2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block

This is a stellar set of wines from proprietor Mark Carter. Winemaker Mike Smith shows off his formidable chops to the fullest here, as Carter draws on a number of super-premium sites, all of which are distinctive. As good as the Carter Cabernets are - and they are terrific - the most impressive wine in this range is the Fortuna Cabernet, a wine that delivers all of the classic Carter signatures and that sells for less than $100/bottle, a great combination of quality and price within the realm of Napa Valley. As always, the Carter Cabernets are rich, unctuous and opulent, but they also have more than enough structure to drink well for many years. In fact, based on previous retrospective tastings, these wines (the Cabernets in particular) start entering the sweet zone around age 7-10. I expect the 2013s, which are massive, to start blossoming toward the end of that range, although they will be plenty delicious well before then.