Red Blend of the Year

Joseph Phelps, 2003 Insignia, 30th Anniversary, Napa Valley – $165: The current vintage of Insignia continues an impressive record for this Bordeaux-style blend of cabernet sauvignon (84%), petit verdot (10%) and three percent each merlot and malbec from estate-owned vineyards in Stags Leap District, Rutherford and St. Helena. Slow-to-open nose exhibits blackberry-black cherry fruit, dried lavender, mocha and espresso bean. Rich and supple on the palate with medium-full tannins and balancing acidity, the wine delivers layered flavors that replicate the nose, enhanced by Insignia’s signature fruitcake-like spice and sweet oak. Finishes long and graceful. Bottled unfiltered, the wine is best decanted for near-term consumption.

Top Ten Red Blends of the Year

Chateau St. Jean, 2003 Cinq Cepages, Sonoma County – $75: A classy blend of all five Bordeaux varieties – cabernet (78%) leads the way, followed by merlot (10%), cab franc (7%), malbec (3%) and petit verdot (2%) – that offers enticing aromas of mocha, black cherry-boysenberry fruit, dried herbs and a hint of leather. On the palate, the wine is lush and elegant with medium tannins and copious flavors focusing on ripe blackberry accented by notes of red plum, blueberry, dried lavender and espresso bean. Silky smooth and seamless with flavor-enhancing acidity and a long, fruity finish.

Constant, 2002 Estate Claret, Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Diamond Mountain District – $50: A merlot-driven mountain blend (78% merlot, 22% cabernet) with a lovely perfume of ripe raspberry-blackberry fruit, a touch of mocha from the mostly new French oak and subtle vanilla. The palate replicates the nose and is densely packed with fruit and beautifully balanced by medium-full tannins and acidity.

M. Cosentino, 2003 Legends Meritage, Napa Valley – $80: Rich blueberry and coffee bean aromas have a defined mintiness. Lively black cherry fruit with a good lick of clove and fresh acidity. Tannins come to life in the somewhat youthful finish.

Fisher, 2003 Cameron, Napa Valley – $50: Perfumed bouquet emitting mocha, plum and maraschino cherry. Silky texture with appealing cherry fruit and chocolate with mineral notes. Lengthy, vibrant close with polished tannins and a lingering sweetness.

J. Lohr, 2002 Cuvee PAU, Paso Robles – $50: Intensely ripe aromas of raspberry, lavender and cassis. Layers of smoky black cherry flavors have a defined sweetness that seems to be a Lohr Cuvee series hallmark. Ripeness continues in the close with the additions of spicy oak and mocha.

Opus One, 2002 Oakville – $165: Exhibiting a complex nose of cassis and dried strawberry, black olive and dried thyme, vanilla bean and chocolate, the 2002 is mostly cabernet (86%) with small percentages of merlot (6%), malbec (3%), cab franc (3%) and petit verdot (2%). Complex and delicious with medium-full tannins, the wine’s flavors of ripe cassis tinged with black cherry, plum and espresso bean are broad and deep, lingering into the extended finish.

Rosenblum, 2003 Holbrook Mitchell Trio, Napa Valley – $32: Made from a trio of varieties – cabernet sauvignon (48%), merlot (32%) and cabernet franc (20%) – grown by Holbrook Mitchell in his hillside vineyard west of Yountville, this elegant yet generous wine offers attractive aromas of cassis and blackberry accented by notes of vanilla and black olive that translate to the palate where rich flavors are enhanced by ripe, fine-grain tannins.

Rubicon, 2002 Rubicon, Rutherford, Napa Valley – $110: Heady, minty aromas of ripe plum, charcoal and fresh croissant. This is a sumptuous Rubicon with ribbons of plum, blueberry and mineral flavors that reflect the ripe 2002 vintage. Extremely accessible; however, the tannins do firm up in the finish.

Swanson, 2003 Alexis, Oakville – $65: An intriguing blend of cabernet (65%) and syrah (25%) with the balance made up of merlot and cab franc. Alexis offers cassis, red plum and blackberry on the nose, and is round and plush in the mouth with complex flavors of cassis, blueberry and blackberry, finishing with a wisp of white smoke.

Von Strasser, 2004 Reserve, Diamond Mountain District – $70: Slow-to-open nose of mocha, cedar, blueberry-black cherry-cassis fruit, accented by notes of vanilla and clove spice. Mouth-filling and luscious with supple, medium-full tannins, this exciting blend (equal parts petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon and ten percent each merlot and cab franc) is generous and rich, fairly bursting with deep, profound flavors of blueberry-tinged cassis and brown spice. Remarkably balanced and elegant with a lingering finish.