Wine Reviews

93

Round Pond 2025 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa Valley ($30)

Powdery vanilla and white tea flowers coat the tongue. Frisky acidity cleanses, while lemon bar and white cherries add fruity charm.

90

Samuel Robert Vineyard 2025 Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé, Willamette Valley ($15)

For those who like it bold, this rosé delivers. Raspberries in cream, red apple, and blood orange on the nose lead to a heady mouthfeel and plenty of sweet black cherry balanced by a hint of cherry bark on the finish.

95

Shiloh 2021 Mosaic, Judean Hills, Israel ($80)

Layers of flavors unite for this “mosaic” of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 19% Petit Verdot, and 7% Cabernet Franc. Tannins are supple and bathe the palate with dark cherries, blackberries and sweet soil. Flavors linger in a plush, juicy frame.

98

Stags’ Leap Winery 2024 “Vintner’s Select” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($90)

Well-structured with plush tannins, this wine captures intensity and finesse. With small amounts of Malbec and Petite Sirah, the wine is silky, with a demeanor of impactful grace. Flavors of chocolate-cherry, cinnamon rhubarb, and lavender mint melt across the palate. With a fine acid structure, it demonstrates youthful vigor and freshness.

93

Sterling 2023 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($60)

Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Franc add depth, color, and ripeness to this 89% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wild blackberries surround clove and cigar leaf. Sandalwood sparked with white pepper and red tea is tempered with robust yet velvety tannins, contributing to the wine’s strong framework and inviting texture. Youthful and focused.

94

Tablas Creek 2024 Côtes de Tablas, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($40)

Spiced, cured meats and vibrant Morello cherries, mocha, and salted plum revel on a platform of chalky minerality. Tilled soil and raspberries are streamlined on the vibrant finish.

94

Tablas Creek 2025 Patelin de Tablas Rosé, Paso Robles ($28)

Spiced apricots and a pinch of salted celery address the profile of this blend of 71% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, 5% Vermentino, and 3% Counoise. Intense acidity and a flinty middle are linear against a backdrop of opulent peach and peanut brittle richness.

95

Tablas Creek 2025 Vermentino, Adelaida District, Paso Robles ($35)

With the juicy sumptuousness of peach nectar and the dry mouthfeel of flint, the spectacular combination of texture and flavor is exhibited in this 13% abv white. Lemon verbena adds zing on mid-palate, but the acidity level and the liquid’s electric energy steers the ship to a focused finish.