Spring Mountain 2019: top Cabernets from this Napa AVA

Intricate aromas of kirsch, tobacco, potpourri, pine forest, and smoky cedar. Massively powerful and concentrated dark fruit gives buoyancy to this brooding Cabernet. Firm, fine woody tannins lay a solid foundation for a wine that keeps giving through layers of wet river stones, underbrush, herbs, dried currants and walnut husks. A very precise wine with the freshness of a cool, crisp Spring Mountain morning.

Fresh and enticing aromas of plums, cherry, blood orange and toasty oak spices. Expansive on entry with deep saturated black fruit. Full bodied with terrific energy and drive and a rich tapestry of mountain tannins that softens with aeration. A lengthy finish is marked by pipe tobacco, cedar, vanilla and smoke. A beautiful cellar-worthy wine.

The first vintage from consultant winemaker Jean Hoefliger, sourced from a site on top of Spring Mountain. Incredibly fresh nose with beautiful pops of wild sage and chaparral, rich cedar. Immense concentration on the palate, leading with blackberry, cherry and plum , plus a sprinkling of cocoa powder. Powerful mountain tannins are already nicely integrated.

Aromas of mountain herbs, black fruits, sagebrush and crushed stones. Saturated black fruit floods the palate teeming with chocolate and baking spices all supported by fine-grained, silky tannins. There is power and longevity in this beautifully layered red.

Heady aromas of black cherry, spiced plum, conifer, wet terracotta and new oak cedar freshness. Plenty of energy and poise on the palate, loaded with fine-grained, cedar-kissed tannins. Layered with red berry fruits, fine tobacco, wild mountain herbs and mouthwatering tangy blood orange citrus notes on a long, spicy finish.

Expressive dark fruit, graphite and cigar box aromas. Pure, rich and fresh palate of ripe blackberries, chalk-like minerality, earth and pops of mint and thyme. Fine-grained tannins and tangy blood orange-like acidity persist to a cocoa-dusted finish. Made by winemaker David Tate, formerly of Ridge Vineyards.

The classic Cabernet from Smith-Madrone may be the best value in the entire Napa Valley at $65. Old World elegance is ever present, along with a generosity of fruit balanced with great savoury herbs and streaking graphite minerality. Aromas of wild anise, pine bough and dried sage rise in the glass, framing dark mountain blueberries and a touch of pomegranate pulp. The palate is classically cool, medium-weight, and lively with an old-school Napa authenticity. Alpine berry fruits, spearmint and earthen umami elements combine with smoky clove and wild mountain scrub, framing a sense of place and mountain terroir from the dry-farmed vines at Smith-Madrone.