medium ruby. Aromas of kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate and licorice; extremely primary yet hints at almost exotic ripeness. Wonderfully sweet, intensely flavored and bright; dense, sharply delineated and seamless. This hasn't really expanded yet in barrel and thus is not yet showing its flesh. But this young cabernet's solid structure and outstanding persistence suggest that it may ultimately surpass my current projected range. 93-96 points

2001 Hyde de Vallaine California (750ml)

$67.00

2001 Vineyard 7 Reserve Cabernet California (750ml)

$98.00

Robert Parker 90-92

"The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve reveals more texture than the 2000, in addition to concentrated black fruit intermixed with hints of tar, vanilla, and spice box. Nicely layered, medium to full-bodied, dense, and firmly tannic, it needs 4-5 years of cellaring, and should age well for 15+."

FineWine International

With hints of cocoa, vanilla, black cherry and cassis, this rich yet sleek and complex Cabernet Sauvignon has all the hallmarks of a grand cru Bordeaux. Exhibiting well integrated, ripe yet firm tannins and a long lingering finish, it is very enjoyable now but will gain even more complexity with age.

Wine Enthusiast 90

"From the former general manager at Ch�teau Lafite, this is a young, tannic wine, with a considerable amount of new oak, yet it shows quite a degree of balance and finesse. Very dry, with a fresh Cabernet nose, this wine is also earthy and a bit astringent."

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences

"Exceptional: Cedar and sandalwood with superb black and deep-set fruit. Seems to have the tannin to aged. Time will tell."

2001 ZD Reserve California (750ml)

$75.00

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 90

Rich in the toasted coconut, vanilla bean smells from oak barrel aging, this ripe, balanced and somewhat fleshy offering delivers plenty of Cabernet fruit once past its creamy, cedary coverlet. In the mouth, it is especially impressive for its admirable depth and its luxuriously lengthy flavors. It should improve for some years yet and hold for up to a decade. Limited production and/or limited geographic distribution.

Wine Spectator 91

This wine grows on you, revealing both rich and subtle flavor nuances that spread out nicely. Built around a core of ripe cherry, wild berry and blackberry fruit, it picks up hints of sour cherry candy, currant, anise and cedary oak. The long, complex finish is supported by firm but ripe and polished tannins.

2002 Abreu Rothwell Hyde California (750ml)

$142.00

FineWine International 92-93

Another very intense, highly extracted Cabernet from Abreu. This is a brooding, darkly colored Caberent that will need a decade of cellaring before it will be ready to drink. "This is an irrefutable blue chip superstar, but, sadly, the small production is all sold via a mailing list. David Abreu, the first-rate viticulturist to many of Napa Valley?s best run vineyards, is an uncompromising perfectionist whose ?take-no-prisoners? policy and demanding formula for producing top quality fruit does not always sit well with some. However, if readers are looking for great wines, David Abreu is the real deal. Longtime readers know that I have long regarded his wines as monumental examples of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Abreu has not endured a bad vintage to date, and even his off years are better than most winemakers? top years." Robert Parker

2002 Chappellet Pritchard Hill California (750ml)

$72.00

FineWine International

This is the best Cabernet Franc I can remember tasting from California. It is approachable now, with very supple, beautiful fruit flavors of cherry, and blackberry. Add hints of spoice, licorice, nutmeg and ginger and you have the making for a complext wine not typical for California. A long, long finish cmpletes the package. Highly recommended.

2002 DuBrul Vineyards, Carriage House Washington (750ml)

$69.00

Wine- Maker Notes

"The 2002 C�te Bonneville Carriage House is estate grown DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) Cabernet Franc (13%) and Merlot (10%). The wine was aged for 20 months in new French oak barrels. Although unfined and unfiltered, the wine exhibits remarkable clarity in its deep purple color. Aromas and flavors of bright cherry and black raspberry are accented by vanilla with hints of cocoa and cinnamon lingering on the finish. The wine is very approachable now, unfolds with decanting, and will continue to develop for a decade. It pairs well with lamb, beef or wild game, and is delightful with dark chocolate. This vintage of Carriage House was bottled on May 24, 2004 Alcohol measured 14.4%. 200 cases were produced."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

Red-ruby. Superripe aromas of plum liqueur and cedary, nutty oak. Fat, sweet and large-scaled, with a liqueur-like exotic quality to the sappy cassis, redcurrant and red cherry flavors. A concentrated, dense fruit bomb that finishes with nicely integrated tannins.

