I think this is first time we've rated a Knights Valley Reserve ahead of the Private Reserve. Selected from rockier bits of the vineyards, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley features aromas of black cherries and red raspberries, offering a vastly different and more interesting fruit profile than the regular Knights Valley bottling. Dark chocolate-mocha notes, vanilla and cedar bring additional complexity to the mix. This medium to full-bodied wine is ripe, plush and long on the finish, with two decades of deliciousness ahead of it.

Beringer's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley starts off life as a block selection from the huge vineyard's rockiest parcel, then gets trimmed down further in the winery by winnowing out lots and barrels that don't quite make the cut. The result is a wine that boasts lovely Cabernet florals and pretty cassis fruit. It's bigger, richer and fuller-bodied than the regular KV bottling, more concentrated, but also smoother, silkier and longer on the finish. The affordable price tag and widespread availability (5,717 cases produced) should make this a steakhouse staple.

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley (containing a 2% splash of Malbec) was aged for 15 months in 32% new French oak. Deep purple-black in color, it sings of crème de cassis, black cherries and black berry preserves with touches of camphor, dark chocolate and wood smoke. Full-bodied, firm and finely grained, the palate has loads of mineral accents with black fruit layers, finishing with a lively herbal lift. 7,664 cases produced, to be released in September 2019.

Very deep inky-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Knights Valley (92% Cabernet Sauvignon with 6% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot) is scented of crushed blackcurrants, blackberry pie and mincemeat with nuances of baking spices, menthol, cedar box and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied with great finesse and a solid foundation of grainy tannins, the muscular fruit yields youthful berry layers long into the finish. 6,030 cases were made.

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Knights Valley is a smaller cuvée of 81,000 cases. This wine is outstanding, with notes of graphite, white chocolate, blackcurrant, and hints of charcoal and toast. It is full-bodied, rich, fleshy and should drink beautifully for another 10+ years.