The below list is pulled from our 2021 Napa Valley coverage and features the top Bordeaux blends at $125 or less. While we’ve limited the selection to Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated releases in the past, we’ve opened it up this year, and the list includes Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Bordeaux blends. While value can be hard to define and depends on many factors, the list below encompasses wines that I believe punch well above the price point, and these all compete with wines at 2 to 3 times the price.
*The prices listed below are the submitted release prices and may not reflect current pricing.
| RANK | WINE | toggle column | note column (hidden) | PRICE | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny | + | An absolutely brilliant wine, the 2021 Ontogeny is an appellation blend put together by Bevan, and it’s a year-in, year-out incredible value. Competing with wines 2-3 times its price (if not more), it reveals a deep purple hue as well as an exuberant, full-bodied, concentrated style carrying loads of crème de cassis, tobacco, violets, charcoal, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. Super-rich, opulent, yet flawlessly balanced, with silky tannins, you should buy a case of this if you can. It should have at least 10-15 years of prime drinking. | $110 | 98 |
| 2 | 2021 Patria Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch | + | The first vintage where they’ve pulled out younger vines with the goal of elevating the quality, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Ranch is based on 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and equal doses of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It has a stunning nose of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, darker chocolate, and baking spices. This carries to a full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, yet polished Cabernet Sauvignon with incredible tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. There are a scant 300 cases made, and this is clearly one of the great values out there in truly great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. | $125 | 97 |
| 3 | 2021 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard | + | Ripe blue fruits, leafy tobacco, darker chocolate, and Pessac-like gravelly earth notes all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, a beauty that delivers textbook Cabernet Sauvignon character, full-bodied richness, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. This valley floor site in the southern part of Oakville continues to turn out rich, concentrated, powerful wines that always seem to have a touch of Bordeaux-like character, and this is a brilliant wine as well as an incredible value. | $125 | 97 |
| 4 | 2021 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard ratchets up the intensity and is a blockbuster styled effort in the vintage. Blackberries, plums, roasted herbs, chocolate, and flowery incense notes all define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, with a plush, seamless mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It benefits from air and should be given just 2-3 years of bottle age. This ripe, opulent, incredibly sexy 2021 will evolve for 2 decades if well stored. | $90 | 97 |
| 5 | 2021 Hayfork Cabernet Sauvignon Field Select | + | A smaller selection from a great site in St. Helena, the deep ruby-hued 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Field Select has a touch more restraint and elegance, with full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, plums, spicy oak, and dried flowers. A blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new oak, it’s beautifully balanced, has fine-grained tannins, a good spine of freshness, and a gorgeous finish. This thrilling bottle of wine competes with wines 2-3 times its price. It should shine for 15-20 years if well stored. | $125 | 96 |
| 6 | 2021 Patine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Ernest’s Eye | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Ernest’s Eye is beautiful stuff, and given today’s prices for high-quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it has to be considered a smoking value. All from the Fortuna Vineyard in Oakville and brought up in new barrels, it has an inky hue as well as a ripe, impressive bouquet of cassis, scorched earth, burning embers, and graphite. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. I love it and would gladly drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years. | $125 | 96 |
| 7 | 2021 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Elle Lewelling Ranch | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Elle Lewelling Ranch is a classic wine from this vineyard, which always seems to yield a ripe, opulent, sexy style of Cabernet Sauvignon. Jammy red and blue fruits, spice box, flowery incense, and hints of licorice all emerge from this full-bodied, uber-rich, concentrated, velvety wine. Drink bottles over the coming 15-20 years. | $110 | 96 |
| 8 | 2021 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve is softer and more upfront compared to the Black Label, offering a terrific perfume of cassis and black raspberry fruits supported by spicy oak and violets. It too is perfectly balanced, has full-bodied richness, and tons of character. Drink bottles anytime over the coming 15 years. | $110 | 96 |
| 9 | 2021 PerUS Bryn Proprietary Red | + | The 2021 Bryn Proprietary Red checks in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It’s similarly purple-hued, with a vibrant bouquet of blue fruits, spring flowers, violets, and dark chocolate. I love its tannins, it’s seamless, has full-bodied richness, and a great finish. Coming equal parts from Tench (Cabernet Sauvignon) and Sugarloaf (Merlot), aged 18-22 months in new oak, it’s a screaming value to enjoy over the coming 15 years or so. | $125 | 96 |
