The estate’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon is built on a serious core of freshness or minerality. Freshly cut flowers, bright red berries and sweet spices burst from the glass. The 2011 is tense, wiry and full of energy. It will be interesting to see where this goes over the next year. There is plenty of promise, although the 2011 is naturally a smaller-scaled wine, in keeping with the personality of the year. This barrel sample is just the Cabernet component, so the final blend is likely to be quite different. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. (Not yet released)Grassi is one of my favorite under the radar producers in Napa Valley. The estate excels with both Ribolla Gialla – a white grape native to Italy’s Friuli – and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best of all, the wines remain very fairly priced considering the quality of what is in the glass.Tel. (707) 224-7142.