Alpha Omega ERA Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2021 WE 98 RP 95+

Wine Enthusiast 98

Black to the rim, where the color shows ruby-purple, this layered and complex wine is opulent in black cherries, cocoa, pencil lead and baked blueberries. Unusual for a red wine, it was barrel fermented. Fine-grained tannins saturate the deep flavors and bode well for extended aging. Best from 2027-2040.

A whopping 94% Cabernet Sauvignon but not labeled as such, Alpha Omega's 2021 ERA Red Wine is the 2,380-case flagship of the winery. As you might expect, it's dark, nearly impenetrable in color, with similarly opaque aromas that hint at camphor, creosote, cedar and cassis. Weighing in at 14.8% alcohol (on the label), it's very nearly full-bodied, with ample concentration, ripe but dense tannins and a lingering but somewhat astringent finish. Give this one some time in the cellar.