daily wine picks

More than $30

Oct. 23, 2000: DUNN Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (92 points, $60)

Randy Dunn has been making wine under the Dunn label from his vineyard atop Howell Mountain since 1979. The wine are always unique in their profile and the '97 is another ruggedly tannic and hard-edged Cabernet, with lots of cedary oak in the forefront, s —James Laube

Oct. 21, 2000: COLGIN Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Herb Lamb Vineyard (95 points, $135)

One of the hot cult wines of this past decade, this is the first vintage made by Mark Aubert who left Peter Michael to replace winemaker Helen Turley at Colgin. Remarkably complex and supple, with tiers of spice, pepper, cherry, currant, plum and wild ber —James Laube

Oct. 20, 2000: ARAUJO Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Eisele Vineyard (94 points, $125)

Since they purchased it in 1990, Bart and Daphne Araujo have proven to be excellent caretakers of the Eisele vineyard -- one of California's most famous vineyards. Their '97, made by winemaker Françoise Peschon, is another outstanding wine. Smooth, rich —James Laube

Oct. 19, 2000: CHATEAU MONTELENA Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley The Montelena Estate 1997 (95 points, $125)

This California Cabernet has made a name for itself over the last two decades, and the winery has scored "classic" with its just-released '97. Serves up lots of ripe black cherry, currant and plum-laced flavors, with a pretty touch of earth, anise and min —James Laube

Oct. 17, 2000: BEAULIEU VINEYARD Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Georges de Latour Private Reserve 1997 (95 points, $100)

This Cabernet has one of the longest track records in California Cabernet history, and the '97 is an extraordinary wine. Dense, rich and earthy, with tiers of complex currant, earth, cedar, black cherry, mineral and anise flavors, keeping a tight, sharp f —James Laube