Sterling Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

The Sterling Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon expresses the intense character of Monterey fruit in a full and balanced wine. Distinctive aromas of ripe blackberry, pepper, toast and hints of smoked meats are followed by subtle notes of light chocolate mint and vanilla. The palate offers concentrated black fruits, toffee and dark chocolate powder.

Situated prominently on a hill just south of Calistoga, Sterling Vineyards overlooks a green carpet of vines covering the northern Napa Valley floor. Consistency has been the hallmark of this winery's tradition. Perhaps it is in keeping with the old London church bells that still chime every half hour in the facility's tower. Sterling has demonstrated this quality once again, even after having been dealt a challenging growing season by Mother Nature and El Niño. The yield from the '98 vintage was small; only the consummate winemaker was able to produce juice of this caliber. The wine is deep garnet in color, with alluring aromas of blackberry, plums, and cinnamon spice. It is polished, lush, and juicy with black cherry, cocoa, and mocha smoothness. Decadent and delicious, this truly is a wine for whom the hedonist's bell will toll.

A dignified Cab with rich plum and black cherry fruit layered with toasty cocoa and anise notes. It has a finish of long, wispy tannins.

Combines ripe, rich, complex fruit with a sense of elegance and grace. The core flavors of currant, black cherry, plum and spice are sharply focused, with supple, well-integrated tannins. Buy a case at this price. Drink now through 2009.

A well-oaked, deeply hued red wine with structure and complexity that belie the Sterling's reasonable price tag. Fresh mixed berry flavors mingle with an earthy, woodsy character; drink this Cabernet Sauvignon with rich roasts or your favorite soft cheeses.

Dark ruby in color, the Cabernet Sauvignon opens to spicy notes of raspberry and black cherry with hints of cedar and toasty oak rounding out the nose. Flavors of briar, blackberries, raspberries, hints of roasted coffee and an earthy, savory spiciness coat the palate, and lead to a long, elegant finish. These wonderful flavors and the wine's smooth, mouth-filling tannins make this wine a perfect accompaniment to barbecued steaks and lamb chops, as well as richer pasta dishes and ripe cheeses.

Supple and harmonious, with smooth currant, ripe, spicy plum and blackberry flavors that are sustained on a long, complex finish, ending with fine-grained tannins. An exceptional value in Napa Valley Cabernet. Drink now through 2008.