Our 11th Year !

$85

WA 94 (12/2011): The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with a rush of black fruit, smoke, licorice, graphite and tar. All the elements flow together gracefully towards the big, fleshy finish. There is plenty of tannin to support the fruit, suggesting the wine will drink well for a number of years. I especially like the way the wine keeps growing in the glass. This is one of the firmer, more vibrant 2009s readers will come across. Simply put, it is fabulous. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

VM 93 (5/2012): (blended with 12% petit verdot and 8% cabernet franc): Ruby-red. Blackberry, licorice, minerals and chocolate on the nose, plus a whiff of shoe polish. Dense, spicy and nicely delineated, with excellent intensity to the dark cherry and mineral flavors. Firmly structured cabernet with granular tannins and a suggestion of medicinal reserve. This will need at least four or five years of bottle aging. Stephen Tanzer.

2011

$73

WA 90 (10/2013): The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up notes of mulberries, licorice, plums and tobacco leaf in its medium-bodied, surprisingly concentrated, well-made personality. There are over 3,000 cases produced, and it is one of the top wines made on the valley floor in 2011. The healthy deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by lots of fruit, soft tannins and low acidity. Consume it over the next 8-10 years.

VM 89 (11/2013): Mocha, espresso, licorice, tobacco, dried herbs and leather are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass in the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, a wine with distinct Old World overtones. Savory herbs, cedar and dried flowers continue to develop in the glass, adding complexity to the fruit. The 2011 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. Antonio Galloni.

2011

$79

2012

$99

WA 93+ (10/2014): The soft, delicious, complex 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate offers notes of cedarwood, blackcurrants, baking spices, Asian soy, crème de cassis, licorice and a touch of graphite. It continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of a second or third-growth Bordeaux Pauillac with a Napa Valley Cabernet. Composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot aged 18 months in 54% new French oak, it possesses full body, sweet tannin and should drink well for two decades or more.

VM 93 (12/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with tons of depth and overall intensity. Graphite, menthol, new leather, smoke, herbs and black fruit are all laced together nicely. Today the tannins are a bit dusty and rough around the edges, but at the same time, the 2012 is nowhere near ready to drink, so there is plenty of time for those contours to soften a touch. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a pretty tannic wine for the year, so patience is key.

2013

$95

WA 93 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (White Label) is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in about two-thirds new French oak. Very Bordeaux-like, with a St.-Julien-like personality, there are notes of crushed stones, gunflint, licorice, cedar wood, Christmas fruitcake and loads of red and blackcurrants. It is a powerful wine with a hint of chocolate as well. This beautiful and structured yet elegant wine should drink well for at least 15-25 years.

VM 92 (10/2015): A dark, powerful wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (white label) hits the palate with masses of dark fruit, cedar, tobacco, savory herbs and leather. Today the tannins are a bit rustic, but the 2013 possesses remarkable density and the pedigree to age for many years. The distinctly ferrous, iron-infused and meaty notes are some of the key Larkmead signatures. Antonio Galloni.

JD 92 (10/2023): Looking first at the classic 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, this still deep plum-hued Cabernet has a touch of lightening at the rim as well as youthfully mature, Bordeaux-like aromatics of darker currants, truffle, smoked cigar, leather, and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, round, nicely textured, and concentrated, with a great finish, this classic, impeccably made Cabernet Sauvignon is fully in its prime drink window, with another decade of longevity ahead of it.

2014

$125

JD 92+ (12/2017): Leading off the 2014s, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic release from this estate and it’s a great place to start for readers looking to try out the style of the top cuvees. Aged 19 months in 75% new French oak its deep purple color is followed by classic cassis fruit, cedary spice, graphite and dried herb aromatics. With a firm structured, tannic vibe on the palate, it has plenty of fruit but really needs 4-5 years of bottle age. Located north of Saint Helena and pulling all from their estate vineyard located around the winery, owner Cam Baker and winemaker Dan Petroski have produced some true superstars in 2015. These are ripe, full-bodied, majestic, yet structured wines that are going to age beautifully. There’s been a distinct stylistic shift with the 2016s, which were harvest far in advance of when most were harvesting, and the wines are certainly still beautiful, yet more tannic, backward, and angular. They’ll be beautiful wines, but certainly in a different style than previous vintages.