2002 DuBrul Vineyards, Cote Bonneville Washington (750ml)

$141.00

Wine- Maker Notes

"The 2002 C�te Bonneville DuBrul Vineyard is the best expression of our vineyard. The wine is estate-grown DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (59%) and Merlot (41%). The deep garnet color and exuberant aromatics lead to sweet plum, blackberry, bright cherry and cassis flavors that unfold into a long, lingering finish. This wine is eminently age-worthy, its brightness imparted from the soil. It pairs beautifully with mesquite-grilled Chateaubriand or alder-roasted wild salmon, followed by chocolate lava cake. After ageing for 24 months in new French oak barrels, the wine was bottled, unfined and unfiltered, on September 4, 2004. Alcohol measured 14.5%, ph 3.52, Total Acidity 0.64. 496 cases were produced."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90

Bright ruby-red. Aromas of redcurrant, licorice, tobacco and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and highly concentrated, with a candied quality to the flavors of currant, black cherry, menthol and spices. A creamy, concentrated fruit bomb with huge material. Finishes with broad, sweet, fine tannins and very good length.

Wine Spectator 91

Firm in texture, with distinctively etched cherry and rhubarb flavors, picking up a touch of earthy red pepper character as the finish lingers. This has impeccable balance. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

2002 Grace Family, Blank Vineyard California (750ml)

$195.00

Wine- Maker Notes

It's not surprising that the wine made from Grace clone grapes grown at Chotsie and Alan Blank?s 1.8 acre vineyard in Rutherford shows similarities of style to the wine made from our own vineyard in St. Helena. Smooth, firm tannins give an elegant supple texture that frames a graceful and harmonious whole. But Blank Vineyard's own unique terroir affords it a very unique personality as well. The wine serves up a beguiling array of wintergreen, herb and spice notes that point toward coffee and camphor in addition to ripe red fruit. Not really a sibling, but rather a cousin of the original Grace Family Cabernet.

2002 Hoopes California (750ml)

$103.00

FineWine International

This Oakville vineyard Cabernet burst onto the scene last year with their 2001 vintage and the new 2002 is a worthy successor. "A nose of dark cherry, currants, rose petals, allspice, and new leather. The wine is full-bodied, wonderfully spicy, with fine tannins on the finish." - Winemaker Tasting Note.

Wine Enthusiast 94

"Graceful and decadent, this wine is made by longtime growers now with their own brand. It's ripe and gooey in black current, cassis and chocolate, and beautifully structured, with fine, crisp acids and dusty tannins. As good as it is now, it should hold and improve for several years." Editor's Choice

2002 Hundred Acre, Kayli Morgan Vyd. California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$340.00~~ Our Price: $300.00

$300.00

Robert Parker 98

"As for the 2002 Hundred Acre (1,200 cases), this is a terrific example of great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. A seamless wine with extraordinary concentration, a dense purple color, a beautifully sweet nose of black cherry liqueur intermixed with cassis, graphite, smoke, and underbrush, it is layered, multi-dimensional, and opulent, with a long finish. Although more accessible and flashy than the 2001, it is capable of lasting 15 more years."

2002 Hundred Acre, Kayli Morgan Vyd. California (750ml)

List Price: ~~$340.00~~ Our Price: $300.00

$300.00

Robert Parker 98

"As for the 2002 Hundred Acre (1,200 cases), this is a terrific example of great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. A seamless wine with extraordinary concentration, a dense purple color, a beautifully sweet nose of black cherry liqueur intermixed with cassis, graphite, smoke, and underbrush, it is layered, multi-dimensional, and opulent, with a long finish. Although more accessible and flashy than the 2001, it is capable of lasting 15 more years."

