This has lots of steeped plum, warm cassis and mulled blackberry flavors that knit together while flashes of anise, sassafras and black tea swirl around. There's a great mineral underpinning on the finish, while the fruit keeps the upper hands. Best from 2022 through 2036. -JM
Raymond Vineyards Reviews
Ripe and slightly languid in style, with gently mulled red and black currant fruit, mixed with fruitcake and a hint of sassafras. Firms up a touch on the finish to keep it honest. Drink now through 2023. -JM
Ripe and welcoming, with waves of red currant preserves and plum sauce rolling through, wrapped with red licorice and infused with a fruitcake note on the finish. Features a lightly toasty frame that lets the fruit hold center stage. Drink now through 2026. -JM
A nice, sleek, focused version, with a pure beam of cassis and cherry reduction flavors, flanked by sweet toast, anise and a flash of singed bay leaf. Subtle tugs of mineral and earth through the finish augment the fruit nicely. Drink now through 2030. -JM
Gently mulled black currant and blackberry fruit mixes with dark tea, alder and sweet bay leaf notes. Shows a late tug of earth on the finish, which has good energy in reserve. Best from 2022 through 2030. -JM
Plush along the edges, but still nicely focused in feel, with cassis and plum reduction notes holding sway, while vanilla, sweet bay leaf and warm anise details fill in. Shows a late tug of warm earth on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2030. -JM
Wild sage and bay leaf accents lead off, followed by a zesty core of black currant and blackberry fruit. A light juniper edge adds further interest on the finish. Keeps a fresh feel throughout. Nicely done. Drink now through 2028. -JM
Ripe and forward in feel, with a mix of red currant and black cherry paste flavors, laced with vanilla and sweet tobacco. Streaks of iron and loam give the finish a solid grounding. Best from 2020 through 2032. -JM
A singed juniper hint leads off, followed quickly by a lush wave of dark fig, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors. Alluring black tea and wood spice accents swirl in on the finish. Shows lots of mountain-style grip, but this is fine-grained and has fruit to burn. Best from 2022 through 2032 -JM
Dark and winey, with steeped black currant and fig fruit flavors forming a muscular core, while notes of roasted alder, warm loam and licorice fill in on the finish. A hefty, solidly built wine for fans of the style. Best from 2022 through 2032. 1,750 cases made. — JM
Ripe and juicy, with a nicely packed core of red and black currant paste flavors backed by warm earth, singed alder and sweet tobacco notes. Has some heft, but there's definition from start to finish, with a subtle mineral hint at the very end. Best from 2022 through 2032. 275 cases made. — JM
The 2018 Red Blend Reserve is composed of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 9% Malbec, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Cabernet Franc coming from eight different vineyards (over half of which are in Rutherford). Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls out of the glass with expressive scents of plum preserves, blackcurrant jelly and mulberries, plus hints of tobacco leaf, charcoal and cinnamon stick. The full-bodied palate has a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the generous black fruit preserves flavors, finishing on a savory note. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2018 Merlot Reserve Napa Valley is a blend of 89% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, coming from seven different vineyards across Napa Valley. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and black raspberries with suggestions of menthol, spice cake and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is seductively plush and juicy and layered with plenty of freshness, finishing with a spicy kick. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 9% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot, the 2018 1 1/2 Acre Red is made from organic and biodynamically grown estate fruit. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with gregarious notions of kirsch, warm blackcurrants, red and black plums and rose oil, plus hints of chocolate box, cloves and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, rich and opulent, it has a gorgeous velvety texture and just enough freshness supporting the flamboyant fruit, finishing long and perfumed. Just 56 cases were made. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown