The 2021 Founding Brothers is the flagship red from Napa Valley's Cathiard Vineyard, crafted from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, all from vines aged 20-30 years and aged 18 months in mostly medium toast Transais French oak barrels. Exquisite red florals lead the way on this nicely aromatic red, nuanced by savoury wild herbs and pops of liquorice and earth. The palate fruit is on the velvety side, with a medium body feel, great freshness, and a deep vein of ironstone minerals that last through a minute-long finish. That fruit is wonderfully pure and expressive—evoking spiced plums, cherries, and pomegranate—with tannins that feel intricate and super-fine, all woven together nicely and creating a smooth expression throughout.

This is a very transparent and aromatic wine with flowers, currants and citrus character. Some pine needles. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine and caresses your palate. Very fine and beautiful. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Better in two or three years but gorgeous now. Drink or hold.

The 2021 Founding Brothers is brilliant and has a certain Saint Julien-like style in its pure cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, and floral aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied 2021 that's beautifully concentrated, has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and one great finish. This comes from an incredible terroir and is based on 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc. It's slightly more accessible than the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for just as long, given its beautiful balance and harmony.

The 2021 Founding Brothers, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out with showy notes of blackcurrant jelly, plum preserves, and wild blueberries plus hints of cardamom, iron ore, star anise, and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a firm, grainy texture and beautifully knit freshness to support the bright black and blue fruit layers, finishing long and mineral-laced.

(92-95 points) The 2021 Founding Brothers is seriously impressive. Dark, pliant and explosive, with real depth, the 2021 is hugely promising. The intensity, substance and resonance here all suggest a superb wine in the making. -- Antonio Galloni

(93+ points) In effect the second wine of the estate, the 2021 Founding Brothers Red Wine is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc matured roughly 17 months in 50% new French oak, with 20% kept in larger foudres. Faintly leafy notes and a hint of mint appear on the nose, which is otherwise dominated by cherry fruit. In the mouth, this wine is medium to full-bodied but substantially ups the intensity from the 2021 Hora bottling, finishing tart and tight, with mouthwatering length. - Joe Czerwinski

Dark and winey, offering deliciously steeped boysenberry and blackberry fruit flavors laced with hints of tobacco, charcoal, bay and menthol through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2038. - JM