2002 Pride Mountain California (750ml)

$114.00

Robert Parker 92

The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (5,000 cases made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a supple, flamboyant, and more accessible version of the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a classic nose of tobacco leaf, black currant, licorice, and smoke, the wine is medium to full-bodied, has a supple texture, an attractive textural mouthfeel in addition to a plush, heady finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

Wine Spectator 93

A polished, seductive style, offering rich black cherry and blackberry fruit that's ripe and well-defined, with an overlay of smoky, toasty oak, folding together nicely on the finish. For all its richness and complexity, this is a graceful wine that's already fun to drink.

2002 Verite, Le Desir California (750ml)

$168.00

Robert Parker 97

"Complimentary adjectives are almost inappropriate for the extraordinary complexity, fabulous richness, and sheer nobleness and beauty of the 2002 Le Desir (52.7% Merlot, 41.2% Cabernet Franc, and tiny percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec). Dense aromas of creosote, burning wood embers, blackberries, blueberries, and violets are offered in the full-bodied, fabulously complex perfume. Full-bodied, with tremendous complexity, a voluptuous texture, and flavors of plum liqueur, figs, chocolate, espresso, and minerals, this is a tour de force in winemaking. Anticipated maturity: now-2020."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93

(50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) "Dark ruby-red. Black cherry, mocha and licorice on the nose. Ripe, broad and dry; suave and sophisticated. Flavors of red berries lifted by floral and mineral components. Densely packed, backward wine, finishing with substantial dusty tannins."

2002 Vineyard 7 Reserve Cabernet California (750ml)

$98.00

FineWine International

The 2002 Vineyard 7 Reserve is a bigger wine than the 2001 but not at the expense of elegance and finesse. It already exhibits a complex nose of ripe, black currants and blackberries intermixed with whiffs of cedar, tobacco, spice and cocoa powder. There is a wonderful balance to the wine in the mouth and the rich complex flavors reflect their aromatic profile. A touch of smoky oak enhances the complexity without taking away from the exquisite flavors and long lingering finish. While impressive now this wine is destined for a long life. Additional aging for a decade or more should bring out the best in this wine.

Decanter Magazine 4*

"Complex, and evolving, integrated oak and fruit. Beautifully complex, integrated wine. Harmonious now but has structure to last. Long finish. Up to 7 years." (Beverly Blanning MW)

Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences

"Exceptional: The 2002 is bolder, (than the 2001)..but younger wine with eqal richness and structure."

Robert Parker 90-92

"The ripest effort of this trio is the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Sweet black currant fruit, earth, cedar, licorice, and a touch of toasty oak scents are followed by textured, chewy, red and black fruit flavors, hints of chocolate and loamy soil notes, and a chewy, long finish revealing large-scaled but ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2023."

Wine Enthusiast 92

This 100% mountain Cab is very, very tannic. Ripe blackberry fruit begins to flatter, and then those tannins rush up like linebackers and shut everything down. This suggest aging. Balanced and dry, it should begin to come into its own by 2008 and develop for many years. Cellar Selection

2003 Abreu Madrona Ranch California (750ml)

$380.00

Robert Parker 95

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch is just an amazing wine in the vintage. Notes of smoked meats intermixed with licorice, camphor, graphite, blackberry, and flowers, with a hint of cedar and spice box, have produced a wine that is more up-front and forward than most Abreu wines have been, and gorgeously rich and full-bodied. Last year I thought the wine needed 2-3 years of cellaring, but based on this tasting, I could drink it now or cellar it for 20+ years.

2003 Behrens & Hitchcock, The Heavyweight California (750ml)

$115.00

Robert Parker 93

Speaking of a Heavyweight, the 2003 (50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) is a sensational 375-case effort from the Thorevilos Vineyard owned by David Abreu and Ric Foreman. Its dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by an explosive bouquet of black and blue fruits, cedar, and high quality French oak. Boasting tremendous richness, fatness, opulence, and a viscous feel in the mouth, it is a big, in-your-face offering with low acidity, huge fruit, and a blockbuster finish. It should drink well for 10-12 years.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91

Ruby-red. Fresh aromas of cassis and violet. Lush and sweet, with enticing flavors of black cherry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate. Finishes broad and round, with fine tannins. Sexy wine, from Thorvilos and Madrona Ranch fruit.

