Bordeaux Varietal Reds Featuring Château Lafite Rothschild, Opus One, and Kapcsándy

Silver Trident Playing With Fire layers blackberry, dark raspberry, cherry and blueberry with mint, cardamom, clove and molasses in a richly spiced red blend.

Forest floor, bell pepper and mushroom aromas open to dark chocolate and blue fruit. Firm, rounded tannins frame this Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc, carrying its savory character through a juicy, persistent finish.

92pt - Wine Enthusiast. Spiced cherry, plum compote, licorice and mint lead into candied raspberry, strawberry and milk chocolate. Plush tannins and soft acidity carry a long finish lifted by pithy orange.

93pt - Wine Enthusiast. Perfumed and mature, this organic Cahors Malbec layers ripe black fruit over rich texture and fully balanced tannins. Mineral depth and polished structure carry the wine into a lingering finish.

Plum, currant and anise lead into black cherry and dried cranberry, with mixed-berry richness, soft silky tannins and bright acidity shaping this full-bodied Sonoma Valley Bordeaux blend and its savory finish.

Firestone Cabernet Franc layers cassis, raspberry and graphite with pepper, tobacco, red plum and pomegranate over fresh acidity and ribbons of silky tannin.

The 2016 Twomey Soda Canyon Ranch Merlot shows a ruby color with garnet rim, black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla and spice aromas, a silky entry, layered mid-palate texture, refined tannins and a bright, integrated finish.

Crushed red berries, cherry cola and sage lead into ripe cherry, raspberry and plum, accented by milk chocolate, baking spice and French oak. Silky texture, fine tannins and fresh acidity carry a long, graceful finish.

The 2021 Foley Johnson Handmade Petit Verdot is a rare standalone Rutherford expression of the varietal, showing deep color, dark cherry, violet, sage, plum compote, cedar, vanilla, roasted coffee, and firm tannins.

94pt - Decanter. Ripe dark fruit, fine oak and subtle leather open into an ample, supple palate, with firm balanced tannins and polished Saint-Emilion structure.

Deerfield’s Bensi Vineyard Cabernet shows Moon Mountain depth, layering blackberry and cassis with cocoa, cedar and savory spice over polished mountain tannins.

Tara Bella’s 2021 Clone 4 Reserve Cabernet comes from the family’s six-acre Russian River Valley estate. Clone 4, also called Mendoza, is estate-grown and estate-made in a limited-production Reserve bottling.

93pt - James Suckling. Blackberry, black olive, violet and sandalwood shape a soft, juicy palate. Round, creamy tannins lead to a delicious finish lifted by a fresh touch of mint.

The 2022 Lambert Bridge Cabernet Franc draws from five vineyards across four Sonoma County appellations and includes three Bordeaux varieties. Layers of ripe fruit and spice rest in a gentle oak frame with poised balance.

Rated 97 points by James Suckling, the 2023 Napanook is a Yountville / Napa Valley Bordeaux-style red composed of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. It shows blueberry, ash, stones, blackberry, orange peel, chocolate, cedar and polished tannins. Use "red wine" or "Bordeaux-style red" rather than calling it straight Cabernet Sauvignon.

Edict's 2023 Napa Valley Proprietary Red layers brambly blackberry and cherry over a rich, supple palate. Rounded black-fruit flavors carry generous weight, balanced by lively acidity and a persistent herbal edge.

The 2019 Pangloss Optimism is a Moon Mountain Bordeaux blend built around ripe black fruit, plum and cassis. Cedar, cocoa and savory mountain herbs add detail, while rounded tannins and fresh acidity give the generous fruit a polished, balanced shape.

96+ points — Jeb Dunnuck. A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, offering black cherry, floral aromas, incense and earthy spice. Elegant yet structured, with ripe tannins and a persistent finish.

100pt - Jane Anson. Opus One layers rose petal, iris and peony with cumin, sage and white pepper. Supple, chalky tannins frame hidden power through a precise, concentrated yet delicate and elegant finish.

100pt - Jeb Dunnuck. Blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry meet graphite, cocoa and tobacco, with velvety tannins, exceptional balance and layered Pauillac depth.