Over the last several months, I have tasted 46 California Cabs from a wide range of prices. While California produces thousands of Cabs, this sample has lead me to conclude it’s getting harder to find good values in California Cabernet. Still, they are there and I have included 16 in this report. Recommended wines are listed in order of preference in each category.
Everyday Drinking
I know some of you will be asking, “what about wines under $10?” Well, everyone I tasted in the past year just didn’t make the cut. It is disappointing that solid quality is getting harder to find for less than $20 a bottle. I did find one admirable option in the 2012 William Hill North Coast ($14). It’s a really good value with solid structure and tasty fruit.
After that, we quickly are over $20 a bottle. But at least I found some gems for you.
2011 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley ($28). This is one of the best values in this report and is a perennial value. Its extravagant black fruits and toasty oak make for a complex wine finishing with refined tannins.
2012 Decoy Sonoma County ($25). Lots of dark fruits wrapped in caramel oak. A bit hard and tannic at first but opens up nicely. Will evolve for a few years.
2011 Silver Palm North Coast ($22). Quite forceful blackberry, pine and woodsy notes but a lighter, smooth texture
2011 Rodney Strong Sonoma County ($20). Nice black fruits and a light earthy note, soft and amiable.
Sweet Spot of Quality/Value
These wines are definitely a step up, sure in price but importantly also in quality. Yes, we’re now over $30 and even $40 a bottle. But if you are willing to spend more money, these wines will deliver your money’s worth. Further, the wineries listed in this section are ones I have found to be extremely reliable in recent years.
2010 Stonestreet “Monument Ridge” ($45). Bursting with beautiful berry fruits accented with touches of spicy herbs, graphite and mocha and a complex fruit/oak/tannin profile. Gorgeous now, it might be even better in five years.
2010 Frank Family Napa Valley ($50). Inviting black and red currants, with creamy oak and licorice, a solid structure and layered texture make this all around delicious. Noticeable tannins suggest 5-10 years of further development.
2011 Atalon Napa Valley ($35). Opens with intriguing earthy, minty and herbal notes that mix with generous red and black fruits. It is fairly full with a juicy palate finishing on a pleasantly bitter note.
2011 Kendall-Jackson “Grand Reserve” ($30). Strong, woodsy-minty-smoky aromas precede rich, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. This continues on the palate gliding along finishing with powdering tannins.
2009 Arrowood Sonoma County ($30). Bright cherry, tealeaf and pine scents introduce vibrant red berries, a soft palate, and a finish of fresh tannins.
2010 J. Lohr Hilltop ($35). Opens noticeably gravelly and moderately plummy. It’s soft and smooth with succulent fruit and a round finish. Made in an appealing, easy-drinking style.
Splurges
2009 Duckhorn Howell Mountain ($80). Duckhorn is known for making big, tough, tannic Cabs and this one doesn’t stray too far. Yet, it also reveals an elegance that allows abundant black cherry and currant fruit to emerge along with cocoa and cedar notes. It is inviting now but will drink well for at least ten years.
2010 Grgich Hills Napa Valley ($60). Shows a vibrant beam of lively acidity as its core, as is this winery’s style. Around that is built a frame of concentrated cassis and cherry, with hints of earth and dried herbs. This certified organic and biodynamic wine should please for at least ten years.
2008 Dry Creek Endeavour ($65). Big, ripe, with rich oak, deep berry fruit and rich chocolate flavors offset with a loamy note, this one will be at its best in a few years and should have a long future.
2010 Duckhorn Napa Valley ($70). Very structured and firm suggesting patience is needed to fully enjoy its already beckoning currant and blackberry fruit, cedar and spice bouquet and lush texture.
2010 Cakebread Napa Valley ($60). Enticingly juicy and nicely concentrated red and black fruits are balanced with oak, dried herb and earth notes and finished with fine tannins. This is another one enjoyable now but a candidate for long aging.