772 | Wine | Napa Valley, 86 to 90

"Trim and restrained, with a narrow beam of currant, tobacco, cigar box and cedar. Well-made, focused and persistent."

"It offers notes of black currants, licorice, cedar wood and spice. Drink it over the next several years." -Robert Parker

"Good bright red-ruby. Cherry, redcurrant and flowers on the nose. Supple on entry, then a bit youthfully clenched in the middle, showing good grip to the flavors of cassis, minerals, licorice and herbs. Not hugely rich or fleshy but has good structure. A tad dry and peppery on the finish. This wine was to have been bottled in April."

"Creamy vanilla-tinged oak cloaks dried currant and berry fruit, graphite and crushed rock, firming nicely on the finish. A true to form Cakebread Cabernet."

"Festive and lively, with tropical fruit and spicy vanilla aromas and supple flavors of raspberry, lemon and spicy yeast."

"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags’ Leap District (Napa Valley) is quite pretty in this vintage. A warm, resonant bouquet laced with espresso, plums and spices meld into expressive dark berries as this mid-weight, polished Cabernet opens up in the glass. Hints of raspberry jam, rose petals and mocha are layered into the persistent finish. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is rarely inexpensive, but this is about as good as it gets for the money."

"This fine new release, with some bottle age, shows signs of subtle maturity. Aromas of mocha, cedar, dried currant and spice box follow through to a full body, This is well-built, with fine balance and good length."

"Straw yellow. Pungent aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and lime zest. Intense and savory, with excellent thrust to the citrus zest and floral flavors. Mondavi picks this fruit early (80% of it is from owned vineyards), using dry ice and SO2 to protect it from air at the pressing. Youthfully tight and very fresh. Yes, the sauvignon blancs were presented after the reserve chardonnay at my March tasting at Mondavi."

"The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, fruity Cabernet with good body and depth but limited overall complexity. Sweet, spicy notes add shades of nuance on the finish."

"Bracing, slightly raw aromas of lemon peel, grapefruit and pepper. Then surprisingly supple following the nose, with a dense, tactile lemony flavor intensified by sound acidity. Vibrant, very dry and delicate sauvignon blanc with excellent length."-Stephen Tanzer