2013 Pott Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western Star

A winner is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Nouveau Western, which is classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from the Starr Vineyard. Plenty of dense, blackberry and cassis fruit, licorice, graphite and foresty notes are all present in this full-bodied, opulent wine with terrific purity and length. Tannins are present, but balanced beautifully by lavish amounts of fruit and extract. Drink it over the next 20 years.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Nouveau Western, from a vineyard in Rutherford planted with Martha's clone Cabernet, is one of the many highlights in Aaron Pott's range. Ample, intense and structured to the core, the 2013 offers up a compelling mélange of dark ripe fruit, earthiness and smoke, all backed up by seriously intense tannins. The 2013 is a powerful, virile wine. Accordingly, it needs time in bottle.

A warm, resonant wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Nouveau Western blossoms in the glass with gorgeous textural richness and depth. New leather, smoke, spices and mocha overtones flesh out in a decidedly pliant, voluptuous Cabernet that should drink well with minimal cellaring but that also has more than enough depth to develop beautifully in bottle for many years to come.