Wine Enthusiast
93
"Brightened by red cherries and cinnamon in the aromas and flavors, this wine offers everything in good balance. Light tannins and a nip of acidity support its ripe red- and black-cherry flavors that are accented subtly with baking spices from oak aging."
Vinous
94
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Davies Estate, from the property on Diamond Mountain, is one of the most distinctive wines in this ever growing range. Power and deep, the 2019 is a beautifully layered Cabernet that opens nicely in the glass, showing a compelling mix of dark fruit and more mineral/savory undertones. The Davies Estate is a Cabernet of real stature done in a style that is all about virile intensity."
Vinous
94-96
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Jamie is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. It offers up copious blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, licorice and sweet spices. There is plenty of textural richness, but also a fair amount of new oak, something I don't think this wine really needs, as the underlying material is in no way lacking substance.”
jamessuckling.com
92
“Ripe blackcurrants and blackberries, framed notes of sweet vanilla, eucalyptus and chocolate. Full-bodied, soft and mellow. Polished tannins and a rope fruit core with a long finish. Chewy at the end, with a cola undertone.”
jamessuckling.com
93
"A solid, deep red with notes of ripe blackberries and blueberries, as well as touches of fresh violets and iodine. Some hazelnuts and chocolate, too. Full body, fine-grained tannins and a deep, savory-fruit profile. Long finish."
The Tasting Panel
95 Points
Among the fuller and more forthrightly rich of the current lineup of Pinots from Davies, the 2018 Nobles Vineyard bottling is a well-ripened, fairly substantial working with plenty of fruity flesh on its ample structural bones. Despite being easy to taste at the moment, it deserves a rest of at least two or three years before being poured as a partner to the likes of a well-seasoned rack of lamb, and it has the right pieces in place to age effortlessly for a good half-dozen or more.
Wine Spectator
92 Points
Nicely packed with plum, currant and blackberry purée flavors laced with black licorice and framed by a perfectly integrated alder note. Flash of sweet bay in the background, too.
The Tasting Panel
95 Points
The wine speaks of rosebuds and sweet, red cherry on nose and palate. With its down-pillow texture, notes of cinnamon-mocha expresses itself well, intermingling with tomato leaf, red tea, and blue fruit. It’s lightness of being is remarkable.
Wine Spectator
93 Points
A deep reserve of steeped plum, warmed cherry puree and blackberry pâte de fruit notes, with seductive aromas of sweet bay leaf and sassafras. Singed juniper and anise lace the finish as the fruit drives through, with a sleek mineral note.
Vinous
91 Points
Sweet red cherry, plum, tobacco, spice and cedar all meld together in a creamy, resonant Cabernet that has so much to offer. The Napa Valley is a real overachiever in this vintage.
Wine Enthusiast
91 Points
From an ocean-influenced site, this red is earthy and funky, with tremendous structure and concentration. Black tea, rhubarb and blueberry play along a palate of full-bodied intensity and nuanced richness, leading to a fresh, lengthy finish.
Wine Enthusiast
94 Points
Savory earth, cedar and pencil shavings accent a juicy midpalate of black cherry, mocha and black current, with supple, silky tannins wrapping around the palate and adding structure.
The Wine Advocate
93 Points
Deep garnet-purple in color with scents of plum pudding, spice cake and fresh figs with baked black currants, blackberry pie and tilled soil plus a hint of dried sage. The palate is full-bodied, firm and grainy with well played freshness and a mineral edge to the finish.
Wine Spectator
93 Points
This packs in serious juicy plum, blackberry and black currant paste flavors, laced with lively sassafras and sage notes. A singed wood spice accent adds texture and range to the finish. A touch of cellaring will allow this to unwind fully.
Wine Enthusiast
91 Points
A hearty, iron-rich and red-fruited estate wine from the high-elevation mountain, delivers this wine with bold, beautiful layers of complex flavor and texture. Dusty, crushed rock components add to its earthy core. Virginie
Vinous
94 Points
Graphite, plum, smoke, crushed rocks, menthol and licorice meld together in a Cabernet that deftly balances super-ripe fruit with layers of Diamond Mountain savoriness. I especially like the energy here... It is a beguiling Cabernet to enjoy over the next 10-15 years, maybe more.
jamessuckling.com
92 Points
Sweet berry, cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins and a juicy finish. Nice purity throughout.
Wine Spectator
92 Points
Elegant and pure-tasting, with red berry, plum and raspberry flavors that are well-structured. Toasty mid-palate, with a rich finish that offers spicy minerality.
Wine Enthusiast
93 Points
This bold and well concentrated wine from an outstanding single vineyard layers ripe plum and rich black cherry on a broad, fine-grained texture. Accents of turned earth,
wood smoke and cinnamon add lift to the mix.
Wine Spectator
94 Points
A seductive style, with waves of creamed plum and boysenberry fruit rolling through, capped by dried anise and black tea notes, ending with a second flourish of fruit on the lush finish. A bit exotic, and will have fans for sure. Best from 2021 through 2034. 175 cases made.