March 17, 2017

California Cabs


California boasts some of the best red wines in the world. Jammy, syrupy, luscious, bring your own thesaurus.

Here are some of our favorites (with apologies if some are in the wrong price bucket):

... Around $20 ...
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Benziger Family Winery
Double T
Dry Creek (92 points, WE)
Hayman & Hill
Howell Mountain
Kalinda - K&L says "complex, broad, viscous." We say 16 beans
Louis M. Martini
Mount Eden "Cuvee Saratoga"
Newton Claret
Oberon
Paul Dolan from Mendocino County. (90 pts, WE). Try Sea Grape on Hudson Street.
Robert Goyette
Sequoia Grove
St. Clement Oroppas
Sterling
Twenty Rows
Wyatt

... $30 - 50 a bottle ...
Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner meritage (92 pts WS)
Elizabeth Spencer (sourced in Mendocino, Fuchsia nose but rich and warm)
Groth ("Impressive for its depth and balance." - WS)
Hanna
Heitz Cellars
Kalinda Reserve
Larkmead
Leal (Carnaval is a meritage from this San Benito county winery, crafted by a former fencing contractor and an ex-mechanic)
Merryvale Reserve
Meyer Vineyard
Mount Eden
Napanook (second of Dominus)
Oakville Ranch (WE 83 points)
Orin Swift "The Prisoner" (cab, zin blend)
Paul Hobbs CrossBarn (try NapaCabs)
Ramey Claret
Storybook Antaeus (Bordeaux style blend)
Trefethen

... $50 to $100 ...
Barnett Vineyards
Beringer Private Reserve (gold standard of American Cabs)
Cliff Lede
Corison Kronos Vineyard
Dalla Valle
Duckhorn
Fantesca
John Anthony
Karl Lawrence
Lail (Napa) (95 points or higher and under $100)
Mercury Head (Orin Swift)
Paul Hobbs (Stewart, Beckstoffer and Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, all good)
Pegu
Philip Togni (94-96 points RP)
Rudd
Silver Oak
Silverado
St. Clement
Stags' Leap
Trefethen Library
Verite La Muse
Von Strasser
Whitehall Lane Reserve
> See Wine News' Best Under $100

... $100 plus ...
Abreu (Wine Spectator said of the 2000: "A candidate for wine of the vintage.)
Bryant Family
Caymus Special Selection
Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages
Dalla Valle Maya
Diamond Creek ("Sleek, with rich, earthy cherry and wild berry fruit." WS)
Dominus
Harlan
Kapcsándy
Martin Ray Diamond Mountain
Quilceda Creek (Columbia Valley, WA)
Screaming Eagle
Staglin
Switchback Ridge
Von Strasser

... Meanwhile in Washington ...
Woodward Canyon and second label Nelms Road, Walla Walla, WA
Amavi, Andrew Will and Robert Parker favorite Quilceda Creek also Washington winners

... Bargains ...
There aren't many of them. One is Louis M. Martini from Sonoma. WA 90pts: "An exquisite value, this is a seductive, fleshy, fruity wine with excellent texture, body, and balance. Lots of cassis as well as silky tannins characterize this top bargain pick."

... Ergo, a warning...
If you've got $10 to spend and are in a hurry, you might want to look elsewhere, like Spain or Argentina.

... Going to Napa?...Looking for the right bottle?...
Wine Enthusiast on American Cabs
Wine Spectator on Affordable Napa
Food and Wine best winery tours

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amavi from Washington State is a good, moderate priced cab (around $25 a bottle)

Anonymous said...

Sunstone Syrah (yeah, I know it's not a Cab) is a good, juicy, red meat worthy wine at under $20 a bottle

Anonymous said...

Twenty Rows Cabernet Sauvignon, under $20 a bottle. Their Merlot is really tasty too.

Anonymous said...

Orin Swift "The Prisoner" is a juicy, fruit forward red. A cab, zin blend, around $30 a bottle.

E said...

Do a Pacific Northwest post. Actually, if you ever want to do a Sideways trip up there -- a 4-day weekend, say.....

Anonymous said...

Cosentino Cigarzin Zinfandel. Not a Zin, but very nice.

Anonymous said...

Whitehall Lane Reserve is a gorgeous Cali cab. Older vintages are available and not ridiculously expensive.

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/whitehall+lane+reserve+cabernet

Anonymous said...

Lail is 95 points or higher and under $100, making it a Napa top end bargain.

http://www.lail-vineyards.com/wines_cuvee.html

Anonymous said...

For the $30 to $50 range, WE is a big fan of Peju:

According to Wine Enthusiast:

This rich Cabernet drinks beautifully now for its ripe, forward blackberry, cassis liqueur and oak flavors. It’s smooth and dry, with classic Napa balance.
Good as it is, it should develop in the bottle over the next decade

Anonymous said...

Here's one for around $20
Johnson Family Cabernet

Hops and Grapes in NJ has it:
http://www.hopsandgrapesonline.com

Anonymous said...

Here's one I just discovered:
Milbrandt Cabernet Sauvignon
"Dark, harmonious and complex"
Try www.leduwines.com

Anonymous said...

Peju from Rutherford/Napa
Brilliant
http://shop.peju.com/SHOP.AMS?LEVEL=BOT&PART=10051&DESC=Peju%20Province%20Winery%202010%20Reserve%20Cabernet%20Sauvignon,%20Rutherford%20Estate

Toby Rogers said...

Good list from SF Chronicle:
http://winejudging.com/medal-winners/2017-medal-winners/2017-467/