California Wine Advisors

While some collectors bemoan that impressive Napa red under $100 have become a ‘unicorn’ in the wine world, the team at Ghost Block have nailed it (again) with their new 2020 vintage. Juicy flavors feature fresh blackberries and mint chocolate entwined with baking spice. Black fruit notes are layered with velvety rich dark chocolate and...

Aromas and initial palate flavors feature fresh blackberries and mint chocolate entwined with baking spice. Black fruit notes are layered with velvety rich dark chocolate and vanilla bean in a Cabernet that’s full bodied and structured with approachable tannins. These days, it seems impressive Napa red under $100 have become a ‘unicorn’ in the wine...

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from celebrated winemaker Martha McClellan is the secret hit of the vintage, saturated with dark cherry, plum, violets, and freshly brewed espresso. Rich and full bodied, high-toned notes of raspberry, leather, tobacco and cocoa weave seamlessly together, showcasing a strong scaffolding for 10+ years of aging. This Cabernet is the definition...

An enticing bouquet leads to monumentally delicious notes of cassis, dark chocolate, blueberry, and cherry that mingle with creamy new oak. The opulent mid palate features a sumptuous array of flavors including plum, currant, sage, blackberry, pipe tobacco, and hints of walnut brownies culminating with an awe-inspiring finish that left us begging for more.

A silky smooth texture introduces delightful layers of robust fruit flavors including blueberry cream, blackberry, plum, currant, sage, vanilla and gloriously toasted oak plus notes of graham cracker on the finish. A genuine crowd pleaser for aficionados of bold Napa reds.

Another charismatic release made by Thomas Rivers Brown for Hobel. So inviting on the nose with aromas of ripe red fruit and milk chocolate. The suede-like texture surrounds flavors of white-chocolate covered cherries, currants, spices and luxuriously toasty oak. Stylish and superb. Decant prior to 2024 and enjoy through 2029.

This stylish Cabernet grabs your attention from the first sip with its plush texture and commanding tannins. Succulent layers of dark plum and ripe fig glide over the palate, while streaks of savory herbs add a primal note that adds dimension. Bold, dramatic, and utterly irresistible, this is a crowd-pleasing stunner with the backbone to...

Imagine alternating between milk chocolate covered blackberries and s’mores tossed in baking spices. Lush, big, bodacious, jammy, spicy, and loaded with blueberry cream, cassis, plum, currant, sage, vanilla and gloriously toasted oak. A genuine crowd pleaser for aficionados of hedonistic Napa reds. Only 130 cases produced.

We continued to be astounded by the quality of craftsmanship for these wines, particularly considering the humble (ahem, Hobel!) prices. The new 2019 ‘Figure’ Cabernet is an exceedingly dense and delicious young release. Lush and loaded with bodacious dark fruit flavors, jammy, spicy, and loaded with blueberry cream, cassis, plum, currant, sage, vanilla and gloriously...

Imagine alternating between milk chocolate covered blackberries and s’mores tossed in baking spices. Lush, big, bodacious, jammy, spicy, and loaded with blueberry cream, cassis, plum, currant, sage, vanilla and gloriously toasted oak. A genuine crowd pleaser for aficionados of hedonistic Napa reds. Only 130 cases produced.