2003 Bond, Matriarch California (750ml)

$120.00

Robert Parker 90

The 2003 Matriarch (1,500 cases) is a ripe, spicy, supple-textured effort offering beautiful plum, anise, black currant, tobacco, and toasty oak notes. Full-bodied, lush, and concentrated, it should drink well for 10-15 years.

Wine Enthusiast 94

This second label of BOND is so rich and opulent, it�s hard to believe it�s the least expensive of Harlan�s stable. Masses of cherries, blackberries, chocolate and vanilla-caramel new oak, accented with mint and herbs, leading to a refined, smoothly tannic finish. Just delicious. - S.H.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

Superripe, roasted nose shows a medicinal quality. Lush and sweet but a bit cooler in style than the 2004. Today, the wine's edge of acidity has not yet come into harmony with its firm tannins.

2003 Colgin, Cariad California (750ml)

$305.00

Robert Parker 95

"Colgin's Bordeaux-styled proprietary blend, the 2003 Cariad (a 520-case blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc - a change from barrel), is a wine of extraordinary elegance and sweetness. With an inky/blue/purple color, high tannin, superb intensity, and hints of blueberries, spice box, new saddle leather, and licorice, this rich, impeccably well-balanced, full-bodied 2003 will be drinkable early in life, but promises to last for several decades."

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94

"Good deep ruby-red. Aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, mocha and menthol offer great lift. Then superripe and densely packed, with great sweetness and inner-mouth aromatic character. The flavors of black cherry and leather are given definition by a strong element of liquid stone. Finishes extremely long, with lush, suave tannins."

2003 Colgin, Lamb Vineyard California (750ml)

$260.00

Robert Parker 94

The inky/purple-colored 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard (230 cases) offers up sweet aromas of roasted herbs, scorched earth, chocolate, and smoky cassis. Its rich, full-bodied mouthfeel, moderately high tannin, and sweet, heady finish suggest it will be at its finest between 2006-2020.

2003 Duckhorn Napa Estate California (750ml)

$77.00

Wine Spectator 89-91

Turns up the volume, with spicy, toasty oak and firm, chewy tannins wrapped around a core of spicy currant, blackberry and plum fruit. Fine structure.

Wine Enthusiast 92

As always, Duckhorn�s Cab this year is a very tannic wine. But it�s a very fine wine, packed with ripe black currant and cassis fruit, and coated with spicy, toasty oak. This firm wine needs long decanting, and should develop well through 2012 or so.

2003 Forman California (750ml)

$55.00

Robert Parker 90

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is uncommonly approachable. Its dark ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of plums, black cherries, and currants. With soft, silky tannin, medium body, and a Bordeaux-like weight, this Cabernet was clearly inspired by Bordeaux clarets. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91+

Bright ruby-red. Very ripe nose shows an almost Margaux-like floral lift to its aromas of boysenberry, licorice and mint. Sweet and elegantly styled, with very suave, nicely delineated flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and violet. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and lovely juicy persistence. Less dense and perhaps lower in extract than the 2004 but brighter and more ethereal. This may well merit an even higher score with three to five years of additional bottle aging.

2003 Highland Estates, Hawkeye Vineyard California (750ml)

$50.00

Robert Parker 88-90

Top-notch, although slightly tannic and earthy, the 2003 Highland Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkeye Mountain emerges from a very high elevation (1,822 feet) vineyard planted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its dense purple color is followed by a stony, earthy, terroir-driven nose, black currants, high tannin, and a backward, primordial personality. It requires 2-3 more years of bottle age to round into shape. Only time will tell whether the tannin or fruit will ultimately dominate.

Wine & Spirits 91

"..this wine leads with tannin and ends with more savory tannin. In between, there's plenty of wild cherry and fresh black currant flavor to cut through the dense blackness. A sophisticated, foresty cabernet with the structure to evolve for a decade, this could be made accesible sooner by paring it with a grilled T-bone.

