Cabernet Sauvignon has been the most popular red wine among U.S. consumers for decades and California Cabs are the biggest sellers. A style that has emphasized richness and concentration, pronounced ripe fruit and lavish oak, has been dialed back somewhat recently in favor of more balance. The most successful wines still offer solid fruit, supple texture, and refined tannins resulting in wines enticing to drink now but able to improve with age.
Top Values – expect fine quality at an attractive price:
2013 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley ($28). This is a perennial value with admirable complexity and refined tannins, enabling it to entice the drinker into early consumption but also tempt to wait a few years to see how it develops.
2012 Murphy Goode Alexander Valley ($26). This 100% Cab wine shows lush, soft fruit and texture wit a balancing touch of oak.
2012 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($25). From Hillside and Benchland vineyards, with dollops of petit verdot, malbec, merlot and cabernet franc, it’s inviting right now but will improve for several years.
2012 Pedroncelli “Block 007” ($25). Estate grown 100% Dry Creek Valley Cab delivers pleasant, tart red fruits offset with light herb and the oak notes.
2013 Educated Guess Napa Valley ($20). Delightfully flavorful and approachable, has lots of character and appeal for the money.
2012 Old Soul Lodi ($14). Surprisingly bold, spicy and assertive with just enough character for the grill.
Sweet Spot of Quality/Value – more money is rewarded with high quality:
2012 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley ($50). This is a fabulous tribute to the craft of blending. It’s only 75 percent cabernet with 17 percent merlot and drips of cabernet franc, petite verdot and malbec from five vineyards. Quintessentially Napa.
2012 Murphy-Goode “Terra a Lago” ($40). From a vineyard in the foothills of the Mayacamas Range, this 100 % Cab offers good complexity and structure with admirable ripeness.
2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley ($38). Known for exhibiting a French touch with Napa fruit, this meets expectations balancing solid structure with a bright core of fruit.
2013 Jackson Estate Alexander Valley ($36). A really fine example of Sonoma Cab (with small percentages of merlot, malbec, cabernet franc and petit verdot), its higher elevation fruit yields an intense yet balanced wine with enticing complexity.
2013 J. Lohr “Hilltop” ($35). A perennial favorite from Paso Robles, its lush red fruit melds nicely with savory notes.
Splurges – for those special times when a special bottle is desired:
2012 Miner Stagecoach Vineyard ($75). From a highly regarded vineyard in the eastern hills of Atlas Peak in southern Napa Valley, this high elevation fruit impresses with earthy character, ripeness and firm structure.
2012 Duckhorn Napa Valley ($72). This company that made its name with Merlot also produces top quality Cabernet Sauvignon (and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Blends). This one is typically highly structured and expected to be long lived.
2012 Cakebread Napa Valley ($65). Exemplary Napa Cab with loads of fruit buttressed with solid structure; it will reward years of patience.
2013 Chappellet “Signature” ($60). Classic mountain-grown Cab, including fruit from Chappellet’s renowned Pritchard Hill, delivers on its reputation for power amid grace.
2012 Jackson Estate Hawkeye ($55). Another fine Kendall-Jackson high elevation Alexander Valley wine that is deeply fruited, highly structured and lusciously textured.
2012 Jordan Alexander Valley ($55). Bordeaux is the model for this perennial restaurant favorite. The new vintage reveals more intensity than usual but is still expectedly seductive.
NOTE: Featured image courtesy of Miner Family Vineyards