2016 Bond St. Eden | Oakville, Napa Valley CA 750ml

The virtue of St. Eden is hidden beneath its often voluptuous proportions, which can blind one to its depth of character. Aromas vacillate between ripe cassis and Provencal herbs. The entry of the wine is robust, but this impression gives way to fluid silkiness. The wine moves effortlessly across the palate, becoming exponentially finer, until it ultimately balances on a single focal point, giving birth to a persistent interplay of acidity, flavor, and texture. | Bond

Another perfect wine in the lineup is the 2016 St. Eden, which comes from a hillside of red volcanic soils just outside of Oakville. As with the 2015, wine doesn't get any better, and this inky hued 2016 offers up a smorgasbord of creme de cassis, blackberries, crushed rocks, toasty oak, new leather, and tobacco. Deep, full-bodied, powerful yet also incredibly elegant, it offers pleasure even today yet will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for 30 years or more. | 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com