Reviews

The more serious wines start with the 2014 Merlot Reserve, which is 88% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec. This spent 18 months in a combination of different French cooperage. Another excellent value – as one doesn’t see many Merlots these days that are both outstanding and priced at $25.00. This wine has the classic Merlot character of roast coffee, cocoa, chocolate, black cherry and plum-like fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, plush and ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 40th Anniversary is a blend of 17 vineyards, with the dominant part from the Rutherford Estate. The final blend was 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petit Syrah. This was aged 19 months in about 30% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. A real beauty, and, for a top Napa Cabernet, an excellent price point. The wine has a dense bluish purple color, a sweet kiss of crème de cassis, licorice, camphor and subtle toast. Relatively opulent on the attack and midpalate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with silky tannin, adequate acidity and impressive purity and length. There are 17,000 cases of this wine, and it is definitely worth taking a serious look at.

Boisset has a much more limited production group of wines under what he calls his District Collection Series. The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Oakville showcases this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the eastern side of the Oakville corridor. Bottled unfined and unfiltered after spending 19 months in 53% new French oak, the wine has an opaque purple color, a big sweet kiss of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, unsmoked cigar tobacco, blackcurrants, licorice and graphite. It exhibits outstanding intensity, impressive purity and a long, full-bodied finish. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

This is a juicy wine, packed with red fruits. It has acidity along with an edge of tannins. The attractive fruitiness suggests the wine will develop quickly.  —R.V. 

Mid-weight and supple with notes of cranberry, raspberry, fresh thyme, cedar, clove and root beer. Exceptional Value. 

Finalist

Here too a subtle application of oak sets off the spicy and softly floral-inflected nose of red and dark currant, plum, violet and earth scents. There a really lovely, even seductive, texture to the concentrated yet sleek middle weight flavors that deliver excellent depth and length on the beautifully balanced finish. In 2014 this highly attractive effort is more Vosne than Nuits in style plus it should drink well early.

The 2014 Beaune 1Er Cru Clos du Roi, reduced from five to two barrels this year, has a well defined, rose petal infused nose with crushed strawberry and Morello cherry scents. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, a keen line of acidity, not a powerful or structured Clos du Roi, but "queenly" with a crisp, nicely poised, elegant finish. This deserves a light round of applause considering how this vineyard was impacted by hail.