2023 Panek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

WSI97 JD96+ The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep purple, almost blue hue as well as an incredibly aromatic nose of sweet cassis and blue fruits intermixed with scorched earth, dark chocolate, and graphite. It’s full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful on the palate, with nicely integrated background oak, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The purity, depth, and length here are sensational, and this powerhouse of a 2023 will take a decade to hit maturity and will be very long-lived. Drink 2032-2062.

WA95 Longtime supplier for several of Thomas Rivers Brown (TRB) projects, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is the first vintage presented to The Wine Advocate for review. Made by TRB, the expressive nose features scents of crushed stone, pencil shavings and almost grapey black cherries, while the palate is rich and expansive, velvety and long on the finish, picking up hints of Mexican chocolate. The vineyard is located on a small knoll north of the town of St. Helena.