2003 Hundred Acre, Kayli Morgan Vyd. California (750ml)

$290.00

Robert Parker 95

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard appears to be the finest of the three most recent vintages I tasted. Reflecting Woodbridge�s impeccable attention to detail, it boasts a dense plum/purple color, a sweet, smoky perfume of melted caramels, blackberries, cassis, cedar, spice box, and hints of graphite, toffee, and oak, an expansive, rich, full-bodied personality, and beautifully integrated tannin. Even though it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it tastes like it could have come from the tenderloin section of Pomerol. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

2003 Jericho Canyon Vineyard California (750ml)

$66.00

Wine Spectator 87

Smooth, supple and harmonious, with layers of red currant, blueberry and loamy earth that lay on the palate, gaining complexity and nuance on the finish. Very complete. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2007 through 2011. 466 cases made.

Wine- Maker Notes

Jericho Canyon Vineyard's 2003 is a full-bodied wine rich with aromas of ripe black fruits and luxurious chocolate. Juicy tannins blend with cr�me de cassis, espresso, and a hint of spice to round out the flavors of this high powered Napa Valley blend. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon,10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc .

2003 Merus California (750ml)

$147.00

Robert Parker 95

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec and Petit Verdot) boasts an inky/purple color along with a rich bouquet of creosote, blueberries, blackberries, sweet earth, and smoky, spicy oak. With full body, abundant fruit, glycerin, and sweet tannin, a multilayered mouthfeel, and stunning upside potential, it is accessible enough to be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for two decades.

2003 Mondavi Reserve California (750ml)

$107.00

Robert Parker 94

The rich and intense 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve has a saturated ruby/purple color and is sweet and dark, with a complex nose of creme de cassis, blackberry, subtle oak, and smoke. It is medium to full-bodied and seems richer, fuller, and more intense than the 2004, but again reminds me of a St.-Julien made in Napa.

Wine Enthusiast 92

"Shows all the hallmarks of great Mondavi Reserve. Ageworthy and complex, with enormously ripe, rich fruit, classic chocolate, cassis plus cream and spice from new oak. So smoothly voluptuous now, it goes down like velvet, but the tannin-acid balance will easily hold this wine through 2015. "

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93

"Good saturated ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of currant, black cherry, espresso, milk chocolate and flowers; a real essence of Napa Valley cabernet. Enters the palate like silk, then builds slowly toward the back, offering a lovely light touch and plenty of inner-mouth aromatic character. Finishes with substantial but very fine tannins that reach the incisors, and lingering perfume."

2003 Paul Hobbs To-Kalon California (750ml)

$365.00

Robert Parker 97

After the perfect 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard (that�s right, I raised my score by a point), the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon comes across as slightly more mortal. One of the outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons of the vintage, it tastes like a California concoction of La Mission Haut Brion and Montrose. Its deep purple color is followed by a sumptuously pure nose of sweet scorched earth, hot rocks, creme de cassis, graphite, and charcoal. The tannin is sweet, but elevated. Full-bodied and powerful, with 20-25 years of life, this spectacularly rich, dense, multi-layered effort oozes classic Cabernet Sauvignon varietal character.

2003 Peter Michael Les Pavots California (750ml)

$225.00

Robert Parker 94

The 2003 Les Pavots (61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) exhibits notes of melted licorice, tapenade, damp earth, black currants, and cedar. Slightly more herbaceous than the 2004, with notions of barbecued meat as well as blue and black fruits, this full-bodied, dense 2003 may not have quite the potential of the 2002 or 2001, but it is a brilliant effort to consume between 2008-2020.

Wine Enthusiast 93

Tannic and closed to the point of inaccessibility, this Cab-based blend, which contains Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, comes from low-yielding vines grown 1,700 feet above Knights Valley. It all comes down to a question of ageability. The answer is it will age quite nicely. The balance is superb, and the core of fruit is there. Do not open this wine until 2010; it should continue to develop for another 10 years at least.

2003 Philip Melka California (750ml)

$125.00

Robert Parker 93

The 2003 Metisse, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, is a 20-year wine from the famed Madrona Ranch. It offers beautiful scents of white chocolate, charcoal embers, flowers, blackberries, and currants. Aged in 75% new French oak, it is full-bodied with silky tannin, a superb texture, and a window of drinkability between 2007-2020.