2015

$115

JD 95 (12/2017): Moving to the 2015s, the largest production cuvee from younger vines is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and it includes 3% Cabernet Franc and spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. Possessing terrific richness in its dark fruit, tobacco and Graves-like minerality, this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated and layered on the palate. It’s a beautiful base cuvee that does everything right. Located north of Saint Helena and pulling all from their estate vineyard located around the winery, owner Cam Baker and winemaker Dan Petroski have produced some true superstars in 2015. These are ripe, full-bodied, majestic, yet structured wines that are going to age beautifully. There’s been a distinct stylistic shift with the 2016s, which were harvest far in advance of when most were harvesting, and the wines are certainly still beautiful, yet more tannic, backward, and angular. They’ll be beautiful wines, but certainly in a different style than previous vintages.

2017

$75

VM 93 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a real overachiever in its peer group. Wonderfully layered and vibrant, the 2017 is just magnificent. All the elements come together in a sublime, wonderfully nuanced Cabernet. Larkmead ultimately decided not to bottle their Dr. Olmo Cabernet and instead used that wine (which was fabulous from barrel) to improve this blend - which it most certainly did. Antonio Galloni.

JD 92+ (1/2020): Starting with the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, it comes all from the estate in the north part of the valley and is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It has a deep, serious bouquet of scorched earth, graphite, crushed rocks, new saddle leather, and smoked tobacco all ground by a core a ripe dark fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, building tannins, and the classic, focused style of the vintage, it's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

2018

$115

JD 93 (1/2021): Based on 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the base 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a beauty, offering classic currant and mulled cherry fruits as well as plenty of cedarwood, tobacco, and spice aromas and flavors. It's rich and medium to full-bodied, with some grippy tannins and a classy finish. It's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20.

2013

$145

VM 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (black label) is utterly magnificent. Towering and statuesque, the 2013 deftly balances ripeness, intensity and freshness, with suave tannins (for a big wine) and fabulous overall balance. A host of sweet red plum, pomegranate, spice, white pepper, crushed rocks and rose petal add the final shades of nuance. The 2013 is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. The black label Cabernet Sauvignon emerges from parcels in the center of the estate planted on Cortina gravel. (Drink between 2023-2038). Antonio Galloni.

2014

$129

WA 95+ (10/2016): The “Black Label” wines include the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the clone of Cabernet that is also called Eisele, This wine spent 20 months in 62% new French oak A magnificent wine by any standard of measurement, with notes of scorched earth, lead pencil shavings, charcoal embers, and blackberry and cassis fruit, this dense purple wine has undeniable minerality, a beautiful, full-bodied texture and a voluptuous finish. Drink it over the next 25 years.

JD 95 (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 60% new oak) is another awesome wine. Cedary spice, black cherries, currants, scorched earth and ample minerality all emerge from this full-bodied, expansive, structured wine that has sensational purity of fruit, ripe tannin, and a blockbuster finish. It has more structure and depth the most 2014s and will evolve gracefully for another two to three decades.

2014

$149

2015

$149

VM 97 (1/2018): The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo has really come together since I last tasted it from barrel. Graphite, smoke, crushed rocks, spice and rose petal overtones give the 2015 Dr. Olmo its distinctive aromatic signatures. The 2015 finishes with remarkable tension and energy. What a gorgeous wine it is. (Drink between 2022-2035). Antonio Galloni.

JD 96 (12/2017): Of the three top Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo is the most classic expression of Cabernet and offers Pauillac-like notes of black cherry, cassis, lead pencil shavings, espresso roast, and gravelly minerality. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and shine for 20-25 years or more.

WA 94+ (10/2047): The deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo (Black Label) is scented of cedar, rose, dusty earth and incense over a core of warm red and black currants, blackberry compote and anise plus a touch of Mediterranean herbs. Medium to full-bodied and very firm, taut and muscular in the mouth, there is loads going on here, but this needs time! Give it 3-4 years at least, and drink it over the next 15+.