| 10 | 2021 Mt. Brave Merlot Mount Veeder | + | Leading off the Mt. Brave releases, the 2021 Merlot Mount Veeder has a beautiful perfume of red, blue, and black fruits as well as lots of floral nuances. It’s full-bodied and concentrated, with a layered, seamless mouthfeel and a gorgeous finish. It can be consumed now and over the coming 15 years. | $115 | 96 |
| 11 | 2021 Pezzato Cabernet Sauvignon | + | The appellation 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is smoking good, as well as an incredible value. Ripe black fruits, smoked tobacco, freshly sharpened pencils, and a kiss of chocolate all emerge from this beauty, and it’s full-bodied, concentrated, and flawlessly balanced. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years. | $80 | 95 |
| 12 | 2021 Zeitgeist Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | A smoking value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley checks in as 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in 65% new French oak. There are roughly 2,000 cases of this beauty, which offers a great perfume of redcurrants, cassis, flowers, and some spicy, incense-like nuances. This carries to a medium to full-bodied 2021 that displays the vintage’s pure, focused, elegant style, ripe tannins, and terrific mid-palate density. It will compete with wines twice its price and is perfect for drinking over the coming 10-15 years. If you see it, buy it. | $85 | 95 |
| 13 | 2021 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Merlot) is another deep purple-hued effort from Hobbs that has sensational purity in its cassis and juicy blackberry fruits. These are supported by textbook notes of graphite, freshly sharpened pencils, and spring flowers. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, with ultra-fine tannins, a seamless, elegant texture, and outstanding length, this will compete with wine two to three times the price. It will evolve for 15-20 years. | $120 | 95 |
| 14 | 2021 Clif Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Croquet Vineyard | + | Another Howell Mountain release, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Croquet Vineyard sports a saturated purple/plum hue to go with an exotic bouquet of mulled red and black fruits, camphor, asphalt, and graphite, with a darker, herbal core that opens up beautifully with air. It’s another rich, full-bodied, structured wine from this team with tons to love. | $125 | 95 |
| 15 | 2021 Chimney Rock Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is based on 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, and minuscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec that’s all from estate fruit in the Stags Leap District. It offers a pure, medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant style as well as tons of minerality in its red and black fruits, ripe, building tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and just a kiss of background oak. I love the overall style of this beauty, which will compete with wines two to three times the price. | $110 | 95 |
| 16 | 2021 Castello di Amorosa Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone | + | A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Il Barone has a vivid purple hue as well as a sweet nose of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and spicy oak. Rich and full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity and a great finish, it’s a beautiful Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that will unquestionably evolve for two decades. | $106 | 95 |
| 17 | 2021 Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm | + | The inaugural vintage, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rhythm comes from the Stags Leap District and is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. Its deep purple-hued, with some serious intensity in its cassis and blueberry fruit as well as notes of smoked tobacco, black olive, iron, and truffle. Concentrated, full-bodied, and velvety textured, it’s a ripe, expansive, opulent expression from this appellation that has beautiful tannins and moderate acidity. It’s going to evolve for 15 years with ease. | $125 | 95 |
| 18 | 2021 La Jota Vineyard Co. Merlot Howell Mountain | + | The 2021 Merlot Howell Mountain checks in as 93% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Tannat, with the élevage spanning 22 months in 70% new French oak. This beauty has bright red and blue fruits as well as complex, spicy nuances of dried flowers, savory herbs, and graphite. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s concentrated, has a smoking good mid-palate, and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age. | $125 | 95 |
| 19 | 2021 Bravante Vineyards Cabernet Franc | + | Lastly, the 2021 Cabernet Franc has a layered, medium to full-bodied style as well as complex notes of black raspberries, liquid violets, orange blossoms, and spring flowers, with nicely integrated background chocolaty oak. It’s concentrated and has a vibrant, pure, focused mouthfeel, terrific tannins, and a great finish. You can’t go wrong with any of these latest 2021s from Bravante. | $120 | 95 |
| 20 | 2021 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc Estate | + | Absolutely brilliant stuff, the 2021 Cabernet Franc Estate (100% varietal) offers up a smorgasbord-like array of red and black currants, spring flowers, tea, and assorted floral and incense-like nuances, and this complex, medium to full-bodied Cabernet Franc has fine tannins, brilliant overall balance, the vintage’s fresh, focused, yet concentrated profile, and a great finish. If you see a bottle, buy it. It will evolve for 15 years. | $120 | 95 |
