Reviews

Graphite, rock and iron elements contribute an underlying earthiness to this intensely concentrated wine - a good representation of the appellation's warmth and richness. -Virginie Boone

Reduced and undeniably earthy, this appellation wine tastes of cedar, pencil shaving and coffee. It is savory and tannic up front. Powerfully built, it ends in a strong jolt of oak. -Virginie Boone

This is a tannic, thick and deeply concentrated wine, robust in dried herb, jammy black cherry and cocoa powder. It packs a memorable punch, the savory earthiness providing contrast with subdued complexity. -Virginie Boone

Reductive and waxy on the palate, this wine has powerful concentration and tannin weight - substantial elements that make it robust and lengthy. Soft, lush and approachable, it has a wide appeal and roundness. -Virginie Boone

Perfumed in red fruit, crushed rock and a note of sage, this big red is oak-driven and firm in lengthy, substantial tannin. Powerfully ripe and lush, it delivers velvety richness for days. Virginie Boone

Thick, concentrated waves of dark brooding fruit rise from this warm-climate wine, the tannins sweet and lengthy. Toasted oak adds additional texture and a lasting note of vanilla. -Virginie Boone

Sweet and tangy in cassis and dark cherry, this well-integrated wine is lengthy and relatively subdued, with an elegant structure. Dried herb, cedar and a note of tobacco round out the yin and yang of the wine. -Virginie Boone

Smoky oak wraps around baked cherry and baking spice in this robustly concentrated and full-bodied wine, warm-climate in nature and style. The jammy rich fruit is layered and lengthy.

This is the first vintage of this new label by Buena Vista, commemorating the year it was founded. The 2018 Red Wine 1857 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Morris vineyard on Diamond Mountain, the Petit Verdot was harvested from the Larkmead vineyard in Calistoga, and the Cabernet Franc is from the Casa Nuestra vineyard in St. Helena. It was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 45% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it slowly unfurls to reveal fantastically fragrant notes of candied violets, star anise, clove oil and chocolate mints, over a core of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake and blueberry pie with hints of pencil shavings and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with rich, seductive black and blue fruit layers, framed by oh-so-plush tannins and a seamless line of freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Only 50 cases were made. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit for this new wine came from two sites situated around Wappo Hill, a former vantage point peak that sits between Yountville and Stags Leap District. The Yountville vineyard is in the northeast portion of the AVA, just off of State Lane and to the north of Wappo Hill, while the Stag’s Leap vineyard is just south of Wappo Hill. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 25% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon waltzes out of the glass with gregarious scents of stewed black cherries, crème de cassis and mulberries, plus suggestions of kirsch, red roses, black tea and eucalyptus with wafts of dusty soil and garrigue. The full-bodied palate bursts with precocious exotic spice notes complementing the bold black fruit preserves, framed by velvety tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long with loads of minerally sparks. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown