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Martin Ray Wines

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Martin Ray 2007 Synthesis Red (Napa Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $75

A terrific wine, smooth, complex and ageworthy. Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon from Diamond Mountain, it shows mountain intensity of fruit, with a molten core of blackberries and black currants. The tannins are bigtime, yet smooth and refined in the modern style, and the finish is elaborate in fruits and spices. A monument to what this fine winery can achieve at the top… — S.H. (3/1/2012)

Martin Ray 2005 Synthesis Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Price $75

This is the most expensive of Martin Ray’s current releases and it’s easily the best. Dense and layered, it immediately seduces for its softly lush flavors of blackberries, currants, anise, chocolate and sweet smoky oak. Yet it has the tannic complexity to age through 2013 at least. Made from 100% Cab, it’s a blend of their best barrels from Diamond Mountain, Stags… — S.H. (10/1/2009)

Martin Ray 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Diamond Mountain)

Cellar Selection

Price $50

I love this wine for its heft, polish and sheer razzle-dazzle. It wows with fruity intensity and flatters with decadence, yet never loses elegance and harmony. Rich in ripe, sweet tannins, and succulent in cassis, cocoa and smoky new oak flavors, it’s an ager. Drink now through 2015. — S.H. (4/1/2006)

Martin Ray 2006 Synthesis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $75

This is a reserve-style wine crafted from lots sourced from some of the winery’s Napa mountain properties. It’s not showing all that well now, due to hard, jagged tannins. Yet there are promising signs. The oak already is marrying the fruit, resulting in a seamless, smoky sweetness, and the tannins are entirely ripe. Should develop well over the next 6–8 years… — S.H. (9/1/2010)

Martin Ray 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Diamond Mountain)

Online Exclusive

Price $50

Diamond Mountain, rising above St. Helena in the Mayacamas range, always produces very tannic wines, but in the best of cases, such as this Cab, they’re also lush and approachable at a young age. Made from 100% varietal grapes, it’s deep and dense in black currants and chocolate, with forest notes of wild herbs and lavender. New oak provides even richer levels of… — S.H. (10/1/2009)

Martin Ray 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District)

Price $40

This is the first Stags Leap wine I’ve ever had from Martin Ray, who’s been making Cabs from many other appellations for years. It’s also one of the best Cabs the winery has ever produced. Exceptionally ripe and well-oaked to surround blackberry, blueberry, cherry and currant pie filling flavors, it’s a softly beautiful, complex wine that’s gorgeous now, and should… — S.H. (11/1/2007)

Martin Ray 2002 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Cellar Selection

Price $60

A worthy followup to the 2001, it’s not as voluptuous, but is better structured and is likely more ageworthy. The wine is tannic, but balanced and rich in Cabernet fruit. It has that edge of elegant complexity that marks a great wine. Drink now–2015. — S.H. (9/1/2006)

Martin Ray 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Price $60

I love this Cab for its dryness, richness and balance. It’s a lovely wine, poised between thick tannins, crisp acids, ripe blackberry fruit and ample new oak, but it is young. As polished as it is now, it should soften and sweeten with a few years of bottle age. Best 2007–2010. — S.H. (2/1/2007)

Most Reviewed Varietals [All]

Bordeaux-style Red Blend Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Gewürztraminer Merlot Pinot Grigio/Gris Pinot Noir Red Blend Riesling Rosé Sauvignon Blanc Shiraz/Syrah Zinfandel