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Best Cabernet From Napa Valley

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Vinoce 2019 Cabernet Franc Mt Veeder Napa Valley

Top Ten Napa Valley Cabernet’s

Vinoce

Brian Nuss, who developed and managed a large estate vineyard for his Mt. Veeder neighbor, the late comedian and actor Rob Williams, makes this brightly balanced Vinoce Cab Franc from nearby on Mt. Veeder. The nose opens like a forest breeze, with lovely dark berry, savory herb, gravelly earth and some warm baking spices joining the aromatics. A burst of sweet-seeming fruit pops on the palateslightly exotic berry flavors , along with juicy plum. This one is generous and ripe, but hangs on mountain herbs and structure for great balance.

Kenzo Estate 2018 Asuka Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

Kenzo Estate

Under the winemaking hand of Heidi Barrett and the viticulture work of David Abreu, Kenzo produced an elegant Cab Franc in 2018. Dark and earthy notes open on the nose, with graphite, black pepper and minerality layered under blackberry, toasted spice and high-toned floral aromas emerging as the wine opens up. A beautiful dense texture underlines generous ripe blueberry, blackberry and black raspberry and plum flavors laced with hints of star anise, clove and mocha. Supple tannins wrap the whole package.

Best Under $: 2017 Flat Top Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Jasmine, Violet

Under the banner of the famed Mondavi winemaking family comes this delicious and mercifully affordable cabernet, which combines the robust flavors of grapes sourced from Paso Robles and the Monterey coast to Yolo County. Because of its rich flavor, this bottle offers great value.

Fruity and spicy, this wine has notes of vivid wild-berry and red fruit strawberries, along with herbaceous aromas of jasmine and violets. Expect easy-drinking soft fruit with good juicy acidity and smooth tannins. It even pairs wonderfully with a rare burger.

Region: Napa Valley, California | ABV: 14.2% | Tasting Notes: Raspberry, Blackberry, Dark Chocolate

If you want to experience a cabernet under $50 that encapsulates the style of the grape when expertly grown in new-world environs, this is it. Crafted by husband-and-wife duo Catherine and Travis Vale, barrel-fermented and aged in French oak, this affordable wine is treated like triple-digit royalty and is perfect for accompanying your more relaxing moments.

With bright raspberry and red cherry notes, this is a medium-bodied wine with gentle tannins and sweet red fruit, fresh-pressed blackberries and gobs of dark chocolate, along with a spicy finish.

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Ashes & Diamonds 2015 2016 & 2017 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

Ashes & Diamonds

Under acclaimed winemaker Steve Matthiasson, Ashes & Diamonds has been making some notable Cabernet Francs, and you can taste the first three vintages side by side with this terrific vertical. The bright 2015 launches with focused fruitblack raspberrylayered with earth and florals at once, pepper and graphite. The 2016 weighs in with a little more tannin structure exotic spice and sour cherry are underlined by a vein of minerality, ending with compelling textures and length. And the spice in the vibrant 2017 runs warm and earthy under juicy black cherry punctuated by cedar and resiny herbs, wrapped in a generous structure.

What Makes Napa Valley Ideal For Cabernet Sauvignon

best napa valley cabernet sauvignon Archives

For one, youve got to have the right climate

When it comes to producing great wine, it starts with growing great grapes. In the case of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, they have been shown to be best suited for a sunny, warm climate so that the grapes ripen slowly. While many places in California are quite hot indeed , Napa Valleys location on the San Pablo Bay causes an induction effect at night that delivers morning cloud cover. The morning fog slows certain aspects of ripening. Additionally, the AVAs within Napa Valley that are above the clouds have higher elevation to use to their advantage. Higher temperature shifts between night and day in the hills slow certain aspects of ripening .

Expect to spend: These days its hard to spend less than $50 for a good bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

The quality of Napas soils

There are many different soil types that are well-suited for Cabernet Sauvignon and ultimately whats important is good drainage and not too much soil fertility. The low fertility puts the vines in a state of stress earlier in the growing season, which shifts the vines focus from growing leaves to ripening grapes. What makes Napa Valley special is a prevalence of volcanic soils which unexplainably add an earthy, dusty taste to Napas best wines. Since earthiness and minerality are not common in New World wine regions, this dustiness adds complexity to Napa wines.

