Wines from St. Helena

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Merryvale 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Cellar Selection

Price $95

This is a big, ageworthy Cabernet, grown on the winery’s estate vineyard. It’s a real success, a dry, tannic wine of considerable elegance and spicy deliciousness. But it’s too young to drink anytime soon, with a scoury, astringent mouthfeel. Made with a splash of Petit Verdot and Malbec, its core of sour candy blackberries and black cherries needs at least five… — S.H. (11/1/2011)

points

Ehlers Estate 2007 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Price $95

This is the winery’s top bottling from the estate vineyard, off Highway 29 in St. Helena. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, it shows the variety’s blackberry and cherry flavors, with notes of violets and milk chocolate. New oak to the tune of 70% adds a rich, caramelly smokiness. Very delicious, and should develop for a few years, although the softness limits longterm… — S.H. (11/1/2010)

points

Ehlers Estate 2007 Merlot (St. Helena)

Editors' Choice
Online Exclusive

Price $45

A spectacular Merlot that could help resurrect this variety’s reputation. It’s as complex as anything from Napa, but is softer and more accessible than a Cabernet Sauvignon, which constitutes 8% of the blend. Shows ripe flavors of red cherry pie filling, raspberries and cola, almost like a Pinot Noir, except for the black currants that must come from the Cab, and… — S.H. (11/1/2010)

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Veedercrest 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Cellar Selection

Price $85

All the parts are here for this Cabernet to be seriously good after, say, 2014. It’s dry and firm in tannins, and the sweet blackberry and cherry fruit has an earthy edge of herbs and green olives. If you drink it now, give it a few hours in the decanter. — S.H. (12/1/2011)

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PerryMoore 2008 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Price $125

This is a lush, heady wine that’s full bodied and dry, with massive black cherry, red currant, bacon and cedar flavors. The tannins are thick but smooth, making the wine drinkable now, although it will certainly develop through 2020. There’s a pleasant tartness throughout that makes it especially friendly with well-marbled beef. — S.H. (5/1/2013)

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Conn Creek 2008 Collins Holystone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Price $60

Made from 100% Cabernet grown on the valley floor north of St. Helena, this shows ripe, velvety flavors of blackberry jam, cassis and dark chocolate, wrapped into firm but soft tannins, with a pleasing warmth from the alcohol. Drink over the next four years. — S.H. (11/1/2012)

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Salvestrin 2005 Salvestrin Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Price $58

A beautiful young Cab that continues Salvestrin’s unbroken track record of the last several years. Dry and rich in tannins, it shows enormously concentrated fruit flavors of currants, blackberries, black cherries, mocha and spice. Gorgeous now, and should improve over the next decade. — S.H. (12/31/2008)

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Beringer 1998 St. Helena Home Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena)

Price $80

Almost indistinguishable from Beringer’s Chabot bottling, perhaps a bit more aromatic and softer in tannins. Flavors range from cassis and black cherry through dark chocolate and dill. Drinkable now with rich foods, but will gain in sweetness and complexity with a few years of cellaring. — S.H. (11/15/2003)

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Italian White Merlot Petit Verdot Petite Sirah Red Blend Rhône-style Red Blend Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Zinfandel

Most Reviewed Wineries

Anomaly Ballentine Beringer Charnu Conn Creek David Fulton Ehlers Estate Joseph Phelps Raymond Rockledge Vineyards Salvestrin Trinchero

2011 Gauthier Los Chamizal Vineyard

Expensive, but aims for a Zinfandel touchdown and largely succeeds. With…

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