2006 Robert Craig Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($48)
With fruit from the Mount George area east of the city of Napa, the winery's Left Bank-style blend outperforms. A clean, pure Cabernet nose: graphite, cassis, hints of dried citrus peel to brighten things. Polished, with a lingering sweetness.

2006 Dominus Estate Red Wine, Napa Valley ($129)
Not only has Christian Moueix (Chateau Petrus) nailed an extraordinary, fresh Dominus, but he initially released it at a $30 discount. Hope you got it early. This Yountville property keeps producing strong, lean wines with amazing life in them. Coiled, with racy graphite and underbrush accents, it's full of lively cassis and blackberry, a hint of iron and a brooding tannic structure.

2007 PlumpJack Merlot, Napa Valley ($50)
Anthony Biagi has coaxed a classic Merlot from a handful of vineyard sites. Cocoa and bright, powerful plum flavors have a lively edge and dusty, broad tannins. A Merlot with guts, but integrally so. It's young and tough, so give it some air.

2006 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville ($45)
Genevieve Janssens' dense but accessible Cabernet does credit to the Mondavi legacy. A light touch of tobacco, cedar and plum skin, with a broad weave of tannin underneath, giving the deep, coffee-edged fruit a good life ahead.

2005 Rubicon Estate Rubicon Red Wine, Rutherford ($145)
Francis Ford Coppola's historic estate, run by Larry Stone, has one of the latest release dates in Napa - this was unveiled in March. It's inky and concentrated, with tobacco aromas and a subtle mineral edge. The ample fleshy fruit and superfine tannins will both please now and point toward a long, happy road ahead.

2006 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena ($130)
Spottswoode's timeless potential continues to show itself. Blue fruit and musk appear at first, and the fine, forceful tannins reveal how young this latest release really is. But it adds racy blueberry and a beefy, raw, sanguine edge that signal its ability to mature beautifully.

2006 Tor Kenward Cabernet Sauvignon
Cimarossa Vineyard, Howell Mountain ($75)
A happy match between winemaker Jeff Ames and Dino Dina's mountainside vineyard. Ames has found a balance of remarkable power and nuance here. Cimarossa's signature cinnamon aroma steps forward on a complex violet-tinged nose. Racy black fruit and cassis coat the palate. Strong and yet precise, it's an outstanding example of how complexity can thrive in the modern Napa profile.

2006 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($28)
A classic, approachable Napa Cab, with savory tones of black olive, coffee and toasted plum. This is why Buehler remains one of Napa's top deals.

2006 Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($42)
Chappellet's trademark effort, made by Phillip Corallo-Titus, shows the great potential of Pritchard Hill fruit. Up-front and generous, with oak-tinged plum, dried tobacco and subtle char notes. Plenty of backbone to its well-robed structure.