A killer bottle of Napa Valley magic, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Merus is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. It's a powerful, full-bodied, uber-ripe beauty that stays lively and balanced, with beautiful blue fruits, as well as smoked tobacco, chocolate, and scored earth-like aromas and flavors. A beast of a wine with a great mid-palate and velvety tannins, it should shed its considerable baby fat over the coming 4-6 years and have two decades of overall longevity.

Still tight and unevolved, Merus's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon wraps blueberry and cassis fruit in a sheath of 100% new French oak. Sourced primarily from Coombsville (but labeled as Napa Valley), it's full-bodied and concentrated, firmly structured enough to suggest cellaring for at least a few years, with a dusting of fine-grained tannins lingering on the long finish. Despite a labeled alcohol of 15.8%, it doesn't come across as hot or unbalanced, a remarkable achievement.

Ripe, fresh and very direct, with a mix of red and black currant preserves laced with violet, roasted alder and licorice and backed by a subtle earthy note through the finish. On the toasted side, but has ample fruit for balance. Best from 2023 through 2036. 725 cases made.