2003 Ramey Diamond Mountain Young Vines California (750ml)

$56.00

Robert Parker 91

The 2003 Diamond Mountain (2,300 cases of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot) comes from an 11-acre gravel/clay vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Dense and full-bodied with huge, concentrated, smoky black currant fruit intermixed with deep, chewy, coffee notes as well as black fruits, it reveals a Bordeaux-like austerity that suggests cellaring for 2-3 years will be beneficial. It can be drunk over the following 15.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 91-94

A blend of 59% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot) Full ruby. Brooding aromas of black fruits, licorice, violet and lead pencil. Dry and broad, with a distinctly chocolatey ripeness. Currently shows less flavor interest than the finished 2002, but this is quite unevolved. Finishes with a boatload of tannins.

2003 Ramey Jericho Canyon Vineyard California (750ml)

$82.00

Robert Parker 93

The 2003 Jericho Canyon, from a 40-acre parcel of vines at the base of Mount St. Helena, is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This is David Ramey�s homage to Pauillac. With a big sweet nose of white chocolate, creme de cassis, cedar, spice box, and high-quality smoky oak, it is full-bodied, rich, and tannic with notes of chocolate and espresso in the mouth. This wine also needs several years of cellaring and should last 15-20 years.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93-96

87% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 3% cabernet franc) Full ruby. Inviting aromas of blackberry and licorice. Offers an exhilarating sweetness in the mouth, with powerful dark fruit flavors lifted and complicated by mineral and floral elements. Magically fresh and light on its feet for such a large-scaled wine, thanks to perfectly integrated acidity. Finishes extremely long, with noble tannins and superb grip. One of the best barrel samples I tasted in March from this vintage. Offers great potential.

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 94

10% Merlot; 5% Cabernet Franc. The powerful and seemingly bottomless fruit of this opulent young Cabernet is the stuff of show-stopping success, and the rich oak and complex touches of herbs and earth that are laced through it make a very good thing that much better. A real powerhouse in terms of stuffing and size, the wine successfully balances a scant bit of finishing heat against exceptional extract, and never once does its give in to simple-minded ripeness. There are tannins enough to keep it in fine shape for years to come, and it wants lengthy cellaring to be at its best, but its sense of plushness and its immediate fruit will be tempting. Two Puffs

2003 Robert Young Scion California (750ml)

$47.00

Wine- Maker Notes

A Bordeaux blend of 78% Caberent Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot.

2003 Rudd, Oakville Estate California (750ml)

$103.00

Robert Parker 93

The 2003 Oakville Estate Proprietary Red is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, and equal parts Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. This opaque purple-colored 2003 offers sweet aromas of scorched earth, tobacco leaf, blackberries, and currants. Layered, beautifully-textured, broad, elegant, and refreshing, this well-structured, superb effort should be consumed between 2008-2020.

Wine Spectator 92

An inspiring red. Dark, intense and concentrated, yet polished and supple. Lots of red currant, black cherry and berry flavors are well-focused, picking up a tasty dash of toasty, mocha-laced oak. Firms up on the finish with solid, ripe tannins

2003 Titus Reserve California (750ml)

$51.00

Wine Enthusiast 92

"Classic Napa Cabernet, rich and sensuous in tannins that are fully approachable now, with ripe black currant and mocha flavors enriched with smoky, spicy oak. The wine is nicely dry. Beautiful now, and best in the next few years for its fat, oppulently youthful quality."

2003 White Cottage California (750ml)

$51.00

2004 Araujo Eisele California (750ml)

$350.00

Wine Spectator 95

Massive yet smooth and polished, with a subdued offering of ripe plum, floral and black cherry fruit that slowly builds intensity and depth. Gains momentum on the finish, where the tannins are ripe and the flavors are tapered.

Robert Parker 94

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard shows surprisingly more tannin than the 2005. Perhaps it is at the stage where it has been in the bottle for about a year and is beginning to shut down ever so slightly. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the wine has a dense ruby/purple color and some sweet and spicy notes intermixed with white chocolate, black currant, crushed rock, and some underbrush and floral scents. It is medium to full-bodied, firmly structured, and reminiscent of a top first- or second-growth Bordeaux because of the tannin structure and austerity. It is an interesting, almost atypical wine for this vintage in Napa, but the Eisele Vineyard is a world unto its own, so I am not actually surprised.

