Dana Estate Helms Vineyard Rutherford California 2015

 Unique aromas of citrus fruit such as tangerines and oranges which combine with plums, black cherries, and blackcurrants. Lemon rind, too. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give the wine a precise and focused finish that lasts for minutes. Laser-guided. A savory and subtle, minerally finish. This redefines the greatness of Napa Valley wine and California.  (9/2016)

 The 57-acre estate vineyard includes the Helms Vineyard in Rutherford, which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and usually produces small quantities of less than 300 cases. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helms is sensational. Its opaque purple color, which is common among the 2012 and 2013 Bordeaux varietals in Napa, leads to a spectacularly flamboyant and aromatic nose of earth, graphite, blackberry and cassis. The wine is rich, full-bodied, and again, concentrated, pure and dense, with sweet melted tannins nicely integrated, along with the French oak (about 100% new). This wine has a good 30+ years of upside to it. 97+ (RP)