| 21 | 2021 Chimney Rock Winery Red Blend Elevage | + | The 2021 Red Blend Elevage is plusher and more forward, yet it shares a similar level of purity and finesse. Black cherries, cassis, spring flowers, chocolate, and a kiss of background minerality all define the aromatics, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It’s another sensational wine from this winemaker. | $110 | 95 |
| 22 | 2021 Relic Cabernet Sauvignon Moulds Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Moulds Vineyard is all varietal and comes from a site in the Oak Knoll District, in the southern end of the valley. Spiced red and black cherries, candied violets, and incense notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, elegant Cabernet offering fine tannins and a solid mix of both richness and elegance. The tannins here are top-notch, and it’s going to offer pleasure for at least 10-15 years. | $125 | 94 |
| 23 | 2021 Amici Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve | + | Leading off the Cabernet Sauvignons, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve should be snatched up by savvy readers. A blend of 90% and the rest tiny amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot aged 18 months in 100% new oak, its deep purple hue is followed by a rocking bouquet of blue fruits, camphor, tobacco, and leather, with just a kiss of background oak. Coming from a mix of notable sites, this medium to full-bodied, concentrated, classic 2021 will evolve for at least 15 years if well stored. It’s with the best at the price. | $100 | 94 |
| 24 | 2021 Arador Cabernet Sauvignon | + | These Arador releases are made by Roberto Alfaro, who trained under Sam Kaplan. There are roughly 100 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, a beautiful wine as well as a brilliant value in impeccably made Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe black fruits, spring flowers, graphite, and tobacco all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness and depth, fine tannins, and outstanding length. A blend of Coombsville and Oakville fruit aged 22 months in French oak, drink this beauty over the coming 15+ years. | $110 | 94 |
| 25 | 2021 Hayfork Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch | + | A rocking little gem of a wine from winemaker Haley Wight, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch has an up-front, fruit-driven perfume of black raspberries, plums, cassis, dried flowers, and spicy oak. These all carry to a full-bodied, opulent wine offering velvety tannins as well as the inherent elegance and purity of this great vintage. | $85 | 94 |
| 26 | 2021 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is beautiful, with lots of classic cassis, violet, graphite, and some tobacco notes as well as background chocolate and loamy earth. It’s medium to full-bodied and has gorgeous purity, fine tannins, and a great finish. This elegant, refined, classic Cabernet Sauvignon will evolve for 20 years if well stored. | $100 | 94 |
| 27 | 2021 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Blue Label | + | Coming from multiple sites (mostly in Calistoga), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Blue Label is a smoking good wine offering beautiful red and black fruits, some classic Calistoga minerality, and spicy, savory notes, along with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. A smoking value as well as a brilliant wine, it’s perfect for drinking over the coming decade. | $85 | 94 |
| 28 | 2021 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru Oakville | + | More cassis, blue fruits, iron, darker tobacco, and chocolate notes define the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru Oakville, another incredibly pure, medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced wine from this team that has terrific tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and great finish. It’s going to evolve for a solid 10-15 years. | $125 | 94 |
| 29 | 2021 Vineyard 36 Cabernet Sauvignon The Black Aces | + | These beauties are made by the talented Keith Emerson, who has been at Vineyard 36 since 2017. I think there’s been a slight tweak in the style of these wines over the past couple of vintages, with the wines slightly more restrained and elegant. The largest production release here (it’s still a minuscule 300 cases or thereabouts), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Black Aces has beautiful purity in its cassis and darker berry fruits, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a focused, elegant, nicely balanced profile. It reveals more violet, loamy earth, and chocolate notes with time in the glass, and it’s going to benefit from just a few years in the cellar and have 15 years of prime drinking. | $125 | 94 |
| 30 | 2021 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst | + | The second wine of this incredible estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst reveals a deep purple hue as well as a great nose of assorted currants, black cherries, tobacco, and lead pencil. It’s beautifully concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe tannins, all making for an undeniably delicious, classic, balanced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 10-15 years. | $110 | 94 |
