2jX32GW

BUYINGGUIDE
somewhat dull on the palate, opting for savory elements
over fruit. —V.B.
abv: 14.6% Price: $70
84
Robert Mondavi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Napa Valley). Chalky, dusty cedar, currant
and pencil shavings contribute a classic feel to this
wine that is blended with 8% Merlot and 5% Cabernet
Franc. Somewhat austere in style, it’s also full
bodied and abundantly ripe, with a harshness to the
finish. —V.B.
abv: 15% Price: $28
83
Textbook 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa
Valley). This wine is both reduced and
diluted, with astringency biting at its heels. It may
simply be underripe. —V.B.
abv: 13.3% Price: $33
91
CABERNET FRANC
Galvan 2013 Russo Family Vineyard Cabernet
Franc (Solano County). This is a big, concentrated
and lush-textured wine, bolder and thicker
than many of its peers and beautifully laced with
dark berry, dark chocolate and cardamom flavors.
The mouthfeel is full and gripping, as the many layers
of fine tannins coat the palate and help the rich
flavors linger on the finsh. —J.G.
abv: 14.4% Price: $36
91
Jarvis 2013 Will Jarvis’ Science Project Cabernet
Franc (Napa Valley). This wine is named
for the producer’s son and his real-life 8th-grade
project making one small barrel of wine. It continues
on the theme, blending in 5% Merlot and aging
again in new French oak, all small barrels. Meant to
be enjoyed young, it shows a youthful exuberance of
smoked wood, pillowy tannin, peppercorn and dried
herb. —V.B.
abv: 14.3% Price: $140
91
Meeker 2013 Cabernet Franc (Dry Creek Valley).
For full review see page 14.
abv: 14.7% Price: $45
90
Maxville 2014 Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley).
For full review see page 19.
abv: 14.5% Price: $67
89
Naggiar 2014 Estate Cabernet Franc (Sierra
Foothills). Bold and substantial, this fullbodied
and firmly tannic wine has a good core of
ripe black berry and black cherry trimmed with
lighter cinnamon and vanilla notes from oak. It’s
very attractive in a firm, palate-gripping way. —J.G.
abv: 14.2% Price: $26
89
Prima Materia 2013 Cabernet Franc (California).
This smooth, layered wine is medium
bodied, well balanced and rich, with soft tannins to
give it heft. Flavors run to black cherry, clove and
cinnamon. The great sense of polish and composure
make it a pleasure to drink. —J.G.
abv: 14.3% Price: $26
89
St. Supéry 2013 Estate Cabernet Franc
(Rutherford). Cedar dust, dried herb, currant
and graphite combine effortlessly in this
restrained wine, subtle in buried tannin. It shows
voluptuous body with moderate acidity and a ripeness
on the finish. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $65
88
Jarvis 2012 Estate Grown Cave Fermented
Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley). This is a
100% varietal wine grown entirely on the producer’s
estate. Aged nearly two years in all-new French
Nevers oak, it shows a tinge of smoke—campfire
nearly—from the barrel, followed by a reduced
expression of blueberry and herbes de Provence.
Firm, integrated tannins don’t distract. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $105
88
Rutherford Hill 2013 Cabernet Franc (Napa
Valley). This is a simple, soft and quite floral
wine, showing a wealth of dusty tannin and fullbodied
power. Cedar and pomegranate are the highlights
that ride a textured wave of chalky oak. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $45
87
William Harrison 2012 Estate Cabernet Franc
(Rutherford). This 100% varietal wine
offers a simplicity of blueberry, black licorice and
chocolate wrapped in integrated tannin and oak.
Full bodied and ripe, it softens in the glass to a
rounded finish. —V.B.
abv: 14.6% Price: $65
95
MERLOT
La Jota Vineyard 2013 Merlot (Howell Mountain).
For full review see page 3.
abv: 15% Price: $85
94
Mt. Brave 2013 Merlot (Mount Veeder). For
full review see page 5.
abv: 15% Price: $75
94
Pahlmeyer 2013 Merlot (Napa Valley). The
wine launched cinematically by Robert
Redford in “Indecent Proposal,” this delivers a
succulently memorable and seductive mix of crisp
cassis and meaty rare beef, a sanguine underpinning
that gives it intrigue. Full bodied and ripely
crafted, it is completely satisfying in its classical
components of sage and cedar, with a lingering lust
of chocolate-covered cherry. —V.B.
abv: 15.2% Price: $85
93
Duckhorn 2013 Merlot (Carneros). This
100% varietal wine hails entirely from
Hyde Vineyard, a meticulously farmed and magical
site. With a rich nose leading the way, it shows
dusty licorice and chocolate plum. Voluptuously
well crafted, it finishes in a lengthy tinge of baking
spice. —V.B.
abv: 14.9% Price: $72
93
Jarvis 2012 Estate Grown Cave Fermented
Reserve Merlot (Napa Valley). The third
reserve by this producer made of this variety, this
is 100% estate and varietal. It unfurls in fireplace
smoke, red and black berry, leather and tobacco,
with an edginess of cedar and herb. The texture is
soft and integrated around a full-bodied concentration
of flavor. —V.B.
abv: 14.8% Price: $200
92
Ballentine 2014 Estate Grown Merlot (Napa
Valley). For full review see page 9.
abv: 14.6% Price: $35
92
Duckhorn 2013 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot
(Napa Valley). For full review see page 9.
abv: 14.5% Price: $95
91
Black Stallion 2013 Limited Release Merlot
(Napa Valley). For full review see page 13.
abv: 14.8% Price: $40
91
J. Lohr 2013 Cuvée Pom (Paso Robles). For full
review see page 14.
abv: 14.9% Price: $50
91
Jarvis 2012 Estate Grown Cave Fermented
Merlot (Napa Valley). Enviable structure
marks this lovely wine that appears to have been
made in a slightly reductive style. Light oak, a bouquet
of dried herb and vanilla ride along a mediumbodied
texture that’s soft and silky, with a panache
of juicy blackberry and currant on the finish. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $95
91
Rutherford Ranch 2014 Merlot (Napa Valley).
For full review see page 15.
abv: 13.5% Price: $26
91
Y Rousseau 2013 Pépé Cavedale Vineyard Merlot
(Moon Mountain District Sonoma County).
Named for the producer’s French grandfather, Pépé
is peppery in clove and Mexican cinnamon, with an
abundance of black cherry. Made in small amounts,
it shows a softness around its rounded edges of
structure and moderate body of acidity, finishing
with length and grace. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $50
90
Decoy 2014 Merlot (Sonoma County). For
full review see page 17.
abv: 13.9% Price: $25
90
Ehlers Estate 2013 Merlot (St. Helena).
From entirely estate-grown fruit and
blended with 5% Cabernet Franc, this is a soft, full
and well-structured wine, sanguine in currant, cassis
and a dusting of brambly raspberry. Inviting, it
finishes in a pleasing note of mocha. —V.B.
abv: 14.2% Price: $55
26 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MARCH 2017