Ever since Bordeaux wines reached star status a few hundred years ago, cabernet sauvignon has been one of, if not the most important and revered of red wine varieties. This has definitely been the case in California over the last fifty years. And even with more attention being paid to a number of other varieties in recent years, it still is California’s most popular red grape and red wine.
According to The Wine Institute, cabernet sauvignon continues to be the most widely planted red grape in California. This bounty is translated into wines in a wide range of price categories. While Bordeaux is the traditional benchmark and notable Cabernet Sauvignon wine is produced all over the planet, California arguably is the contemporary standard bearer. This post provides a wide variety of California Cabernet recommendations in several price ranges. My favorites in each category are listed in bold.
As with most wine, the vast majority of Cabernet, namely those in the lower price range (say $10-$20), is meant to be drunk within the first 1-3 years. Look for a focus on varietal fruit characteristics – aromas and flavors of dark berries, plum and currant. The appeal of these wines is that they are immediately accessible, good values just right for everyday drinking. The wines below are straightforward but show good varietal character and also are affordable restaurant choices.
2008 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve
2007 Parducci Mendocino County
2007 Sledgehammer North Coast
2007 Souverain Alexander Valley
In addition to tasty fruit, a quality cabernet sauvignon is characterized by medium- to full-body, good structure, and noticeable oak and tannin. As prices increase, expect more character, depth and concentration. The selections below (all $20-$30) provide a lot of wine for just a little more money.
2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
2008 Folie à Deux Napa Valley
2008 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Estate
2007 St. Francis Sonoma County
What most captivates aficionados of Cabernet Sauvignon, though, is that it is capable of developing enticing layers of complexity. You may encounter an array of nonfruit characteristics, including herb, olive, mint, tobacco, spice, cocoa, cedar, anise and earth. These are best in small accents, not as dominant qualities. Although this complexity comes at a premium and requires a little patience (say five to nine years), with the wines below (all $30-50) it is worth it.
2007 Dutcher Crossing Cooney Vineyard
2006 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley
2007 Hess Collection “19 Block Cuvee” Mount Veeder
2007 Kendall-Jackson “Jackson Hills” Knight’s Valley
2007 J. Lohr “Hilltop Vineyard” Paso Robles
2007 Pali “Highlands” Napa Valley
2006 Souverain Alexander Valley Winemaker’s Reserve
In certain prime locations (especially in Napa and Sonoma), Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the few wines capable of combining all of the components mentioned above into a complete package. When all these qualities come together, as they do in the wines below, you find a great balance of fruit, structure and richness providing depth, concentration, complexity, and an ability to improve beyond ten years. High prices (I’m taking over $50) mean high expectations, which, in these wines are met.
2007 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley
2007 Pine Ridge Napa Valley
2006 Jordan Alexander Valley
2007 Grgich Hills Napa Valley
2006 Dry Creek Endeavor
2006 Duckhorn Napa Valley
2006 Sbragia Rancho del Oso
2006 Sbragia Cimarossa
2006 Sbragia Monte Rosso
2006 Sbragia Wall
With all this going for it, I think we can expect Cabernet Sauvignon to continue its huge popularity for a long time.