Today’s incredible Mario Bazan Cellars 2013 RAMA Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon marks the third time that we’ve showcased a successive vintage of this wine and, wow, this 2013 is the best vintage to date!

This wine is gorgeous on the nose, with aromas of fresh blackberry, blueberry, smoky cherry, licorice, cured meats, spice box, raisin, resin and sweet cedar.

Full and extracted on the palate, the wine shows off delicious fruit, spice and earthy components that all work in harmony. Blackberry compote, black cherry, cassis, tobacco, dusty bramble, cocoa dust and black pepper.

This wine was made by the very talented David DeSante, who makes wines for Dancing Crow Vineyard, Turnbull Wine Cellars, Mario Bazan Cellars and others. It is a real honor to be able to taste David’s wines year after year, and to see just how much he improves each year.

Even his 2011 Rama, which hailed from one of the most challenging vintages on record (Napa fruit has a reputation for being underripe) was a delightful wine. This 2013 is so much better.

Very highly recommended.