2016

$149

JD 95+ (1/2019): Lastly, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo gets the nod as the most tannic and structured, with a brutally austere style that’s just begging for bottle age. Notes of lavender, iron, camphor, graphite, and bloody blue fruits all emerge from the glass. Possessing a Bordeaux-like purity and structure, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a firm, tight, backward vibe, this is a beautiful wine, but only for those with patience. I wouldn’t think about opening bottle until at least 2026, and I suspect it will keep for 40-50 years. (Drink between 2026-2066).

WA 95 (12/2018): Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo (Black Label) is deep garnet-purple in color, offering exuberant notions of crushed black and red currants, warm plums and wild blueberries with an undercurrent of cigar box, violets, black tea and pencil lead plus a waft of menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers wonderfully expressive cassis and red berry preserves layers with loads of floral and savory accents, framed by firm grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

VM 94 (12/2018): The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo retains much of the youthful intensity and raw power it showed as a barrel sample. Savory herbs, gravel, game, wild cherry, leather, spice, menthol and dried flowers give the 2016 its distinctive aromatic signatures. Despite its mid-weight feel, the 2016 carries quite a bit of tannin and more than enough structure to age gracefully for many years to come. (Drink between 2022-2041). Antonio Galloni.

2018

$129

WA 95+ (11/2020): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo (Black Label) is produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in French oak, 56% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with scents of black currant cordial, kirsch, red currant jelly and wild blueberries plus suggestions of dark chocolate, bay leaves and pencil lead with a touch of cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has loads of delicately framed nuances among the red and black fruits with a soft texture and energetic finish.

VM 95 (1/2021): The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Olmo has really come together nicely over the last year. A dark, brooding wine, the Dr. Olmo is imbued with so much character. Black cherry, plum, scorched earth, leather and game reveal a wine of considerable nuance and complexity. There is so much going on here. The 2018 finishes with notable substance and feeling of sheer pedigree that is impossible to miss. (Drink between 2026-2040). Antonio Galloni.

2007

$79

WA 93 (12/2009): The dense purple-colored 2007 Firebelle (a 1,500-case blend of 62% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Malbec) offers abundant aromas of mocha, black cherries, black currants, mocha, coffee, and a subtle hint of herbs. This superbly textured, full-bodied, opulent red is already delicious, and promises to evolve for 15+ years.

2008

$55

WA 94 (12/2010): The 2008 Firebelle (55% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Malbec; 1,050 cases produced) exhibits a dense opaque purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of creme de cassis, white chocolate and cocoa, great fruit, purity and intensity, a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel and elegance and finesse. Already evolved, complex and delicious, it should continue to drink well for a decade or more. This is an estate where the 2008 may actually eclipse the 2007.

VM 92 (5/2011): (55% merlot, 27% cabernet sauvignon and 18% malbec): Ruby-red. Plum, dark chocolate and licorice on the nose, plus a whiff of woodsmoke. Lush and sweet, with a distinctly glyceral texture and attractive gravelly lift to the dark raspberry and tobacco flavors. The tannins arrive late, allowing the wine to expand on the aftertaste. I like this. Stephen Tanzer.

2009

$65

VM 93 (12/2011): The 2009 Firebelle is 53% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc. Dark red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice are some of the many notes that emerge from this impeccable, totally classy wine. It can be enjoyed now, but there is more than enough freshness to allow the wine to age gracefully for a number of years. Darker notes of tar and iron add considerable depth and muscle to the finish. Antonio Galloni.

2010

$95

VM 94 (12/2012): The Merlot-based 2010 Proprietary Red Wine Firebelle boasts stunning depth, power and richness. Black cherries, chocolate, spices and new leather explode from the glass in this deep, resonant wine. There is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine’s big, broad-shouldered frame. This is an especially structured vintage for the Firebelle, partly because the Merlot is the lowest ever. Winemaker Andy Smith did a lot of co-ferments with the 2010 to bring all of the elements together. The 2010 is 42% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. Antonio Galloni.

JS 94 (5/2014): Intense violets, dark chocolate and berries. Licorice. It's full-bodied with super-integrated tannins and a beautiful silky texture. It's long and fresh. A blend of 42% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 13% malbec, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc.

