(97-100 points) The flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon was tasted out of bottle, and it might be the best yet. Deeply hued, it has an incredible array of black and blue fruits as well as leafy herbs, bouquet garni, graphite, and spicy oak that builds with time in the glass. Rich and full-bodied, it has a great mid-palate and incredible tannins.

Bart and Daphne Aurajo established Accendo Cellars after selling their Araujo Estate (now Eisele Vineyard) to the Artemis Group. In 2021, they passed the torch to second-generation partners Jaime and Greg Araujo. Grapes are sourced from Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, Eco Tone (a former Abreu property) above the Meadowood estate, and a site on Diamond Mountain formerly known as Reverie. Winemaker Nigel Kinsman says the idea is to express Napa Valley Cabernet through the lens of exceptional vineyard sites. It also allows him to experiment with other varieties to combine a seamless wine year to year. Agee 22 months in roughly 70% new French oak. A solid wine showing the dynamic structure of a vintage that produced smaller yields, deep concentration, and powerful tannins, which Kinsman has refined in this bottling, as they are intricate, linear, super-fine, and seamless. Pure red berry fruit tones leap from the glass, nuanced by sagebrush, earth, and dried spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied with compact black cherry, blackberry, and plum fruits laced with brown baking spices and a long, mineral-infused finish redolent of graphite and wet slate. An exceptional showing, balancing the intensity of the vintage with noticeable freshness. Best from 2025. (Drink between 2024-2045)

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of total and exquisite finesse. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit, mocha, spice, new leather and rose petals. The 2021 has the highest amount ever of Cabernet Franc (22%), and that really comes through in the wine's aromatic and flavor profile. By far the most elegant and understated wine yet from Accendo, I can't wait to see how the 2021 ages. It appears to have a brilliant future. - Antonio Galloni

Comprising fruit from Vine Hill Ranch, M-Bar Ranch and Ecotone Vineyard, Accent's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts stunning aromas of black cherries, cassis, dusty earth and dried spices. It's medium to full-bodied, texturally somewhere between silky and velvety, very fine and elegant, with a long, lingering finish. It's made in a non-blockbuster style but delivers plenty of flavor without sacrificing harmony and grace. - JC

97+ The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, with 22% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot in the blend, is sourced from Vine Hill Ranch, Embar Ranch, Sleeping Lady, and 1520 Vineyard on Diamond Mountain (which used to be called Reverie Vineyard). Deep garnet-purple in color, it waltzes out with flamboyant notes of creme de cassis, blueberry compote, and licorice giving way to wafts of juicy raspberries and red roses with a touch of cinnamon stick. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with black fruit preserves layers, framed by firm, beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

Rich and richly detailed, this red lets a wave of warmed black currant preserves, steeped black cherry and plum puree glide through, carried by a serious matrix of polished, fine-grained tannins and augmented by notes of alder, walnut husk, smoldering tobacco and warm cast iron. Savory, menthol and dried violet hints all flicker in the background. Built for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2045. 820 cases made.