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The 25 Best Cabernet Sauvignons For 2022

Known for its hefty body and ability to stand up to the heartiest of meals, Cabernet Sauvignon is Americas favorite red wine varietal, holding a 13 percent share of the U.S. wine market .

The result of accidental breeding of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its peppery and dark fruit notes and for stocking steakhouse cellars around the world. But while Cab is most often paired with red meat, the robust red wine is also a delightful accompaniment to roasted chicken, pasta dishes, or otherwise sipped on its own.

With so many offerings flooding American wine shops, it can be hard to decipher which bottles are worth the spend. Thats why VinePair rounded up our 25 favorite Cabernet Sauvignons for 2022. With prices ranging from sub-$20 to $200-plus, this list has something for every budget.

Cliff Lede 2017 Stags Leap

Liquor.com / Laura Sant

As this iconic Napa brand inches toward two decades of winemaking, second-generation vintner Jason Lede, the son of founder Cliff Lede, is taking on increasing responsibility. Jason shares his fathers passion for music, and as Cliff named several estate vineyard blocks after his favorite rock songs and albums, Jason got a shot at naming his own recently. He settled on Intergalactic as a reference to the Beastie Boys and his personal love for hip-hop when the younger Lede isnt managing the winerys hospitality staff, hes deejaying and donating funds to local charities.

In the glass, this one delivers savory red currants, spicy wild herbs, cedar and coriander. Its powerful and intense with very concentrated black cherry fruit, brown spices, cracked black pepper and firm, taut tannins. Its royally delicious now and built for long aging.

Berkeley winemaker Jeff Morgan apparently cant stop himself from making profoundly pleasing wines, whether chardonnay from Sonoma, syrah or pinot noir from Israel or opulent Napa cabernet. Covenants 2017 release reveals beautiful black and red fruits, rose petal florals, brown spices and graham cracker crust. Satiny black currants and cassis notes are woven around a tapestry of cedar spices, bolstered by fine-grained tannins and punctuated by silken waves of chocolate-covered strawberries and blueberry compote on a long and lasting finish.

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Plus The Seven Attributes All Great Cabernets Share

Ive recently tasted a slew of mind-blowing Napa Valley cabernetswines that stop you in your tracks wines that make you wonder how wine can taste and feel that damn good.

And of course, these wines arent just good. They are great.

As a writer, words matter more to me than scores alone, but I gave every one of these 95 to 100 points.

Yes, these wines are expensive and, as such, they are not every-night wines. But great anything is expensive. A Porsche, an Armani suit, a table at The French Laundry.

So, what are the hallmarks of great Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon?

Complexity for one thing. Complexity is the head trip of great wine. The complexity of a top cabernet is endlessly compelling. I remember the late winemaker of Château Margaux, Paul Pontallier, telling me that when cabernet is great, its like looking down a long road. Your eye keeps traveling further and further and you keep seeing things with no end in sight.

But there are other attributes too. I think all great cabernets are precise and vivid. No molecule is out of place. The wine almost seems alive.

Great cabernet is also extremely distinctivenot just in flavor, but also in aroma and texture. It has its own memorable personality.

For me, great cabernet has to have contrapuntal tensionin the same split second, you sense its power and its refinement.

And of course, great cabernet has to go on and on. The end should fade out ever so slowly, like a sexy French film.