2011

$75

VM 89 (5/2014): Bright, full red-ruby. Musky currant, cherry, menthol and tobacco leaf aromas are slightly dulled by a whiff of nutty oak. More vibrant in the mouth than on the nose, offering currant, plum, mocha, milk chocolate and tobacco leaf flavors accented by a peppery herbal quality that runs through the wine. Shows a rather suave texture and a light dusting of tannins. Larkmead did not bottle its "reserve" wines in 2011 (LMV Salon and Solari) owing to the difficult vintage conditions here. Stephen Tanzer.

2011

Nicked Capsule

$75

2012

$95

WA 96 (10/2014): Living up to its barrel tasting notes, the 2012 Proprietary Red Firebelle (54% Merlot, 21% Malbec, 13% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon) was aged 18 months in 62% French oak. Sweet blackcurrant, blackberry, licorice, chocolate and loamy soil notes are followed by a savory, expansive, opulent, dense yet approachable and exuberant wine. It is best consumed over the next 12-15 years.

VM 91 (12/2014): Larkmead's 2012 Firebelle is a dark, voluptuous beauty. Black fruit, spices, plums, mocha, licorice and leather meld together in an intense, powerful wine bursting at the seams with intensity and power. With time in the glass, the 2012 finds a bit more focus and finesse. Rose petals, mint, mocha, lavender, and cinnamon are layered into the finish in a striking Firebelle to drink now and over the next 15 years, give or take. (Drink between 2017-2031). Antonio Galloni.

2013

$92

WA 94 (10/2015): The 2013 Firebelle Proprietary Red is a blend of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine shows loads of roasted espresso notes mixed with white chocolate, plum, black cherry and currant. The wine is ripe, opulent, full-bodied and a very sexy, lush example of 2013 to drink over the next 15 or more years.

2014

$100

VM 94 (12/2016): The 2014 Firebelle, Larkmead's Merlot-based wine, is terrific. Succulent black cherry, lavender, mint and dark spices infuse this pliant, creamy wine. Expressive savory and mineral-infused notes punctuate the finish. The tannins need time to soften, but there is plenty to like and look forward to. Antonio Galloni.

2015

$100

VM 90 (4/2018): The 2015 Firebelle shows the challenges of the growing season in its slightly roasted flavor profile and brooding, potent tannins. Just as it was from barrel, the Firebelle is decidedly virile. More importantly, the tannins feel not fully ripe. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 gains more polish over time. I have my doubts. Antonio Galloni.

JD 93 (12/2017): The Merlot-dominated cuvee of the estate is the 2015 Firebelle and it checks in as 71% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. It offers a terrific bouquet of black cherries, leafy herbs, lavender, and dried violets, medium to full body, loads of minerality, and a fresh, focused, beautifully balanced style. It’s ideal for drinking over the coming 15 years. Located north of Saint Helena and pulling all from their estate vineyard located around the winery, owner Cam Baker and winemaker Dan Petroski have produced some true superstars in 2015. These are ripe, full-bodied, majestic, yet structured wines that are going to age beautifully. There’s been a distinct stylistic shift with the 2016s, which were harvest far in advance of when most were harvesting, and the wines are certainly still beautiful, yet more tannic, backward, and angular. They’ll be beautiful wines, but certainly in a different style than previous vintages.

2017

$69

VM 92 (1/2020): The 2017 Firebelle, Larkmead's Merlot-based wine, is laced with sweet red cherry, spice, mint, cedar, tobacco and orange peel. Medium in body, silky and nicely lifted, the 2017 is decidedly understated for Larkmead. I would prefer to drink it over the next handful of years, give or take, because of its mid-weight structure. Antonio Galloni.

2018

$90

VM 92 (1/2021): The 2018 Firebelle (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon) is gracious and beautifully lifted in the glass. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, cedar and tobacco are all laced together in this attractive, mid-weight red. This is an unusually elegant, restrained style for Calistoga, where the wines are often bigger. Savory Cabernet aromatics and the bright acids of 2018 linger. Antonio Galloni.

2019

$99

JD 92 (5/2022): The 2019 Firebelle is based on 57% Cabernet Sauvignon with 43% Merlot, all of which was raised 18 months in 67% new French oak. It has a Bordeaux-inspired nose of darker cherries and currants as well as leather, tobacco, and damp earth. I love it on the palate, where it’s medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity, and silky tannins. Drink this seamless, elegant, yet still pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 10-15 years.

