Lexington Wine Co. Apex Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 (750ml) *

A Bordeaux-style blend built on Cabernet Sauvignon, this bottling from Lexington Wine Co. in the Santa Cruz Mountains rounds out the 2016 vintage with a little Merlot and a touch of Cabernet Franc. The mountain setting tends to favor structure over opulence, and this leans deliberately toward the leaner, more savory end of California Cabernet.

The color sits between medium and deep ruby, and the nose runs toward blackcurrant and its budding green edge, with bitter chocolate, loamy earth, a flash of red fruit, and baking spice underneath. It carries a medium to full body and a firm, chalky grip, with a green streak that reads as freshness rather than a flaw. The finish is long and lifted, and there is real aromatic depth here. Drinking well now and over the next few years.