| 31 | 2021 JAX Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon JAX Estate Block 3 | + | Made by the talented Kirk Venge, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon JAX Estate Block 3 is all from a site in Calistoga and spent 21 months in new French oak. This inky hued effort gives up a complex nose of blackberries, blueberries, sage, leafy tobacco, and chocolate that develops beautifully with time in the glass. This carries to a dense, concentrated, classic 2021 with plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, beautiful purity, and a great finish. | $125 | 94 |
| 32 | 2021 Emerson Brown Cabernet Sauvignon IV Michaels Estate | + | A step up in price but still a relative value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon IV Michaels Estate is 100% Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, and it’s loaded with gorgeous black and blue fruits as well as notes of chocolate, spicy oak, and even a touch of minerality. It’s medium to full-bodied, has fine, polished tannins, and outstanding overall balance. It’s another gem of a wine from this producer. | $115 | 94 |
| 33 | 2021 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason’s Cabernet | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mason’s Cabernet is a smoking value offering a big, rich, mouthful of ripe black fruit as well as full-bodied richness, ripe, velvety tannins, no hard edges, and classic Cabernet tobacco, spice, and chocolate nuances. | $80 | 94 |
| 34 | 2021 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard comes from a site in the Stags Leap District, and it’s another incredibly classy wine from this talented winemaker. Red and black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and a touch of chocolate all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a forward, textured mouthfeel, ripe, supple tannins, and a great finish. It’s ripe and textured but holds onto plenty of classic Stags Leap freshness and elegance. | $125 | 94 |
| 35 | 2021 Lerner Project Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 is a big, sexy beast of a wine that way over-delivers at the price. Blackcurrants, darker chocolate, toasted spice, and roasted herbs all define this beauty, and it’s full-bodied, round, velvety, and as satisfying as they come. Drink this pleasure-bent, incredibly hedonistic effort over the coming decade. | $99 | 94 |
| 36 | 2021 Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Kenefick Ranch Vineyard is all varietal and comes from two separate blocks in the vineyard in Calistoga. Spicy black cherries, chocolate, cedary spice, and loamy earth are just some of its nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a round, supple mouthfeel, good mid-palate depth, and outstanding length. I’d buy a bottle. It will drink well for 10-12 years. | $98 | 94 |
| 37 | 2021 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard | + | More blue fruits, tobacco, sappy tobacco, and ripe black cherry notes all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Round Pond Vineyard, a 100% varietal aged 22 months in French oak. This medium to full-bodied, balanced, beautifully pure 2021 has ripe, polished tannins and a great finish. It’s a great example of the style and quality of this terrific vintage. | $90 | 94 |
| 38 | 2021 Sinegal Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | + | Moving to Napa, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc, all of which spent 20 months in 80% new French. Currants, smoked herbs, graphite, chocolaty oak, and some spring flower notes all give way to a rich, full-bodied, plush, layered wine that has terrific underlying structure. It’s a gorgeous base cuvée that has so much to love. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years. | $80 | 94 |
| 39 | 2021 Titus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Estate Reserve | + | Lastly, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Estate Reserve is based on 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec. It’s a touch more focused and linear compared to the Imperatus, but I love the purity and precision in its crème de cassis, espresso, classy oak, and spicy, floral aromatics. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with fine tannins and a seamless, layered mouthfeel, as well as ripe tannins, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and evolve for 15 years with ease. | $120 | 94 |
| 40 | 2021 Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Igneous Blocks Ba2, L9, Cdm | + | First made in 2019 and focused on sites in Calistoga, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Igneous, Blocks Ba2, L9, Cdm comes from a handful of vineyards (as well as parcel selections) and was aged 19 months in 85% new French oak. It has lots of red and black fruits as well as textbook Calistoga savoriness, herbal, chocolate, and mineral-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with terrific purity and outstanding length, this ranks with the top handful of wines at this price point. | $100 | 94 |
| 41 | 2021 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon RLC | + | Coming from a mix of rocky, loamy, clay soils (hence the RLC name), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon RLC has a kiss of iron as well as ripe blue fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and leafy herbs. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, perfumed, beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon offering ripe tannins, a terrific sense of elegance, and a great finish. It’s another 2021 that competes with wines 2-3 times the price. | $90 | 94 |
