Begin your celebration with one of Napa Valley’s most iconic cult wines. The 2007 Screaming Eagle is a wine that exudes elegance and power in equal measure. With its medium to deep garnet hue, this Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a stunning bouquet of red roses, violets, and lavender, underpinned by layers of red currant jelly, kirsch, and cassis. The palate reveals plush tannins that provide structure to the intense red and blue fruit flavors, all culminating in a long, mineral-driven finish.

It is now at its optimal drinking window though It will continue to age gracefully. According to Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, who awarded it a 100-point score while writing for The Wine Advocate, ‘this 2007 truly shows the personality of Screaming Eagle at its best’.

A Chardonnay that redefines the genre. The 2013 Marcassin Vineyard is a revelation from Sonoma Coast, showcasing the incredible winemaking skill of Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer. This wine dazzles with its complex aromatics – caramelized citrus, hazelnut, and lemon oil – woven together with wet pebbles and vibrant acidity. Full-bodied and rich, it manages to balance its opulence with a remarkable sense of minerality and freshness. Robert Parker himself called it a ‘killer Chardonnay’, awarding it 100 points.

Bold and daring, Realm Cellars’s philosophy is to find some of the finest vineyard sources in Napa, and not only fashion creative blends, but turn out some remarkable Cabernets. This is what they have done with the 2014 The Absurd, which is a ‘showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules’, according to the winery.

A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot adding complexity – chosen from their finest barrels – the 2014 rivals the incredible 2013. According to Parker, who gave it 100 points, ‘the wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute’. Enjoy this now for its vibrancy, or cellar it to watch its evolution over the next two decades.

From some of the oldest Cabernet vines in Napa comes the 2013 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that exemplifies power and grace. This full-bodied beauty offers deep, complex notes of crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, and forest floor, all wrapped in a frame of fine-grained tannins.

Despite its intensity, the wine maintains a remarkable lightness on the palate, making it both approachable and age-worthy. With the potential to evolve over 30+ years, this is a wine for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Parker (100 points) called it a ‘great ballerina of a wine [that] has extraordinary ripeness but pulls back from the edge before going over the top’.

Rounding out our selection is the 2016 Hillside Select from Shafer, a wine that epitomizes the best of Stag’s Leap District. This Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with vibrant aromas of blueberry preserves, cassis, and cedar, with exotic hints of Indian spices and violets.

On the palate, it is both hedonistic and precise, with a dense, full-bodied structure balanced by firm tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is epic, leaving a lasting impression of opulence and finesse. A true showstopper, this 100-point wine is perfect for celebrating Labor Day in grand style.