2004 B.V. Private Reserve California (750ml)

$103.00

Wine News 92

Aromas of cassis, fresh oak and leather. Intense flavors of cooked cherry and red licorice with a viscous quality. Youthful tannins surface in the finish along with red fruit, pencil shavings and cedar.

Wine Enthusiast 95

B.V. Private Reserve has been on a roll. This Georges is enormous and impressive, gigantic in fruit, explosive in blackberry tart, cherry pie, blueberry, plum, cigar box and vanilla aromas and flavors. Structurally, it's an impeccable wine, showing the fine acidity and firm, dusty tannins that always constitute George. Beautiful now, and should age well for 10-20 years.

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 92

A rich blanket of rooty, slightly briary spice overlies plenty of well-defined, cassis-like fruit in both the deep aromas and nicely filled flavors of this very solid young Cabernet. If not readily showing the dusty spice that so often typifies Beaulieu's Private Reserve bottlings, the wine is nonetheless a fairly classic varietal working with fine continuity, a good bit of flesh and an admirable sense of balance. Its nominal tannins lend spine with-out being abrasive, and there is real promise here for five to ten years of steady improvement.

2004 Blankiet Estate California (750ml)

$147.00

Robert Parker 96

"There are 1,300 cases of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Paradise Hills Vineyard. Boasting delicious fudge-like aromas intermixed with blackberry, coffee bean, and pain grille scents, this super-rich, full-bodied effort displays a Graves-like, volcanic, scorched earth/hot stone element in its flavors. With moderately high tannin, it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well over the following two decades."

2004 Bond, Matriarch California (750ml)

$186.00

Robert Parker 93

I think the 2004 Matriarch is opulent and impressive. Dark ruby/purple, beautifully exotic and full-bodied, with notes of incense, toasty oak, blackberry, licorice, and chocolate espresso, the wine is round, fleshy, and succulent. Drink it over the next 12-15+ years.

2004 Bond, Pluribus California (750ml)

$295.00

Robert Parker 95

The newest wine, E Pluribus, will give just about any vineyard on Spring Mountain a run for its money. The 2004 E Pluribus has a dense purple color and an elegant, sweet nose of creme de cassis intermixed with some camphor, graphite, and a hint of blueberry (or is it very ripe raspberries?). Quite opulent, full-bodied, but with good underlying acidity, this wine is fresh and remarkably light on its feet for a wine of such enormous intensity and richness.

2004 Chappellet Pritchard Hill California (750ml)

$129.00

FineWine International

The 2004 vintage of the this wine does not disappoint. It's big, but balanced with superb fruit, black currents, cassis and chocolate overtones. The tannins are ripe and fine and the wine has a long and lingering finish. Outstanding in everyway.

Wine Spectator 90

Rough-hewn, dense, abundant and chewy, with concentrated, extracted dried currant, mineral and hefty oak and mineral flavors that make this broad-shouldered, framed by potent tannins. Needs lots of time. Best from 2009 through 2018.

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 92

In its last two outings, Chappellet's Pritchard Hill bottlings have been among the best Cabernet's of the vintage, and, if not quite at the very head of the class in 2004, this wine still conveys an immense measure of well-ripened currants and is infused with lots of very sweet oak. It is fairly plush on the palate and a touch softer in feel, and its relatively silky tannins allow its generous fruit to shine through even now. It might well grow for a decade or more, but it could become open enough to enjoy in but three to five years.

Robert Parker 94

The full-bodied 2004 Pritchard Hill Estate Proprietary Red (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, and 8% Merlot) boasts a sensational inky/ruby/purple color to the rim as well as broad, rich, creme de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spice-like flavors, and a tannic finish. While approachable, it will benefit from several years of bottle age, and should age gracefully for two decades.

