California Wine Advisors

One of Napa Valley’s finest values year in, year out, the Baby Insignia returns in full form with the oh so lovable 2016 vintage. A classy nose and the silky palate are rich in dark fruits and sexy new oak, black cherry, plum, cassis, sage, blackberry, baking cocoa, exotic sweet spices, graphite and pencil lead,...

Another impressive vintage of the Phelps Cabernet, which continues to ascend to the top of the heap of Napa reds at this price point. Seamless and elegantly-balanced, with a richness to the jammy fruit that makes this a lot of fun. It’s loaded with blueberry, currant and lavender and supported by beautiful mineral notes and...

This gem ranks atop the short list of Napa’s finest values under $100 once again. The ‘Baby Insignia’ 2019 boasts an ultra-velvety texture (‘smooth as butter’ commented one team member) plus deeply delicious notes of dark fruit and cocoa nibs on the satisfying finish. Our panel was intrigued by the distinguished mélange of exotic herbs...

Simply stated, the new 2018 Kamen Estate is tremendous fun to drink! The silky smooth texture introduces an intensity of dark fruit flavors (blueberry, blackberry) that meld together with gorgeous notes of savory herbs, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Decant prior to 2024 and enjoy through 2029.

Another remarkable vintage that impresses above its weight (& price) class, the 2021 Karl Lawrence Pocai Vineyard Cabernet allures from the start with bold and ripe fruit flavors including blackberry, cherry, and plum with an inviting mélange of sweet tobacco leaf, espresso bean and creamy caramel. These flashy flavors are deftly balanced with silky tannins...

This 100% Cabernet delivers pure elegance, offering terrifically balanced notes of dark fruit, blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries and cassis, with a perfumed scent of violets. The mouthfeel is velvety, refined with well integrated tannins showing spicy oak accents on the delightfully long finish. A terrific Cabernet to savor now (decanting recommended prior to 2022) and savvy...

This 100% Cabernet is powerful now and promises to impress for the next 7 – 10 years. The bold tannins introduce a silky smooth mouthfeel offering tremendous finesse and grace at this early stage. This new release offers a solid core of juicy dark fruit, blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, crème de cassis, with baking spices and...

This uniquely delicious + silky smooth Cabernet blend is a likely crowd-pleaser as it sports a deep garnet-purple color and vibrant nose of black and red currants, red plums and wild blueberries with hints of Provence herbs. Medium to full- bodied, the bold palate features a firm structure of grainy tannins and notes of dark...

A commanding Cabernet with the polish and allure that live up to the noteworthy winemaker pedigree. The bouquet opens with ripe blueberry and mocha, then turns deeper and more serious, layering dark cocoa, baker’s chocolate, graphite, and a subtle Cohiba-like cigar box note that portends grandeur to come. On the palate, it’s broad-shouldered and seamless,...

We were delighted by the voluptuous texture, inky dark & sumptuous fruit (blueberry, plums, figs), coconut and creamy vanilla oak plus hints of Maraschino cherry on the sensational finish. Wow! This sumptuous red is ready to rock now (decanting recommended) and poised to impress fans of the boldest Napa Cabernets through 2027+.