| 42 | 2021 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Prince Of Music | + | Readers will love the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Prince Of Music, which is up there with some of the best values in Napa Valley. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, but including some Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, notes of blackcurrants, savory cherries, iron, tobacco, and chocolate all define its aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a plump, layered mouthfeel and a great finish. | $79 | 94 |
| 43 | 2021 Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is all varietal and comes from both Round Pound and Winfield vineyards, raised all in new oak. This brilliant bottle of wine tastes like it costs three to four times its price and has up-front darker red and black fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, a kiss of minerality, and classic graphite, spicy oak, and subtle violet aromas and flavors. It’s a gorgeous wine that should have at least a decade of longevity. | $68 | 94 |
| 44 | 2021 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Honouren | + | Jammy blackberries, blueberries, chocolate, liquid violets, and some chalky, rocky mineral notes all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Honouren, a big, rich, mouth-filling Cabernet Sauvignon that has ripe tannins, the vintage’s underlying sense of freshness and vibrancy, tons of fruit, and a great finish. | $110 | 94 |
| 45 | 2021 Clif Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Springs Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Springs Vineyard comes from a site on Howell Mountain and was brought up in new French oak. It’s a smoking good bottle of wine offering ripe cassis and blueberry-like fruit as well as textbook Howell Mountain bouquet garni, iron, tobacco, and baking spice-like aromas and flavors. Ripe, full-bodied, and mouth-filling, it has velvety tannins and a gorgeous finish. | $125 | 94 |
| 46 | 2021 Bravante Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon | + | A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and nearly equal parts Petit Verdot and Malbec, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a smoking good effort offering loads of black raspberry and cassis-like fruit, medium to full body, classy, integrated oak, and subtle spicy, floral nuances. I love its purity, it has velvety tannins, and a great finish. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. It’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. | $120 | 94 |
| 47 | 2021 Castello di Amorosa Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District is also terrific, as well as a gorgeous value. Cassis, black raspberries, chalky minerality, and floral notes all define the bulk of the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a fresh, focused, elegant mouthfeel, and rock-solid underlying structure and depth. Beautifully done, it shines for its purity and balance and will have two decades of longevity. | $85 | 94 |
| 48 | 2021 Sequoia Grove Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Tonella Vineyard | + | Currants, mulberries, smoked herbs, baking chocolate, and lead pencil notes define the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tonella Vineyard, a beautiful Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon displaying velvety yet building tannins, medium to full body, terrific balance, and a great finish. As with many of these 2021s, it’s the finest I’ve tasted from this estate. | $125 | 94 |
| 49 | 2021 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | The appellation 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a killer value that should be snatched up by readers. Ripe black fruits, roasted herbs, chocolate, and some spicy wood define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, has fine tannins, a glossy, layered texture, and outstanding length. It certainly has a modern edge, but is impeccably made. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade. | $60 | 94 |
| 50 | 2021 New Frontier Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon Justice | + | A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc brought up in 61% new oak, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Justice is killer stuff. Cassis, graphite, ripe tobacco, chocolate, and classy oak all define the bouquet, and it’s full-bodied, with a polished, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It unquestionably overdelivers at the price. | $99 | 94 |
| 51 | 2021 Mt. Brave Cabernet Franc Mount Veeder | + | The 2021 Cabernet Franc Mount Veeder should be snatched up by savvy readers, It’s a stunning value in top-end Cabernet Franc that will have two decades of longevity. Cassis, black raspberries, graphite, and plenty of varietal floral notes emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, building tannins, and outstanding overall balance. It’s a powerful, structured, yet elegant 2021 that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and evolve for 15+. | $115 | 94 |
| 52 | 2021 Cliff Lede Vineyards Red Blend High Fidelity | + | The 2021 Red Blend High Fidelity is based on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate’s Twin Peaks vineyard and David Abreu’s Madrona Ranch. It’s another dark fruited, espresso, and darker herb-scented beauty that has some chocolaty oak, medium to full body, a layered, mouth-filling texture, and a great finish. This textured, opulent, balanced beauty offers tons of pleasure today, yet I see no reason it shouldn’t evolve for 15+ years if well stored. | $100 | 94 |
| 53 | 2021 Relic Cabernet Franc The Prior | + | The 2021 Cabernet Franc The Prior is mostly Cabernet Franc from a site off the Silverado Trail, not far from Eisele Vineyard. Aged 21 months in new barrels, it has a solid perfume of red and black fruits, spice, pressed flowers, and hints of chocolate. These all carry to the palate, where the wine is medium to full-bodied and has an elegant, silky texture, supple tannins, and a great finish. It’s a classic, incredibly impressive expression of Cabernet Franc to enjoy over the coming 15+ years. | $100 | 94 |