2004 Clos du Val California (750ml)

$61.00

Wine Enthusiast 92

This is the winery's flagship wine, the one that made it famous decades ago. It hasn't changed much over the years. It's still tannic and auctere in youth, reauiring many years to develop. But it's a cellar guarantee, with a wealth of concentrated cassis and cedar flavors that are just waiting for those tannins to drop out. Best after 2010. Cellar Selection.

2004 Colgin, Lamb Vineyard California (750ml)

$335.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94

Ruby-red. Highly aromatic nose offers black raspberry, black cherry, minerals and gravel. Dense, lush and sweet, with spicy black raspberry, dark chocolate, violet and licorice flavors complemented by oak. This is wonderfully rich but retains plenty of energy. Finishes very long, with firm but ripe tannins. Impressive.

Robert Parker 95

There are 188 cases of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb Vineyard. This inky/purple cuvee exhibits a scorched earth, flowery, blueberry, and blackberry-scented bouquet with hints of barbecue spices, pain grille, licorice, and espresso roast. Full-bodied, opulent, and dense, with considerable tannin lurking underneath all the extract and structure, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring and should age nicely for 20-25 years.

2004 Colgin, Tychson Vineyard California (750ml)

$435.00

Robert Parker 98

Black truffles, asphalt, graphite, blueberries, and creme de cassis aromas soar from the glass of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard (168 cases). A wine of extraordinary nobility, it possesses a steely, well-delineated mouthfeel, full body, and enormous wealth of richness and length. This profound Cabernet Sauvignon is a candidate for wine of the vin

2004 Dunn Napa California (750ml)

$98.00

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 89

Good ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, smoke and licorice. Sweet and wild, with flamboyant flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, leather and game. In its sauvage flavors, this reminded me of a Chateau Lafleur from the '80s! Finishes with firm, dusty tannins. 88-91 pts.

Robert Parker 91

I don?t know whether it?s me, the vintage character, or whether Randy Dunn and his son have intentionally softened their wines, but these 2004s are more opulent and up-front than previous renditions. Yet, they lack neither concentration nor richness. Those of us who have been cellaring Dunn?s wines for twenty years, waiting for them to reach maturity should be thrilled by this new development. The Howell Mountain is denser and richer with blacker fruits as well as more body. Both are full-bodied, powerful Cabernets very much in keeping with his style. However, the tannins are softer and the wines reveal surprisingly developed aromatics. Look for the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa to drink well for 15 years. It is a brilliant achievement.

2004 Forman California (750ml)

$72.00

Robert Parker 91

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (includes Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot in the blend) spent 20 months in barrels prior to bottling. Dark ruby/purple with a restrained but sweet nose of black currants, plums, damp earth, licorice, and white chocolate, it is an elegant, medium-bodied, opulent effort with sweet tannin and a long finish. This is a strong vintage for Forman's Cabernet, and it should age nicely for 15 or more years.

Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 92

Good bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and aromatic spices. Richer and seemingly riper than the young 2005, but with lovely definition to the flavors of redcurrant and sour cherry. This features a lusher, softer, sweeter middle followed by chewier and more obvious tannins that showed a firmer edge with aeration.

2004 Honig Bartolucci Vineyard California (750ml)

$61.00

Robert Parker 90

The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Bartolucci Vineyard is impressive. This deep ruby/purple-hued effort offers aromas of cedar, subtle toasty oak, black currants, sweet cherries, and loamy soil. Full-bodied with ripe tannin, an excellent mid-palate, and a long finish, it will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring, and should last for 10-15.

Wine- Maker Notes

Located at the base of Spring Mountain, this vineyard has been farmed by the Bartolucci family for three generations. With its gravelly soil and warmer micro-climate, this vineyard is ideally suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Bold fruit, beautifully framed by French oak. Notes of cassis, black cherry and black tea, with red raspberry and allspice on the finish. A highly structured wine that is nicely balanced. 250 cases produced.

2004 Jericho Canyon Vineyard California (750ml)

$66.00

2004 Levy & McClellan Ampersand California (750ml)

$150.00

Cabernet	Chardonnay	Merlot
Other Red Varietals	Other Varietals	Other White Varietals
Pinot Noir	Riesling	Sangiovese
Sauvignon Blanc	Syrah	Zinfandel