designation: Charlie's Patch

description: A young, distinguished Cab, made in the modern style of softness, ripeness and apparent sweetness. Floods the mouth with blackberries, black cherries, anise, chocolate, pepper and smoky oak. Should improve over the next 6-8 years.

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description: High-toned, rich and dark, this blend of Columbia Valley vineyards has a spine of sharp herb and tannin, wrapped tightly in dark flavors of earth, coffee grounds, baking chocolate and black fruits. The alcohol is just shy of 15%, yet it manages to feel sleek and sculpted.

designation: Sacrashe Vineyard

description: Rich and soft, this Cab hails from a great vineyard in Rutherford. It's dry, but tastes as sweet as a blackberry, chocolate and caramel pastry. The alcohol is high, yet balance and harmony characterize the mouthfeel. Drink nowC2011.

designation: Ceidleigh

description: This is deeply saturated, lush, scented with violets, raisins and chocolate, still tight and spicy. Excellent depth and structure, with about one quarter of the oak new. It needs some breathing time, and as it opens it shows more Rh?ne-like flavors of blood and shrubby herb.

designation: Defiance Vineyard Estate

description: The Chelan region is Washington's newest AVA, but already showing great potential for Syrah, as this aromatic and explosively flavorful bottle proves. Ripe berries, plums and cherries are swept into a mix of smoke and rock and iron filings; as you taste through the wine there are citrusy acids and hints of resin and tar; it just keeps adding in the nuances.

designation: Le Sec de Juchepie Les Monts

description: Pears, ripe quince and yellow fruits frame this intense, fruity wine. While, yes, it is sec (dry), it is more rich, a mouthful of concentrated white fruits layered with acidity, giving a finely creamy texture just touched with spice.

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description: An impressively rich wine that wears its intensity easily. The wine is smooth, the yellow fruit flavors dominating, just edged with pepper. It is stylish, a complex series of fruit flavors, finishing with spine-tingling acidity. For aging.

designation: Pruno Riserva

description: This beautiful wine opens with soft aromas of milk chocolate and vanilla, backed by red cherry and blueberry. Its ruby color is luminous and bright and the wine tastes chewy, soft and decadent. This is a standout product from the Emilia-Romagna region of Central it.

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description: Savory, luscious and aromatic, with waves of dark chocolate, spice and wild berries, this wine is meaty and rich in character with a spin of smoke. Blended with a touch of Mourv dre and Viognier for added depth, it's smooth but sturdy and has aging potential.

designation: Reserve

description: Quite an interesting wine that shows the hallmarks of a fine Napa Cab, but is a bit lighter in body, and more cherried. Dry and velvety, with smooth tannins, it will play well against a grilled steak with mushroom sauce.

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description: This second label from Goldeneye is a soft, silky and complex Pinot Noir, dry and balanced, with blackberry, cherry, cola, nutmeg and cedar flavors. Very deft, and fine to drink now.

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description: Sharp scents with a light hint of cardboard, piercing lemon oil and pineapple, minerality and lemon tea. The flavors follow, and the wine has good concentration and depth, with a dry, toasted cracker and wet stone finish. It gets better and better in the mouth.

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description: Lovely, with the structure and mouth-filling satisfaction of a fine Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, but lighter and more pliant. Shows flavors of cherries, red currants, licorice, beef teriaki and sandalwood, wrapped into firm but finely etched tannins. NowC2012.

designation: Gravel Quarry

description: This sophisticated red offers aromas of mocha, smoke and cinnamon spice, and flavors of blackberry, pepper and smoke in a smooth, rich package. Complex and unfolding, with ripe tannins and a lingering finish. Pair with lamb, beef or game.

designation: Hacedor de Mundos Reserva

description: Solid, juicy Cabernet that has a lot of fresh berry and black cherry on the nose. The mouth is forward and fruity, with slick plum, berry and cherry flavors. Not the most complex or layered Cab you'll find but it sure is good, thick and tasty. Powerful, too.

designation: Victories

description: With crisp acidity and a refreshing berry skin tartnness, this is a beautiful ros that approaches the loveliness of a fine French blush. It has subtle flavors of strawberries, rapsberries, tangerine zest, rose petals and spices, and is super-dry. Great job.

designation: Big Papa Old Vine

description: Old vine fruit from Sagemoor and Kiona blends with newer fruit from Ciel du Cheval. This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and it opens up slowly. Layered and complex, it mixes leaf, herb, and somewhat dusty tannins over tangy, tight, immaculate red fruits. Needs breathing time and more bottle age, but it's elegant and well-crafted.

designation: Norace

description: From the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, this ruby red exhibits dark concentration and sharp aromas of blackberry, wild berry and sophisticated Asian spice. The wine has a compact, polished nature and tastes chewy and rich thanks to its soft, spicy tannins.

designation: Cyril Henschke

description: I suspect the Cyril Henschke Cabernets show better after additional bottle age, but on release they are invariably difficult to read. There is no denying the attractive scents of mint, smoke and cassis in the 2004, nor the ripe plum and cassis-driven flavors, but the wine seems tight and reined in on the palate. Try after 2012.

designation: Vigneti del Parco

description: Here's a chocolate-and-espresso-rich expression of Montepulciano with background notes of mesquite wood and barbecue smoke. The wine performs well on the tongue thanks to the smooth and supple nature of its tannins and its sweet berry finish.