| 54 | 2021 Grieve Family Winery Double Eagle Red Blend | + | The 2021 Double Eagle Red Blend is based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged in 50% new barrels. It’s a lot of wine for the money and has beautiful black raspberry and darker berry fruits, some floral and spicy notes, full-bodied richness, and ripe tannins. It’s ripe yet stays lively, balanced, and light on its feet, and I love its overall sense of purity. Drink this beauty over the coming 10-12 years. | $90 | 94 |
| 55 | 2021 TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville | + | Checking in as 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot, all from Oakville, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville sports a dense purple hue to go with straight-up textbook Oakville notes of darker fruits, iron, black olives, and tobacco, with just a kiss of background spring flowers. It’s medium to full-bodied, round, textured, beautifully balanced, and has tons of classic varietal character. It’s a brilliant value to enjoy any time over the coming 15 years. | $110 | 93 |
| 56 | 2021 Patria Cabernet Sauvignon The Monarch | + | Coming from younger blocks on Oakville Ranch, Georges III, and Pritchard Hill, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon The Monarch offers a big, juicy, darker, almost blue-fruited style with medium to full-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, pretty violet and floral notes, and a great finish. It’s a 2021 that already offers pleasure yet will evolve for 10-15 years with ease. | $95 | 93 |
| 57 | 2021 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon Caravina | + | Made in a slightly more forward style and from designated fruit, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Caravina has a deep ruby/purple hue and offers lots of cassis and black cherry fruit as well as lead pencil shaving, chocolate, and graphite. It hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, remarkable purity, nicely integrated tannins and acidity, and a great finish. It needs 2-3 years but will be a 20+ year wine. | $95 | 93 |
| 58 | 2021 Tether Cabernet Sauvignon | + | Another smoking value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and small amounts of Petit Verdot and Malbec. Its deep ruby hue is followed by a beautiful, floral perfume of darker blue fruits, ripe cherries, sappy herbs, and rose petals. It’s medium-bodied, has a pure, elegant, layered mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. | $60 | 93 |
| 59 | 2021 La Pelle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley includes 4% Petit Verdot and comes from a mix of vineyards in Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Oakville, and St. Helena that was brought up all in barrel. It’s a classic, incredibly classy 2021 exhibiting darker currant fruits, some smoky tobacco, gravelly earth, bay leaf, and espresso nuances, medium-bodied richness, good acidity, and a great finish. It’s a smoking value in impeccably made Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that readers should snatch up. | $85 | 93 |
| 60 | 2021 Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | The 8,000-case 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley goes largely to distribution and has to be one of the great values in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there. Classic darker currants, tobacco, chocolate, and some gravelly earth notes all define the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a round, supple, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It’s more than worth it’s going rate. | $55 | 93 |
| 61 | 2021 Argot Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Starstruck | + | All varietal that spent 22 months in 25% new barrels, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Starstruck has a classic, beautiful nose of red and black fruits as well as some herbal and floral undertones. It’s ripe and medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins and outstanding length. Enjoy this brilliant value over the coming 10-15 years. | $95 | 93 |
| 62 | 2021 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #14 | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #14 is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot raised in 60% new barrels. This medium to full-bodied, pure, beautifully balanced Cabernet Sauvignon has fine tannins, lots of ripe black and blue fruits, some textbook lead pencil, tobacco, and graphite notes, and outstanding length. From a site in Rutherford, it’s well worth drinking anytime over the coming 10-12 years. | $120 | 93 |
| 63 | 2021 Morlet Family Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet | + | Leading off the 2021s, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet has a beautiful red, blue, and black-fruited style as well as some complex spice, walnut, and tobacco notes in a medium to full-bodied, round, supple style. It’s up with the finest wines of the vintage at the price, and I’d certainly be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming decade. | $105 | 93 |
| 64 | 2021 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes mostly from Rutherford and is an interesting blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Charbono, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah that was brought up in 65% new French oak. It’s a terrific wine offering classic currant fruits, some baking chocolate and spicy nuances, medium to full-bodied, ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. California needs more wines like this. Drink this beauty over the coming decade. | $65 | 93 |
