Today we share the beautiful wines of En Garde. This brand produces a beautiful range of wines from Sonoma Pinot to Napa Cabernet and even Petite Sirah. Founder and winemaker Csaba Szakál grew up on his family’s vineyards, learning winemaking and viticulture from family. He spent his summers helping tend the vineyards and quickly learned the value of working hard to achieve a goal. I have really enjoyed the Pinots by En Garde since I first tasted them several years back. The wines are really delicious across the board.
He noted that he really enjoys the 2023 wines. “They have such an elegance” he said. “Might remind me of 2009, which was similar in elegance. More on the delicate side” he said. He found the vintage to be stressful “Because of the lack of heat. Pinots were lagging and were harvested a month later than normal. Cabs, we harvested them later but not as late comparatively. We got super lucky with the weather at the end if a big rain would have been devastating.”
I found the 2023 En Garde ‘Touche Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) to be a stunning, complex Cabernet that speaks beautifully to this warm vintage. Similarly good, the 2023 ‘Pleasant Hill’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) is dense and complex stuff that has beautiful terroir character in the salty soil accents. Learn more about these fantastic wines at https://www.engardewinery.com/ and here are my reviews of the new En Garde wines.
2023 En Garde ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon has a large portion of Merlot (15%) blended in, along with 5% Cabernet Franc. Beautiful red florals mark the nose with black tea, exotic spice and shades of dark chocolate shavings. The palate is well-structured and medium-bodied with kirsch and red currants and alongside rocky and loamy soils. Drink 2026-2038- 92
2023 En Garde ‘Grand Vin’ Red Wine- The really good 2023‘Grand Vin’ is mostly Merlot (67%) with smaller portions Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. Great red and dark florals mark the nose alongside tar and damp earth with bay leaf notes. The palate is soft and elegant with a seamless mouthfeel and is already drinking beautifully. Drink 2026-2042- 94
2023 En Garde ‘Cavedale Crest Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Sourced from a location high atop Mt. Veeder, the 2023 ‘Cavedale Crest’ has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blended in. Stored in 50% new French oak barrels, this opens with violets, tar and volcanic soils. The palate is soft and refined with good concentration, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. Very pure and elegant, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2042- 94
2023 En Garde ‘Hendrickson Vineyard Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 En Garde ‘Hendrickson Vineyard Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from this location high atop Atlas Peak. This has a small amount of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blended in, as this opens with orange bell pepper, wild blackberry and dark currants that all meld in the glass. The palate is smooth and viscous with medium-bodied dark fruits, refined tannins, excellent tension and salty nuances on the palate. Drink 2026-2042- 94
2023 En Garde ‘Le Bijou du Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2023 En Garde ‘Le Bijou du Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Sori Bricco Vineyard in the Diamond Mountain District. En Garde began making this wine in 2011. This was stored in 80% new French oak barrels before bottling and begins with aromatics of purple flowers, green herbs, creme de cassis and shades of black licorice. The palate is rich and polished with serious finesse and length. This is glorious stuff that is seamless throughout the drinking experience. Drink 2026-2046- 96
2023 En Garde ‘Touche Reserve’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2023 ‘Touche Reserve’ comes mainly from the Diamond Mountain District and was stored in all new French oak prior to bottling. This is a barrel selection wine that stands out for the vintage. Cedar, anise and black currants mark the nose alongside purple rose petals. The palate is viscous and concentrated with serious verve and richness. A gorgeous, elegant bottling, with plenty of power and underlying finesse, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 96