91
Priest Ranch 2018 Peacemaker Napa Valley 15.2% $90
Blueberries and mulberries galore! This wine is vividly fruit-driven on the nose. The palate delivers some slate and ashphalt tones, too. While boldly flavorful, the wine is neither particularly layered nor nuanced yet shows good length of fruit on the finish. The tannins are raspy but appropriately firm for the full body and weighty alcoholic strength. The finish offers measured refreshment, which feels nicely integrated despite the 15.2% alcohol. Composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the base wines underwent 24 months of aging in 75% new and 25% once-used French oak barrels. This is the wine's debut vintage.
Drink: 2021-25 

88
Priest Ranch 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Snake Oil Napa Valley 15.4% $110
Deep maroon with black inflections, this wine has a bold nose of black currant and graphite. The palate is similar, adding blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate. Four-square with somewhat angular acidity and gruff, granular tannins, the dense fruit on the palate also packs alcoholic heat. Several hours of decanting help the fruit come forward, but that time doesn't change the palate feel. Even given additional time in the cellar, it's unclear if this wine could come around due to its discombobulated structure. This wine comes from three, select blocks from the estate and received the same oak treatment as the Peacemaker.
Drink: 2022-25