| 65 | 2021 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford | + | The 125-case 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford is another beauty as well as a great value. Redcurrants, sappy green herbs, and spring flowers, as well as some cedar pencil notes, all define the aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied, nicely balanced, has lots of classic, herbal Cabernet character, and a great finish. It too will shine for a decade. | $100 | 93 |
| 66 | 2021 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | Coming mostly from Round Pond Vineyard, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is medium-bodied and elegant, with classy (and complex) notes of ripe cherries, currants, flowers, and some spicy, camphor-like notes. I love its tannins, it has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, and outstanding length. Drink this smoking value over the coming decade. | $90 | 93 |
| 67 | 2021 Scarlett Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Estate | + | All varietal and brought up in 75% new French oak, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a medium to full-bodied, balanced, ripe, beautifully textured 2021 offering plenty of darker currant fruit, some chocolate and tobacco notes, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It has lots of classic Cabernet Sauvignon character and is a brilliant value from this estate and winemaker Mike Smith. | $85 | 93 |
| 68 | 2021 Becklyn Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lions And Tigers Winfield Vineyard | + | There are a tiny 75 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lions And Tigers Winfield Vineyard, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Calistoga aged 22 months in new barrels. Red and black fruits, savory dried herbs, and obvious minerality all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has plenty of tannins, good balance, and outstanding length. This classic Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink nicely for over a decade. | $95 | 93 |
| 69 | 2021 Titus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon | + | The appellation 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, and smaller portions of Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. It’s another fabulous wine from this estate, offering pure crème de cassis, classy oak, new leather, and graphite-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, plush, integrated tannin, and the vintage’s fresher, focused style, it tastes like it costs three times the price. Drink bottles over the coming decades. Bravo. | $67 | 93 |
| 70 | 2021 Erikson & Caradin Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve | + | Another terrific value that readers will love is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, which is all varietal raised in 65% new French oak. This balanced, medium to full-bodied, concentrated effort has lots of chocolatey black fruits, some graphite and herbal nuances, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It will keep for a decade. | $90 | 93 |
| 71 | 2021 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon | + | Moving to the 2021s, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a vivid purple hue and offers a gorgeous sense of vibrancy in its plum and blueberry fruits as well as smoked tobacco, dark chocolate, graphite, and violet-driven aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, layered, has sweet tannins, and a great finish. This opulent, sexy, incredibly satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon will evolve for 10-15 years in cold cellars. | $65 | 93 |
| 72 | 2021 Sequoia Grove Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard | + | Also from Rutherford, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard is more lifted, with perfumed blue fruits, violets, and chocolaty oak. It’s pure, medium to full-bodied, has juicy acidity, and a distinct floral edge. | $125 | 93 |
| 73 | 2021 Sequoia Grove Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Bench Reserve | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Bench Reserve is terrific, with beautiful cassis and assorted darker fruits as well as chocolaty oak, graphite, and some sage and floral nuances. It’s up-front, medium to full-bodied, sweetly fruited, and has remarkable purity. Drink this pleasure-bent, sexy 2021 over the coming decade or more. | $125 | 93 |
| 74 | 2021 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville | + | A riper, broader expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville reveals a dense plum hue as well as a powerful nose of plums, roasted herbs, tobacco, spicy oak, and chocolate. It’s rich, full-bodied, has firmer underlying tannins, a layered, expansive mouthfeel, and outstanding length. | $100 | 93 |
| 75 | 2021 Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley | + | Readers looking for a great value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon will love the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, a classy, medium to full-bodied, velvety textured beauty offering ample cassis and darker berry fruits, spicy oak, and chocolate notes, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s not the most complex wine in the lineup, but it delivers absolutely classic Napa Valley goodness. It’s perfect for drinking over the coming 10-12 years. | $85 | 93 |