VM 92 (1/2022): The 2019 Firebelle is fragrant and light on its feet. Crushed raspberry, cedar, tobacco and flowers lend lovely aromatic top notes to this gentle yet flavorful red blend. This is an especially savory style for the Firebelle. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Antonio Galloni.

2006

$109

WA 95+ (12/2008): Equally prodigious are the 800 cases of 2006 LMV Salon Proprietary Red, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the rest the other three Bordeaux varietals (Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot). Spicy, chocolatey espresso roast notes intermixed with spring flowers and a hint of bay leaf are followed by a full-bodied wine with oodles of black currant and cherry fruit. The sweetness of the tannins, the breadth and savory mouthfeel, as well as the layered texture, make for an exceptional glass of sumptuous wine. It should drink nicely for 15+ years.

VM 91 (8/2019): Good dark red-ruby. Less high-toned than the '06 Solari. Aromas of black raspberry, dark cherry, mocha and licorice show less of the spicy high tones of the '06 Solari. In a rather powerful style, like the Solari, with dark fruit, graphite and licorice flavors dominating. Here the tannins come across as a bit rough but still supported by the wine's strong fruit and extract. Less suave than the Solari but softened considerably with aeration, showing an attractive sweetness and emerging soil tones. (15.5% alcohol) (Drink between 2019-2029). Stephen Tanzer.

2008

$99

VM 93+ (5/2011): (a blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 18% cabernet franc and 9% each merlot, malbec and petit verdot): Ruby-red. Distinctly gravelly aromas of plum, minerals, menthol and tobacco. Dense but bright and high-pitched, with lively black fruit and bitter chocolate flavors complicated by licorice and flowers. Really conveys the energy of the best 2008s.

2009

$145

WA 95+ (12/2012): Larkmead’s 2009 Proprietary Red Wine LMV Salon is distinguished for its centeredness, focus and minerality. Graphite, smoke, plums, red cherries and tobacco are all woven together beautifully here. The 2009 is rich, layered and sensual, but with more than enough structure to support aging. Sweet floral notes and a burst of juicy red berries add complexity on the finish. The 2009 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 16% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.

VM 94 (5/2012): (63% cabernet sauvignon, 16% each cabernet franc and malbec, and 5% merlot; aged in 77% new oak): Bright ruby-red. Minerally, gravelly aromas of blackcurrant, graphite, licorice and sexy toasty oak. Sweet, suave and utterly seamless on the palate but at the same time juicy and well-delineated. Very long, building, chocolatey finish shows powerful but well-integrated dusty tannins. Both this wine and the 2009 Solari were made from crop levels in the range of two tons per acre, according to winemaker Andy Smith. Stephen Tanzer.

2010

$159

VM 94+ (5/2013): (78% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 9% petit verdot; 69% new oak): Bright medium ruby. Very ripe but pure aromas of cassis, licorice and beefsteak tomato lifted by dried thyme and a floral note. Very full, dense and fine-grained but perfumed and gripping too, with subtly complex, very fine-grained flavors of sweet dark berries, flowers, tobacco and fresh herbs Most impressive today on the slowly mounting, very long finish, which displays substantial but noble tannins and terrific verve. Smith noted the "effortless vine balance" of the fruit that went into this wine and the Solari.

WA 94 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red LMV Salon (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot) possesses a European-styled structure imposed on its white chocolate, black currant, cedarwood and Christmas fruitcake notes. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine reveals abundant aromas, rich fruit and a medium to full-bodied, youthful, firmly structured finish. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

2012

$100

WA 94 (10/2014): The fabulous 2012 Proprietary Red LMV Salon is a 1,090-case blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Cabernet Franc. It reveals a refined nose of mulberries, blueberries, raspberries, spring flowers and forest floor. A dense, ripe, opulent, medium to full-bodied 2012, I rated it slightly lower than last year from barrel because it seems somewhat closed. Give it another 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15+ years.

