Reviews

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Oakville does a fine job representing its AVA, with ripe cherries, loamy earth and dried spices all making appearances on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied, firmly built and moderately tannic but ripe, with a certain suppleness and savoriness to the finish.

Sourced from estate vineyards, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Rutherford showcases scents of ripe cherries but folds in some darker elements, like dusty earth and cocoa. Full-bodied, tannic and firm, this wine shows plenty of concentration and ample length on the finish.

Raymond's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection Howell Mountain features scents of crushed stone, pine resin, menthol and cherries on the nose, while being taut and tannic in the mouth. It's medium to full-bodied, turning silky on the finish.

This is the first Raymond wine Melka began consulting on, back in 2008. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Generations delivers scents of black cherries, menthol, red cherries and softly dusty earth, all swirled together into a funnel of complexity. While full-bodied and silky, it's also dominated by bright fruit flavors, finishing long and mouthwatering.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon District Collection St. Helena has turned out exceptionally well, with slightly floral nuances atop ripe cherries; there's a lovely fruit expression. Full-bodied and lush, this is more texturally generous than the other District Collection bottlings, finishing long and velvety.