| 76 | 2021 Karl Lawrence Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pocai Vineyard | + | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Pocai Vineyard showed beautifully, with pretty cassis and assorted, almost red fruits to go with ample spice, floral, and subtle chocolate notes. It’ medium to full-bodied, fine, balanced, and elegant. | $85 | 93 |
| 77 | 2021 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Select | + | Like the classic Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Select is also from Sonoma County. It’s a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, textured 2021 that has the vintage’s focused, elegant style. Blackcurrants, leafy tobacco, damp earth, and a kiss of graphite all define the aromatics, and it’s a beautifully layered, elegant, age-worthy Cabernet that will evolve for 15+ years. | $106 | 93 |
| 78 | 2021 Erba Proprietary Red | + | A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Proprietary Red is a big, juicy, fruit-forward effort with a terrific sense of complexity in its red and blue fruits as well as spring flowers, graphite, and crushed stone-like aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and has a focused, elegant mouthfeel, good acidity, and outstanding length. | $125 | 93 |
| 79 | 2021 Vineyard 36 Cabernet Franc The King’s Storm | + | The 2021 Cabernet Franc The King’s Storm is mostly Cabernet Franc but includes 16% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, all of which was brought up in two-thirds new barrels. Darker red and black fruits, sappy herbs, potpourri, and floral notes all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a fresh, elegant mouthfeel and ultra-fine tannins. It’s a beautiful wine as well as a terrific value. | $115 | 93 |
| 80 | 2021 Venge Vineyards Cabernet Franc Sugarloaf Vineyard | + | From a late ripening site, the 2021 Cabernet Franc Sugarloaf Vineyard (100% Cabernet Franc) has a pure, red and blue-fruited profile to go with a terrific sense of minerality in its floral, chocolate, and spicy aromas and flavors. It’s medium to full-bodied, balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. | $100 | 93 |
| 81 | 2021 PerUS Lyla Proprietary Red | + | Ripe black cherries, spring flowers, graphite, and dark chocolate notes all define the 2021 Lyla Proprietary Red, which is full-bodied, with lots of charred oak in the background, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It’s another beautiful value from this estate. This Cuvée is an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, from the Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, that spent 18-22 months in new French oak. | $99 | 93 |
| 82 | 2021 Seavey Merlot | + | All Merlot from the estate (and old vines), the 2021 Merlot was the first vintage where they moved away from whole berry fermentation and it saw roughly 18 days on skins, aged 20 months in 30-40% new oak. Ripe black cherries, leafy tobacco, black tea, hints of chocolate, and a kiss of minerality all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannins and outstanding length. | $95 | 93 |
| 83 | 2021 Arcudi Cabernet Franc Napa Valley | + | The 2021 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley (100% Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Franc) has a pretty, perfumed, and floral style to go with lots of red and blue fruits, medium to full body, fine, polished tannins, and a seamless texture. It’s a quintessential Cabernet Franc from this talented winemaker that’s impeccably made. Drink bottles over the coming 15 years. | $85 | 93 |
| 84 | 2021 Pellet Estate Merlot Pellet Vineyard | + | Ripe black cherries, spring flowers, violets, sage, and chocolatey oak notes all emerge from the 2021 Merlot Pellet Vineyard, a juicy, medium to full-bodied, round, supple 2021 with beautiful tannins and a great finish. | $85 | 93 |
| 85 | 2021 Venge Vineyards Merlot Hudson Vineyard | + | Juicy darker berries, peppery herbs, violets, and some darker chocolate nuances all emerge from the 2021 Merlot Hudson Vineyard, a forward, delicious, round, and seamless Merlot that has terrific purity and freshness. It’s beautifully done and one heck of Merlot to enjoy over the coming decade or more. | $85 | 93 |
| 86 | 2021 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc A.V.A. Red Blend | + | The 2021 Cabernet Franc A.V.A Red Blend checks in as 54% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Malbec that was aged 22 months in barrel. Spiced red plums, black cherries, damp flowers, and leather are just some of the nuances in this puppy, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a ripe, forward, charming style that’s already hard to resist. I wouldn’t push the aging curve, but I see no reason this shouldn’t evolve gracefully for 8-10 years. | $80 | 93 |
| 87 | 2021 Ballentine Vineyards Cabernet Franc Pocai Vineyard | + | Ripe red, black, and blue fruits, spring flowers, spice, and toasty oak all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Franc Pocai Vineyard, another medium to full-bodied, balanced, elegant wine from Ballentine Vineyards. With good mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish, I like it today, yet this should evolve gracefully for 10-12 years, if not longer. It’s incredibly well done as well as a smoking value. | $75 | 93 |
| 88 | 2021 Hourglass HG III | + | A gorgeous blend of 36% Merlot, 33% Petite Sirah, 11% Teroldego, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Mixed Blacks, the 2021 HG III has a round, supple, lush, yet weightless style as well as classic black cherry and darker berry fruits, notes of dried herbs, spice, and chocolate, fine, integrated tannins, and a great finish. It’s a stunning value, and given that there are about 6,000 cases produced, readers should jump on this. | $50 | 93 |