Chakana Estate Malbec is made from 100 percent Malbec.

hakana is the name of the Southern Cross constellation. Its rotation in the sky throughout the year made it an effective agricultural calendar for the ancient Andean people.

The "yaguarete" (jaguar) on the label was known by the ancient Andean people as the "lord of the starred night"; the wildest known animal.

Chakana Estate Malbec is from Chakana's Altamira (3,200 ft elevation) and Gualtallary (5,500 ft elevation) vineyards.

This limited release wine is created from the fusion of two exceptional parcels of 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. This classic blend is matured in the finest oak crafting an intriguing unison that captures the essence of the vineyard and highlights its unique varietal expression.

Vintage Overview
2013 was a very good season with predominantly mild, dry days. Yields were generally low and this did result in some excellent parcels of fruit being harvested. Vine-balance was carefully monitored, resulting in fruit that demonstrates the vibrancy and fruit-derived characters that we strive for in our wines. By all accounts it was a textbook vintage.

Tasting Notes
Deep inky purple in color. Aromas of blackberry, mocha, mint and spices. Lush, ripe palate dominated by black fruits, cherry and chocolate. An expansive palate with black fruits and nicely balanced by oak.

Made with the greatest dedication and care, select parcels were matured in new and seasoned French and American oak for up to 20 months prior to being selected for this blend. Individual barrels from our family estate that best demonstrate the intensity of our fruit, balanced by integrated oak were selected for the final blend, which was then bottled with minimal filtration.

Pairs well with venison, ribeye steak, lamb.

Review:

70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit and oak combine here to produce a powerful, full-bodied red with coffee, toast, blackberry and rick plum flavours pouring through the palate. Tannin taps gently at the brakes: peppercorn and pine notes add lift: creaminess to the texture keeps everything running smoothly. Screwcap. 14.5% alc.

Halliday Wine Companion 2020 94 Points

DAOU Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is made from  76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.

Hailing from the exemplary 2020 vintage, this DAOU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon showcases Paso Robles as a world-class region for Bordeaux-style wines. Classic aromas of Oregon blackberry, Zante currant and cherry pipe tobacco anticipate subtle notes of cranberry, baking spice, licorice, slate and dark chocolate. The palate is voluptuous and velvety with a firm underlying structure. Lavish flavors of blueberry, black raspberry, wild cherry and cassis are beautifully integrated with hints of truffle, dried herbs and forest floor. A smooth, persistent finish lingers with impressions of of sweet cherry, black plum and mushroom. While polished and approachable now, this is a Cabernet Sauvignon that will continue to evolve with grace and nuance.

 Review:

This is a widely available and reliably satisfying sip, offering dark and juicy aromas of baked berry along with toastier notes of hard spice and roasted cocoa nibs. The beefy palate is loaded with blackberry, roasted meat and rich fudge flavors, but it's the persistent acidity and tannic grip that elevates the experience.

-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, made entirely with free-run juice, is blended with 23% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc and was matured for 16 months in 50% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, it offers savory aromas of black cherries, charcuterie, cedar, mushroom, tobacco, dried herbs and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with savory fruits and a mineral-driven finish.

-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 93 Points

This limited release wine is created from the fusion of two exceptional parcels of 55% Shiraz and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. This classic blend is matured in the finest oak crafting an intriguing unison that captures the essence of the vineyard and highlights its unique varietal expression.

Vintage Overview
2013 was a very good season with predominantly mild, dry days. Yields were generally low and this did result in some excellent parcels of fruit being harvested. Vine-balance was carefully monitored, resulting in fruit that demonstrates the vibrancy and fruit-derived characters that we strive for in our wines. By all accounts it was a textbook vintage.

Tasting Notes
Deep inky purple in color. Aromas of blackberry, mocha, mint and spices. Lush, ripe palate dominated by black fruits, cherry and chocolate. An expansive palate with black fruits and nicely balanced by oak.

Made with the greatest dedication and care, select parcels were matured in new and seasoned French and American oak for up to 20 months prior to being selected for this blend. Individual barrels from our family estate that best demonstrate the intensity of our fruit, balanced by integrated oak were selected for the final blend, which was then bottled with minimal filtration.

Pairs well with venison, ribeye steak, lamb.

Review:

A magnificent blend of two classic grapes; the hugely appealing bouquet shows blackberry, sweet cherry, anise, chocolatey oak and cake spice aromas, followed by a concentrated palate that displays awesome depth and intensity. It’s opulent and substantial, wonderfully framed by velvety tannins, making it totally delicious. At its best: now to 2026. AU$55.00. Dec 2019.

-Wine Orbit 96 Points

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon  is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

"Cabernet’s classic aromas and flavors star in our 2021 Faust Napa Valley. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose—black currant and briary blackberry—layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite, and toasted spice. The velvet of fine-textured tannins backs expressive red fruit flavors on a complex palate, both sweet and savory with mocha and minerality, juicy ripe fruit and freshness.” — DAVID JELINEK, WINEMAKER

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon—a blend of our Coombsville vineyard fruit with lots from other cool sites in the valley—sets the bar for elegant balance in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2021, cooler-thanaverage temperatures produced that balance naturally, with flavors and tannins reaching maturity against a backdrop of ideal acidity levels. The wine is deliciously versatile, with generously ripe fruit that makes it an appealing sip on its own, but also enough lively acidity to make it an ideal partner for a range of foods.

The winter of 2021 brought little rain and deepening drought conditions in Napa Valley, setting up a vintage of low yields and small, concentrated berries. At the same time, temperatures from spring through the growing season ran slightly cooler than normal, lengthening the ripening period after veraison. Sugar levels rose very gradually while acidity levels remained high and bright. As a result, the fruit came in with notable flavor intensity, supple and mature tannins, natural complexity—balanced between ripeness and vibrant freshness

Review:

Focused on cabernet from the Faust estate in Coombsville, this includes fruit from the Huneeus family’s vineyards in Yountville and Oak Knoll, all relatively cool districts that combine in a brisk, red-fruited cabernet with cherry freshness. A bright young thing with a lot to say, it tastes like just-picked fruit, its spicy tannins supple and gracious, cool and lasting.

-Wine & Spirits 93 Points

Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is made from Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Roussanne.

In a 41 hectare estate, there is only 1 hectare of white varieties: Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Roussanne in roughly equal proportions. The Grenache and Clairette is pressed directly into tank upon reaching the cellar where it is fermented and aged on its lees. The Roussanne is harvested in several passes and pressed into French oak for fermentation and aging. The final wine is blended and bottled in the spring after the harvest.

Review:

One of the appellation’s top whites comes from Clos Saint Jean (although it’s their reds that get all the attention), the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is brilliant, with a fresh, vibrant, focused style to go with classic crushed citrus, tart quince, and acacia flower-like notes. It builds on the palate and is medium-bodied, with richness and depth. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points