(96-98 points) The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard looks even better from barrel than the 2019 from bottle, with balanced, harmonious scents of graham crackers, blueberries and cassis on the nose. It's full-bodied but supple, smooth and almost silky in feel without being soft. Winemaker Russell Bevan has done a better job managing the tannins this vintage, leading into a long, intense, licorice-tinged finish.

From a truly great vineyard on Pritchard Hill, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard offers up a full-bodied, rich, powerful, classic Bevan style in its cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as ample mountain tannin and minerality. Inky-hued, concentrated, yet beautifully balanced, with integrated background oak, this needs to be forgotten for 3-4 years and will shine over the following two decades.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Melanson Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes charging out with powerful scents of black cherries, boysenberry preserves, and blackcurrant cordial followed by hints of camphor, graphite, and cumin seed. The full-bodied palate has a sturdy foundation of firm tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the generous black fruits, finishing long and layered. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown