For a preview of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, I tasted a blend of two lots drawn from barrel. After less than a year in oak, the wood is less obvious than in the 2020, while the fruit is still on the red side of the Cabernet spectrum. It's medium to full-bodied, firmly built, yet ripe and silky on the finish. It should be excellent when bottled.

Covenant's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of fruit from Mahoney (Carneros) and Rowe (Oak Knoll), both near the southern end of Napa. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak, it's nicely varietal on the nose, with hints of mocha, cherries and cassis, while the palate is medium to full-bodied, firmly tannic but ripe, with a long, tart, mouthwatering finish that just seems a bit stern overall.