Top Rated 1997 Napa Cabernets

92(+?) points. Full ruby-red. Expressive nose combines black raspberry, currant, black cherry, chocolate, tobacco and sandalwood. Lush and sweet but fresh, with a firm edge of acidity giving shape to the flavors. Big and ... more

92(+?) points. Full ruby-red. Expressive nose combines black raspberry, currant, black cherry, chocolate, tobacco and sandalwood. Lush and sweet but fresh, with a firm edge of acidity giving shape to the flavors. Big and mouthfilling but not at all heavy. The tannins are suave and fine. A bit dominated by the oak today. This wine is virtually always in an awkward stage about six months after the bottling, says Bart Araujo, although I recall that the '96 was atypically showy a year ago.

93(+?) points. Very good deep ruby-red. Superripe aromas of crystallized red berries, cassis, graphite and grilled nuts. Lush, sweet and minerally; already displays compelling inner-mouth complexity and superb delineation... more

93(+?) points. Very good deep ruby-red. Superripe aromas of crystallized red berries, cassis, graphite and grilled nuts. Lush, sweet and minerally; already displays compelling inner-mouth complexity and superb delineation. Youthful fruit flavors show less of the meaty quality that characterized some recent vintages of this wine. Very strong underlying backbone. The wine's lovely sweetness carries through to the very long finish, which features dusty, even tannins.

96 points. Saturated deep ruby. Extraordinarily deep nose features black raspberry, black cherry, smoke and leather. Great explosive middle is at once broodingly deep and incredibly sweet, without being overly roasted: fl... more

96 points. Saturated deep ruby. Extraordinarily deep nose features black raspberry, black cherry, smoke and leather. Great explosive middle is at once broodingly deep and incredibly sweet, without being overly roasted: flavors of chocolate-covered cherries and maple syrup dominate. Just enough balancing acidity to give brightness to the wine. The alcohol here is nearly off the charts (in the high 15s), but the wine does not come across as hot. Finishes with melting, soft tannins and incredible sappy length. Critics of this wine will no doubt recommend consumption over the next several years, but this wine may go on and on like a '47 Pomerol. A monument in the making.