2021 Round Pond Eric Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Moving to the two flagship releases, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Louis Bovet comes from Rutherford and spent 20 months in 70% new French oak. It has gorgeous chocolaty black fruit, tobacco, loamy earth, and graphite notes as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. I love its tannins, and it has plenty of mid-palate depth and a big finish. It's going to cruise for 15 years in cold cellars.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Louis Bovet is a potent, tightly-wound wine. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice and sweet oak are nicely dialed up. This feels a bit riper than most of the other wines in the range, and also a bit oakier. I am not sure it is a meaningfully better wine. This feels a bit pushed and aggressive to me, but perhaps it will come around.

Matured in 70% new French oak for 20 months, just like the Eric Bouvet bottling, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Home Ranch Reserve Louis Bovet just comes from a different vineyard, this one in Rutherford. It still offers much the same, from its bold scents of black cherries, loam and hints of baking spices, to the soft, plush feel on the full-bodied palate. Not super-extracted, it's easy, enjoyable and complex enough to retain interest sip after sip, and it's not without some substance.