The Best American Cabernet From Beyond Napa According To Wine Pros

Top 10 Napa Cabernets || Decants with D
  • Grassini Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Avennia Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon
  • DeLille Cellars Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

At the top of my list is Santa Barbara. Santa Ynez and Happy Canyon grow some fantastic Cabernets. Some of my favorite producers include Grassini Family Vineyards, Carhartt Family Wines, Pegasus Estate Winery, and Westerly Wines. Theres so much to explore! Casleah Herwaldt, owner,

Ill start by saying, dollar for dollar, I think Washington Cabernet Sauvignons generally outperform the Napa Valley , so its difficult to pick just one. Still, the Avennia Red Willow Cabernet Sauvignon is the confluence of old-vine fruit from a magical vineyard in the hands of a winemaking wizard, Chris Peterson. Its shocking that 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon can have this much aromatic detail and mouth drama. Its an aroma molecule blizzard and a flavor tsunami that will age for decades. If this wine were from Napa, it would easily be five times the cost. Chris Horn, director of liquids, Heavy Restaurant Group, Seattle

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La Jota Vineyard Co 2018 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain

La Jota Vineyard Co

This concentrated La Jota redfrom Chris Carpenter, like the earlier-mentioned Caladancomes from some of the oldest Cab Franc vines in Napa Valley. Aromas of pungent mountain herbs announce its Howell Mountain provenance, swirling with violets, red fruit and touches of cocoa and smoke box. The palate follows with beautifully intense raspberry and red cherry laced with sweet spices, while a significant tannin structure creates visceral tension through a vivid finish.

Mira 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley

This wine is aged in 100 percent new French oak for 22 months. It has aromas of toasted hazelnuts, slate, purple flowers and black fruits. In the mouth there are ripe, rich fruit flavors and a firm tannic structure. Theres a bit of grit and texture in the finish, sometimes known as Rutherford Dust which is presumably due to the vineyards proximity to the Rutherford AVA.

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More Things To Do In Napa Valley

While visiting these top-rated best Napa Valley Wineries should be at the top of your list of things to do in Napa Valley this winter, its certainly not the only way to enjoy cellar season in this stunning wine-lovers destination. The mild weather means you can enjoy the rest of this incredible area with ease.

From unforgettable food experiences to fun tours and great shopping, there are plenty of things to do in Napa Valley in the winter. Weve compiled a list of a few of our favorites below.

  • Hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for a fun and delicious wine-forward experience.
  • Visit one of the many spas and treat yourself to an afternoon of pampering between visits to the top Napa Valley wineries. The popular mud baths in Calistoga are a fantastic choice, as are the hot springs around the valley!
  • Enjoy the festive holidays in Yountville, and do some holiday shopping while youre there. Its one of the most charming towns in the valley during the holiday season.
  • Another great place to do some shopping is the boutiques of downtown Napa.
  • Food is just as big as wine in Napa Valley, and wintertime is the perfect time to enjoy a Michelin-starred restaurant. Try famed places like French Laundry, La Toque, or The Restaurant at Meadowood.
  • Other great food-related experiences include grabbing a bite to eat, shopping at the Oxbow Pubilc Market, taking a class, or watching a demonstration at the CIA at Copia in Napa.
  • Artesa Vineyards & Winery

    The 15 Best Cabernet Sauvignons From Napa Valley

    Address: 1345 Henry Rd Napa, CA 94559

    You will often find this winery on the lists of the most beautiful tasting rooms around Napa Valley. Their tasting room offers a modern, minimalistic feel with sweeping views of the valley.

    They also have outdoor seated tastings at certain times of the year and these cannot be beaten on a beautiful, sunny day.

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    Hall Wines At St Helena

    Address: 401 St Helena Hwy St Helena, CA 94574

    Another popular stop for Cab lovers is Hall Wines. They also have a lovely collection of art throughout the property. This is where you will find the famous silver rabbit piece by Lawrence Argent. They also have a second location in Rutherford that features their tasty wines and additional pieces of art.

    Oak Knoll District Of Napa Valley Ava

    This is one of the regions where you will find more Bordeaux style reds. You’ll find wines with dark, ripe fruit flavors with hints of blackberry and blueberry. Others offer hints of black cherries, dark chocolate, spice, and black currant.

    Wineries here include Black Stallion Estate Winery, O’Brien Estate, and Robert Biale Vineyards.

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    Best Australian: 2018 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon

    Region: South Australia | ABV: 14.5% | Tasting Notes: Tomato leaf, Brown butter, Mocha

    Try cabernet the Aussie way with this fruity rendition from Penfolds. This South Australian multi-regional blend is made with grapes from the countrys cooler climates, maturing in French and American oak for a full year. The result is this deep and structured wine thats worth crossing the Pacific for.