VM 93+ (8/2019): Good dark red. Redcurrant, cherry, mocha and spices on the nose. In a powerful style like the 2012 Solari but creamier and more luscious, perhaps due in part to the addition of 33% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage for the estate to this point. This wine really fills the mouth while avoiding heaviness. Finishes very long and nicely delineated, with harmonious tannins. As with the 2012 Solari, total polyphenols were considerably lower than in most recent vintages, but none of these wines lack for tannic support. (15.4% alcohol) (Drink between 2022-2035). Stephen Tanzer.

2013

$139

WA 97 (10/2015): The 2013 Proprietary Red LMV Salon, which is a proprietary red of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Cabernet Franc, is stunning. The Cabernet Franc seems to give this wine a tremendous fragrance, as the opaque purple color offers notes of cedar wood, underbrush, forest floor and spring flowers along with creme de cassis and black cherries. With a full body, ripe texture and moderately high tannins, this wine will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep 30-35 years.

2013

$159

2014

$125

WA 95 (10/2016): Even more prodigious is the 2014 LMV Salon. Composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc from the sandy Bale Loam soils of the 110 acres Larkmead possesses, it is a bigger boy at 14.9% alcohol but shows lots of crushed rock and wet gravel minerality, a beautiful, cedary, blackcurrant nose with notes of forest floor, allspice and soy, with more blackberry on the palate as well as some savory herbs and spice. Hints of licorice also make an appearance in this broad, fleshy, juicy and succulent style of wine meant for drinking now and over the next 20 years.

VM 94+ (8/2019): Full ruby-red. Wonderfully complex nose melds red fruits and dried herbs, with the floral Cabernet Franc element adding aromatic lift. Concentrated and sharply delineated, with its very pure red fruit, spice and floral flavors displaying a restrained sweetness. Really lovely depth of flavor here. Finishes with firm, spreading tannins that avoid coming off as dry. This wine is the highest in total polyphenols of all of the LMV Salon vintages but does not come across as overly tannic. Very impressive! Winemaker Petroski added that 2014 and 2013 yielded wines with "the biggest tannins," noting that the '14s "may have more energy." (15.3% alcohol) (Drink between 2024-2037). Stephen Tanzer.

2015

$170

VM 92+ (8/2019): Bright medium ruby. Muskier and less exuberant on the nose than the 2015 Solari; a bit lower-toned. Shows excellent punch if not quite the personality and early sex appeal of the Solari, with its plum and spice flavors underpinned by minerality. Not quite the early balance of the Solari, as the wine's serious spine of acids and tannins will require patience. Ultimately a bit drier on the back half. Stephen Tanzer.

JD 94+ (12/2017): A blend of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 LMV Salon is a cuvee that’s moving towards being a Cabernet Franc-dominated release as the estate plants more Cabernet Franc. Cassis, spring flowers, chocolate and a rocky, river bottom-like earthiness all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated, tannic 2015 that has exceptional purity and a great finish. Give bottle 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.

2016

LMV Salon Proprietary Blend (1.5 L)

$139

VM 95 (12/2018): The 2016 LMV Salon is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Rose petal, mint, sweet red cherry and espresso open up in a very pretty, aromatically expressive wine. Cabernet Franc takes the leading role in the LMV Salon in 2016, and that comes through very nicely here. Bright, vibrant and full of character, the 2016 hits all the right notes. What a gorgeous wine it is.

2016

Lightly Bin-Soiled Label; Lightly Scuffed Label

$275

2017

$109

WA 92 (12/2019): A blend of 52% Cabernet Franc and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new French oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 LMV Salon (White Label) has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and is scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh blackcurrants, kirsch and black raspberries with touches of bouquet garni, forest floor, charcoal and black olive. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with ripe red and black fruits and a firm, rugged texture, possessing just enough freshness to deliver a long, earth-laced finish. 470 cases were made.

VM 92+ (1/2020): Cabernet Franc, with its bright, high-toned aromatics, takes the lead in the 2017 LMV Salon. Sweet dried red cherry, mint, tobacco and wild flowers are all nicely lifted throughout. Supple and racy with tons of immediacy, the 2017 is already inviting, although it will develop more nuance with time in bottle. Even just a bit of air brings out an attractive fleshiness. Antonio Galloni.

