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{ SOMMjournal.com } 67 Sam Baxter. After soaking your mouth in this glorious fruit, the wine finishes with caramel spice. Releasing October 2017. Acumen 2015 2+2+2+2 Cabernet Sauvignon, Atlas Peak: This is the last wine made by the late Denis Malbec. He made it from the best two Cabernet lots from the winery's 116-acre organically farmed estate, from two clones and two styles of barrels, Alain Fouquet and Taransaud. Viticulturist Steve Matthiasson has taken over as winemaker. Releasing January 2018. Raymond Vineyards 2015 Masquerade Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley: Grown on volcanic soil in Stags Leap and sandy soils of St. Helena. Winemaker Stephanie Putnam worked with Philippe Melka and Jean-Charles Boisset on this beautiful Earth Mother powerhouse of tightly wound tannins that soon smoothes to a luxurious texture painted with wild strawberry and dried cherry. Releasing January 2018. Gandona Estate 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley: Winemaker Philippe Melka declares this one of the ripest vintages. "The fruit is explosive," he insists as we taste together. "This is an example of pure hillside fruit: masculine, with a nose and palate of alternating blue and red fruit." The fruit, encased in polished tannins, shows through a creamy mocha finish. Releases April 2018. Pine Ridge Vineyards 2015 5x5 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley: Winemaker/General Manager Michael Beaulac procured grapes from estate vineyards, spanning five Napa Valley appella - tions and including all five Bordeaux varieties. What's special about this wine is an elegance that is straightforward: plum and lavender blooms out of the glass and graphite and earth tones meld with fabulous fruit all the way through. Releases this coming October. Rutherford Hill Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon: Winemaker Marisa Taylor makes one of the most approachable wines here, the fruit from the winery's Napa Green Certified hillside estate in Rutherford. Concentrated small berries grown on soil that's like white talc keep the fruit way forward and tasting fresh. Releases April 2018. *The small lots (60 to 240 bottles each) offered at Premiere Napa Valley are wines made only for this event. They are sold as futures with delivery dates ranging from six months to three years following the auction. Each winemaker is required to craft something unique and different from their winery's normal offerings, making the suc- cessful bidder the sole owner of the lot. All bidders must be licensed members of the trade: retailer, restaurateur, wholesaler, importer, etc. Each lot is sold to only one successful bidder/trade account. They can then resell the wine to their customers. Educator Robert Smith, MS, and winemaker David Lattin of Merus. Black Stallion Director of Winemaking Ralf Holdenried with winery Senior Brand Manager George MacDonald. Jean Charles Boisset, Raymond Winemaker Stephanie Putnam and winery VP of Sales, Ken Hoernlein. "Although the harvest was smaller, that seems to have paid off in terms of quality for Napa Valley. From hillside wines to those from the valley floor, everything we tasted from this vintage was truly great."