Supposedly, 77% C.S. & 23% Merlot from the Atlas Peak Foothills (77%) & St. Helena (23%). Aged 22 mos in 75% new FR oak. 320 cs produced.

N: RIPE berries; Intensity lurking

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it makes its way into & through the LONG, balanced finish with a bitter/tangy/swt trialectic to the firming, dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, but may still improve a bit through '20, then drink nicely through '24. 15% ABV; My EXC- in a food friendly style. 93 pts WA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]

Note: 1st tasted on 1/19/19

“Vintages: 2014, 2015; Vyd locations: 70% Spring Mountain District & 30% Valley Floor; Released 9/1/19.”

N: A bit of funk blowing off/evolving into RIPE berries; Intensity lurking?

p: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which SOMEWHAT resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, then drinking through '25? My EXC-, & I'd at least LISTEN to an argument for more based upon QPR for this AVA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their pricing, particularly since they're currently THE only source I saw.]

Note: 1st tasted on 9/21/19

“52% C.S., 26% Merlot, 12% Malbec, 8% Syrah, & 2% P.V., harvested 9/14 – 10/11/16, with the ff’ing sourcing: 89% Napa Valley, 10% Russian River, & 1% combined from Sonoma County, North Coast, & Mendocino; Malolactic fermentation is completed in barrel, & the blend is assembled early so it is ‘elevated’ as the finished wine. Our 2016 Claret rested on its lees 12 mos in FR & AM oak barrels, only 13% new, with monthly bâtonnage to coat the tannins, producing a luscious, cushioned mouthfeel. This wine was lightly fined with egg whites & bottled without filtration in Feb ‘18. 4,927 cases produced & released Sept ’18.”

N: Slightly closed; ATTRACTIVE melding of berries, flowers, earth, toast, & pyrazines

P: LM body; Very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED finish with an already elegant tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, IF one can accept the current early/mid-P. Otherwise, cellar through '21, then making its 10th. 14.5% ABV; My EXC. 92 pts & "Editors' Choice" WE (4/1/19) @ $42, 91 WA (Brooks, 9/'19), 90 Dunnuck (6/14/19), & 89 Vinous (Galloni, 5/1/19). [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive price.]

“Caravan is hand-harvested, clusters are hand-sorted before de-stemming, then berry sorted to insure uniformity. The grapes were cold soaked for 4 days, then fermented in small closed topped tanks, with gentle pump-overs for optimal color extraction & tannin management. The wine was aged for 20 mos in a combination of 70% new FR & European oak barrels, then minimally handled through bottling. 60% C.S., 28% Merlot, 10% Malbec, & 2% P.V.; Steve Devitt, Winemaker;”

N: Vanilla atop ripe berries & earth; Intensity lurking?

P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays in contact with the init frt as it PRETTY much resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, yet fairly unoffensive, DUSTY tannins. For now with food, may still improve through '20, then make its 10th. 14.8% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 90 pts WE (2/1/19) @ $48. [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE pricing, & DO be wary, as one can EASILY pay > what was sugg retail upon release.]

“79% C.S., blended with Merlot, C.F., & P.V. from our estate vyds in Coombsville & Rutherford, and mtn sourcing in Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, & Howell Mtn. Aged in 100% FR oak (30% new).”

N: Choc slightly atop RIPE berries with notes of pyrazines; Intensity lurking?

P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which QUITE works itself out by the LONG finish with an elegant TANGY/swtness (60:40) to the few, firming, innocuous, dusty tannins. A *somewhat* leaner (than the AVA's stereotype), food friendly, drink now style to be enjoyed through '22, poss '23. 14.9% ABV; My EXC-, & I'd certainly LISTEN to pleas for higher based upon QPR™ for *this* AVA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

™While a bit < unctuous/"rich" than the ubiquitous '17 Caymus C.S, this comes in @ a tad > than 1/2 the price, & I would THINK *should* "work" for Caymus aficionados.

Grapes from the Creston, Estrella, Adelaida, El Pomar, & Geneseo Districts or AVAs; Aged 16 mos in 75% new FR oak; Bottled Mar 2019;

N: CLOSED, but SEEMS *ripe*, poss jammy? Intensity lurking?

P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a bit of astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a quasi-elegant TANGY/swtness to the few, firming, but unoffensive, dusty tannins. For now & through '22. 15.0% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, the higher QUITE arguably for QPR. 95 pts WE (12/1/19) & #10/Top 100 for '19 @ $50. [By all means, DO check with this vendor if interested in their *unbelievably* COMPETITIVE price!]

Note: Also tasted on 4/13 & 5/18/19.