2017

$119

2018

$129

VM 93 (1/2021): The 2018 LMV Salon, Larkmead's Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is terrific. Black cherry, mocha, spice, new leather, licorice and lavender infuse the 2018 with striking depth and character while remaining very much in the style of the year at Larkmead. Bright acids perk things up nicely. This is such a pretty wine. Antonio Galloni.

2019

$129

VM 94 (1/2022): The 2019 LMV Salon is a powerful, savory wine. A blast of black cherry, herb, spice, leather and mocha flavors hits the palate. In the 2019, the LMV has plenty of brawny tannin, so a few years in bottle seems advisable. I can't wait to see how it ages. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.

WA 94+ (11/2021): A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2019 LMV Salon bursts with bold scents of crème de cassis and blueberry preserves, plus underlying notes of wild sage, camphor and pencil shavings and a waft of raspberry leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the vibrant red berry palate is tightly knit with fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

JD 93 (5/2022): The 2019 LMV Salon started out slightly closed and reticent yet opened up nicely with air, offering plenty of dark fruits, chocolate, tobacco and leafy herb notes. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Cabernet Franc, this medium to full-bodied, ripe, incredibly charming effort has some coarser tannins yet still brings lots of fruit and texture. Give it a few years. (Drink starting 2024).

2011

Napa Valley Red Wine

$79

2012

Napa Valley Red Wine

$50

2008

$155

WA 96 (12/2010): Made from 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot (550 cases), the prodigious 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari Reserve is an opaque purple-colored, multidimensional wine displaying silky sweet tannin along with copious quantities of blackberry, creme de cassis, crushed rock, licorice and camphor characteristics. Powerful yet elegant with layers of depth, this is a wine of great nuance, complexity and nobility. A dead-ringer for the compelling 2007, the 2008 should drink well for 20-25 years or more.

VM 93 (8/2019): Healthy dark ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, dark raspberry, coffee and violet reminded me of a wine from Saint-Emilion. Not large-scaled but intensely flavored and suave, with its dark berry and dried cranberry flavors accented by Vermouth-like herbal complexity. This wine delivers the creaminess of the vintage's better examples. Finishes with smooth, nicely buffered tannins that saturate the teeth. Easygoing and perfect to drink now, this wine should go on for a while on its balance and underlying gravelly minerality. Two thousand eight is a perfect example of how this hot site can excel in less-heralded vintages. (15.2% alcohol; 4.01 pH) (Drink between 2019-2028). Stephen Tanzer.

2009

$159

VM 93 (8/2019): Dark red with ruby tones. Aromas of black raspberry, kirsch, mocha and graphite are lifted by a strong floral topnote and complicated by some oaky torrefaction. Plush, rich and deep, with its concentrated black fruit flavors currently muted by a medicinal menthol element. Plenty of texture and sweetness here but the wine is in a somewhat monolithic stage today. The building tannins currently cut off the wine's fruit a bit on the slightly aggressive finish. This bottle suffered by being tasted after the pair of 2010s but its underlying rocky minerality suggests that there's much more to come. Incidentally, Larkmead finished harvesting by the end of September in 2009 and thus escaped the impact of the rainstorms in early October. Stephen Tanzer.

WA 94 (1/2020): Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari charges out of the gate with bold black fruit preserves, notes of blackberry compote, crème de cassis and dried mulberries plus underlying notes of mossy tree bark, tilled soil, camphor and tobacco leaf plus a hint of spice box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rugged frame of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing on a lingering stewed tea note.

2010

$169

WA 96 (10/2013): The compelling 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) boasts an opaque purple color as well as notes of black currants, licorice, graphite and charcoal, sweet black fruits on the entry, and hints of pen ink and toast. The terrific aromatics are followed by a textured, multidimensional wine with a 45-second finish. As the wine sits in the glass, aromas of crushed rock and spice box also emerge. This complex, intriguing effort should drink well for 25+ years.

VM 96 (5/2020): Good dark red-ruby. Knockout nose melds black raspberry, mocha, licorice and sexy soil tones, with some very ripe suggestions leavened by dried sage and lavender nuances. Wonderfully sweet yet fresh, with its plush, fine-grained flavors of raspberry, cherry, plum and mocha given shape by perfectly integrated acidity. Finishes with firm but harmonious tannins and terrific rising length. The wine's sweetness is nicely buffered on the back end by an impression of medicinal reserve, but more in a red cherry way than black. This wine was tightly wound when I originally tasted it from bottle but it's evolving beautifully and could provide great pleasure now with some aeration. Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon, and a beautiful expression of its site. Incidentally, the winery did not produce their special top-of-the-line Lark bottling in 2010 as yields were so low, so that juice went into the Solari. Harvested on October 13. (Drink between 2020-2039). Stephen Tanzer.

