Reviews

An intense red, this exudes macerated cherry, strawberry, graphite and floral flavors wrapped in toasty oak. While forthcoming, this is underscored by a muscular structure, with dense tannins shoring up the fruit and savory elements on the long aftertaste. Best from 2028 through 2047. 

A sleek, intense red hallmarked by a beam of pure cherry flavors. While the cherry and red berry fruit, spice and stony mineral elements are locked up by the muscular structure, this is long and resilient on the finish. Best from 2028 through 2045. 

A spicy red, this exudes cherry, sandalwood, vanilla and floral flavors, with an underlying vein of minerality. Bracing and vigorous, with midpalate intensity and a punchy aftertaste that expands for at least a minute. Best from 2027 through 2042.

Fragrant and supple in texture, exuding wild strawberry, cherry, rose, sandalwood and cardamom aromas and flavors. Elegant in feel, with ample tannins for support and a vibrant, extensive aftertaste. Harmonious and charming, yet the length of the finish is what defines its pedigree. Best from 2027 through 2045.

A successful wine in a fire-marred vintage, the 2020 Aristocrat Red Wine boasts complex aromas of licorice, peppery greens and red raspberries. An unusual blend of Valdiguié, Charbono, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon made using only 24% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and charming, with a dusting of soft tannins on the finish.

A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, JCB's 2021 The Charmer Red Blend features a base of ripe cherries garnished by leafy, herbal nuances. It's full-bodied and silky textured across the mid-palate, then more obviously tannic (but ripe) on the lingering finish.

A blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, the 2021 Enrapture offers up a bit of green, pyrazine character, plus more assertive notes of cassis, mint and cedar. It's taut in feel, medium to full-bodied in the mouth, firm and moderately concentrated, with ample length.

An intriguing blend of roughly two-thirds Oak Knoll Syrah and one-third St. Helena Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Leopard boasts an impressively complex nose of piney herbs, menthol and tobacco leaf set against a base of cherries and blueberries. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is silky and soft, tender almost, favoring the "Aww—it's so cute" side over the lithe, muscular, predatory aspect of its namesake.

This taster gravitated toward the more inventive blends from JCB, like his 2021 The Knockout Red Wine, an assemblage of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nicely pure blueberry and blackberry fruit are accented by a healthy dose of vanilla, but this full-bodied effort offers ample concentration, silky tannins and a long, supple finish.

Sourced largely from St. Helena, with a bit of Stags Leap District fruit in the blend, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon No. 1 delivers classic cassis—almost Ribena-like—fruit. Full-bodied, it comes across as almost sweet and slightly jammy, with supple, silky tannins and hints of dark chocolate on the finish.