    Youll find aromas of blackberry compote, on-the-vine tomato leaf, cassis, and brown butter sage out the gate. This is a medium-bodied wine with wispy tannins and flavors of black and red currant, cherry and nutty mocha. This wine tastes excellent today, but will also improve over the next decade.

    Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile | ABV: 15% | Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Crème de cassis, Olive tapenade

    The Lapostolle family is Chilean royalty, and a member of the family, Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, is president and CEO of Clos Apalta. With the help of two notable French winemakers, Michele Rolland and Jacques Begarie, they are producing some of the best cabernet blends on earth.

    With 64% carménère, 19% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot, this is a compact red, bursting at the seams with black raspberry, blackberry, red currants, crème de cassis and olive tapenade. Grippy, powerful tannins are underscored by savory tobacco, mint, and cacaoall leading to a focused and harmonious finish.

    Harlan Estate Napa Valley 2013

    BEST Deal at Costco!! Swanson Vineyards 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignonð?·Wine

    This is really sensational. Such precision and focus, with glorious aromas of tar, graphite, blackcurrant and blackberry. A full body, very tight and reserved. Phenomenal tannic structure that is supple and glorious. This new classicism makes me speechless. 100 per cent pleasure. Drinkable but built for ageing. 100 points

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    The Rumored Favorite Spot Of Rihanna Acme Fine Wines Is A Good Place To Grab Bottles To Go Or Ship Home

    Along Zinfandel Lane, which connects Highway 29 to the Silverado Trail just before getting into town, Wheeler Farms Wine is the second act of Araujo Estate founders Bart and Daphne Araujo. In addition to the house wines, a handful of winemaking partners also crush and produce at the sites state-of-the-art winemaking facility many are available to taste on location . While you taste, check out the chickens that roam free among the culinary gardens.

    In town, The Charter Oak is the second restaurant from the team at Meadowood, which boasts three Michelin stars. Much of the food is smoked over wine-soaked Cabernet barrels. Across the street, veer off track slightly for a delicious take on beer at the taproom for Mad Fritz, the brainchild of Nile Zacherle, winemaker at David Arthur Vineyards. Taste through the brews that were aged in French oak barrels that once held local Cabernet Sauvignon.

    The rumored favorite spot of Rihanna, Acme Fine Wines, is a good place to grab bottles to go or to ship home. Small-production Napa projects are given the love they deserve here, and can be tasted before purchase.

    The Soul Of Napa Valley

    Robert Mondavi established his namesake winery in 1966 with a vision to create Napa Valley wines that would stand in the company of the worlds finest. He chose To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of Napa Valley as the home for Robert Mondavi Winery. This first-growth vineyard, located in Oakville, California, is renowned for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world, as well as for its Sauvignon Blanc grapes, from which Mr. Mondavi crafted his signature wine, Fumé Blanc.

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    Best Classic: Chteau Cos Destournel Saint

    courtesy of bordeauxtradition.com

    Region: Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Cassis, Graphite, Chocolate-covered cherries

    Whether it’s a genre-defining hip-hop album or a seminal Hitchcock film, sometimes you just need to go back to the old-school offerings to make sense of the new stuffand it’s hard to imagine a more classic interpretation of cabernet sauvignon than Château Cos dEstournel. “This famous estate can trace its winemaking roots back to 1811, and was classified as a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, making it one of the elite producers of the region,” says Coppi. “It is a an absolutely stunning wine with the blend consisting of predominantly cabernet sauvignon along with merlot and a splash of cabernet franc.”

    As is the case with any serious Bordeaux, some patience is necessary if you want the wine to express its true potential. “In their youth, these are monolithic, muscular, powerhouse wines,” says Coppi. “After a decade or more of cellar aging, the complex layers and nuance of the wine unfold in the glass leather, tobacco, cassis, violets, graphite, black tea, stewed plums, chocolate covered cherries, and coffee are framed by silky tannins and fresh acidity.” It’s an old-school track worth waiting for.

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