Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a few steps up from the regular bottling (which is also a great value).  Pricing can vary greatly on these so it pays to shop around.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is gorgeous with cassis, leather, earthiness, smoke and dark chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries, with intertwines earthiness and char.  Nice finish.  This is still young of course, but drinking beautifully.  Lush with depth and some complexity.  This is drinking great now, but should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Wonderful

This is another big, bold red from the Prisoner Wine Company.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Merlot.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate, baking spices and slight cedar notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there is some varietal complexity but mostly just up front fruit.  Delicious.  Black cherries and black raspberries with medium tannins.  This probably should be consumed over the next three to five years.  

Classic Napa Cabernet from a very good vintage.  This is a Cab that takes a while to mature and at age 15, it is just hitting that sweet spot.  Purple in color. The nose is great with cassis, cedar, a bit of funk, leather and camphor.  Complex and enticing.  Full bodied but not a bomb at all.  The palate is complex and deep without being over done.  Cassis layered with earth and leather.  Energy and balance.  Long finish.  Drink this over the next ten to fifteen years.  It drinks well on its own but is probably better with food.  From a steak to a roast, this would work great.  

From the heart of the historic To Kalon Vineyard in Napa.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for about 8 hours prior to serving.  This was a cooler vintage in Napa, but To Kalon is on the valley floor and gets plenty of sun and warmth.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  It is young but showing some signs of maturity.  Cassis, cedar and black cherries intertwined with spice and slight minerality.  Lovely texture.  Nice finish.  This should continue to mature for another five to sev

Another winner from Maybach.  This is expensive but in the rarified air of top Napa Cabs, it is reasonable.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has blueberries, gravel, cassis, pencil lead and spice.  What a rich and lovely texture.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries over a bed of gravel.  Medium tannins.  This will continue to slowly age for the next fifteen or so years and be good for ten to twenty after that.  Delicious.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own now, but will over power all but the biggest dishes.  If wishing to serve with dinner,

This is the entry level Cab from the producer of Washington and Oregon wines.  It is a solid wine for the price.  It utilized a glass closure ("Cork") which probably has kept it a bit fresher over the years.  Deep ruby/purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight spice and a hint of fennel.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru.  Tannins are resolved.  It tastes fresh but lacks depth or complexity.  Moderate finish.  At $30, this is a solid wine, but for my money, it is worth the extra money for the better Cabs.  drink this sooner than later, it won't get bet

Another gorgeous wine from Thomas Rivers Brown.  This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot that were co-fermented .  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, chocolate and baking spices.  Lush and rich texture on a medium to full bodied frame.  Very concentrated.  Black cherry fruit with cassis with underlying minerality.  Long finish.  Drinking youthfully but very well.  This should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another ten to twelve more after that.  It will go well with roasts of all kinds.  

This is one of my favorite high-end wines.  Even at the $95 price tag, it is almost as good as Bevan's single vineyard designated red wines that sell for twice the price.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, coffee, black cherries, chocolate and graphite.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has muscular tannins but plenty of fruit to match up with it.  Juicy cassis and black cherries with underlying graphite and spice.  This drinks beautifully now but should evolve and improve over the next five to seven years and drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  It will need big foods righ

This is a proprietary red from Napa made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 1% each of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  Tasted from two bottles, and one bottle was good, the other one great.  At age 18, that is to be expected.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, gravel and roasted meat and herbs.  On the palate, this is complex as the layers start to unwind in the glass.  Black cherries dominate over a nice dry earthiness.  Light tannins.  Great balance.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but will be even better with

Always a great value in Cal Cabs and very consistent over the years.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis and smoke.  On the palate, this is very smooth.  Nice cassis fruit.  Very solid.  Nice finish.  Drink this over the next five years.  It will work great with grilled foods.