45 Wine Reviews Found

  • Tasting Note: Graphite
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Altagracia 2016
97 Points

Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Altagracia 2016

This is a monumental effort that displays concentrated dark fruit flavors, truffle, tobacco, and graphite. Intense and rich on the palate, luxurious velvet tannins give way to notes of black cherry, plum, espresso, dried savory herbs and cocoa. Exceedingly complex and expensive tasting for the price-point, the 2016 Altagracia showcases the Eisele terroir in an...

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Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2015
98 Points

Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2015

Simply stated, this is a big WOW wine! Intensely flavorful with deep dark fruit, a divinely silky smooth texture, and an overall freshness that reminds me of far pricier reds from Bordeaux’s left bank (in prime vintages). Similar to recent vintages, this magnificent effort displays a core of cassis, blackberry, graphite and espresso bean complimented...

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97 Points

TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2021

This brand new release from TOR is the first 2021 Napa Cabernet we’ve judged and this classy Cabernet has set the bar high! It tastes supremely serious with its tightly wound dark fruit flavors, hints of caramel, spice box, and tobacco leaf, and superb balance. Its ever-so-present tannins are ripe and structured and give way...

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98 Points

La Sirena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2019

An impressive new Cabernet with ‘cult’ appeal now plus the potential of a true thoroughbred. The plush texture introduces grainy tannins that frame intense tasting, opulent blackberry, black currant, graphite and exotic spices. The sumptuous finish features tightly wound flavors now and entices with hints of dark cocoa powder, vanilla, and toasted marshmallow. A world-class...

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100 Points

DVO Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The 2019 DVO (Dalla Valle Ornellaia) is a tour-de-force and wins our vote as ‘most likely to succeed’ new player on Napa’s Cult Cabernet scene!  2019 is only the second public release and is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, demonstrating how well these two grapes blend together when crafted by two brilliant...

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98 Points

QTR Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Estate 2018

An incredibly layered, full-bodied crowd pleaser from a couple of Napa Valley’s most talented personalities. Not shy on the nose, it opens with a gorgeous floral nose of rose petals and violets, followed by intensely delicious notes on the palate of irresistible black cherries, red currant, raspberry coulis, mocha, exotic vanilla and a touch of...

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100 Points

Bryant Cabernet Sauvignon Bettina 2016

Probably the finest Bryant Family we’ve judged, this magnificent beauty is a true thoroughbred; designed to perform gracefully now and provide fast-paced thrills for at least a decade to come. The first sip captures your attention with a velvety smooth texture reminiscent of a cashmere sweater on Christmas night. Loads of charcoal, cedar wood, spring...

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98 Points

Plinth Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018

This brand new 2018 is 100% jammy, juicy, and gorgeous! The word “plinth” is defined as a “strong base of support” and certainly applies here since the winery’s precious Estate Cabernet grapes ‘support’ the velvety smooth, deeply satisfying dark fruit from a world-famous vineyard in Napa’s prized Oakville district. Deliciously ripe (but not overripe) with...

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99 Points

Institution Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard 2019

A true BLOCKBUSTER from this up-and-coming boutique winery. The alluring bouquet charms with blueberry liqueur, espresso, and pipe tobacco plus toasted oak. This regal wine launches forth with massive notes black forest cake, blue fruit, mocha, exotic spices, graphite and creamy vanilla extract. This is a deeply satisfying + FUN example of young Cabernet Sauvignon....

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96 Points

Favia Cabernet Blend Carbone 2018

This oh-so silky & rich new release from Napa’s acclaimed 2018 vintage offers sumptuous aromas of plum, cassis, blackberry and sage evolve on the palate to include dark chocolate and baking spice with some graphite and background oak. It is full-bodied and has a layered, multi-tiered mid-palate (tangy baking spices) leading to a distinguished finish...

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