2012

$209

WA 99 (10/2014): The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari (100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 70% new French oak) is even better than I thought last year. This spectacular wine boasts notes of white chocolate, hot gravel, crème de cassis, blackberries, licorice and forest floor. A subtle smoky barbecue character is noticeable in the background. This is a thrilling, full-bodied, majestic Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 25-30 years, although its tannic structure suggests cellaring it for 2-5 years will be beneficial.

2013

$179

JD 96+ (10/2023): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is clearly on another level, and it too has more than a passing resemblance to a great Bordeaux with its darker currant fruits as well as notes of truffly earth, saddle leather, burning embers, dark chocolate, and smoked tobacco. Deep, powerful, concentrated, and structured, it still has plenty of tannins, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a gorgeous finish. Still closed and almost angular, it probably won't hit full maturity for another 5-7 years.

VM 94+ (8/2019): Deep red-ruby. Pure if somewhat brooding scents of raspberry, currant, licorice and tobacco. Concentrated and tightly wound, showing darker mid-palate fruit than the 2014 Solari as well as considerable power. But there's no shortage of sweetness here. This beauty spreads out to saturate the palate without leaving any impression of heaviness. The red fruit element returns on the ripely tannic finish, which displays lovely retronasal lift, belying its very high pH. This should last very well. Winemaker Petroski described 2013 as "the granddaddy of all vintages, with no soil stress, no heat spikes, no Indian summer." He summarized: "We made our most powerful wines ever." This wine was the highest in total polyphenols of all of the bottles in my double vertical and yet its huge tannins are remarkably integrated. Stephen Tanzer.

WA 96 (10/2015): The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari, which is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot (945 cases), is a huge, massive wine of great intensity, coiled tightly at present, but with high tannins, formidable extract and unlimited upside potential. This is a real connoisseur’s choice, since it needs a good 5-8 years of bottle age. This is a monster effort from the valley floor and should be respected appropriately. Forget it for now. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2035+.

2014

$189

WA 99 (10/2016): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari, which is again 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, flirts with perfection. It spent 20 months in 80% new French oak and hails from their Cortina Gravel and clay sectors of the vineyard. They made 793 cases of this compelling wine, which offers great freshness and energy, profound depth of flavor, an opaque black/purple color, and oodles of pure crème de cassis and blackberry fruit intermixed with incense, charcoal and white flowers. It’s a stunner to drink now and over the next three decades.

JD 98+ (12/2017): The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is flat out awesome. Always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 20 months in 80% new French oak, this ripe, sexy, multi-dimensional beauty boasts a deep, saturated purple color as well as layers of plum and cassis fruit intermixed with lots of cedar, spice-cabinet, spring flowers and earth. Possessing full-bodied richness, an expansive, layered texture, incredible depth and a ripe, yet building tannin, it can be enjoyed anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.

VM 92+ (8/2019): Lucid red-ruby. Sexy aromas of brambly raspberry, clove and tobacco are lifted and enlivened by notes of flowers and mint. Then densely packed and sweet, offering palate-saturating flavors of dark fruits and smoky herbs. This very long, lively wine finishes with integrated, building tannins that turned a bit dustier with air. Winemaker Petroski noted that the warm nights during the summer of 2014 meant that the vines were "constantly moving" and never really shut down. The harvest, he went on, was very early (9/12) but 2015 was even earlier (9/4). (15.3% alcohol) (Drink between 2023-2034). Stephen Tanzer.

2017

$149

VM 94 (1/2020): The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Solari is dark, fleshy and enveloping in feel. Black cherry, plum, tobacco, chocolate, licorice and grilled herbs add myriad shades of complexity, but searing tannins need time in bottle to soften. Pretty floral and savory notes develop in the course of time. The 2017 will reward readers who can wait. Antonio Galloni.

2018