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.
Penley Estate Phoenix 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Coonawarra, AustraliaPrice: $17ABV: 14%
When it comes to Cabernet, Coonawarra is Australias answer to the Napa Valley. This region is known for producing outstanding Cabernet and Penley Estates Phoenix sets the bar high for great wines in an affordable price range. A dark and richly concentrated wine, it offers tongue-coating tannins, intense blackberry and cassis flavors and a persistent curry spice. Although its under $20, Phoenix drinks like a much higher priced wine.
> For more information, visit the Penley Estate official website.
Experience Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
This affordable wine is perfect for accompanying your more relaxing moments. It’s crafted by husband and wife duo Catherine and Travis Vale, aged in French oak barrels, barrel-fermented to capture Napa’s brilliance this season.
This wine is a deep and dark ruby color that draws the eye. The aroma offers up hints of anise, mocha, and oak from barrel fermentation before unveiling sweeter notes like blackberries and black cherries.
This complex flavor profile carries over into a long-lasting finish with velvety texture for your enjoyment!
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Best France: Chteau Montrose
Vivinos tips: Editors note: Left Bank 2005 Super Second Growth! Aged For You in France! Collector Must-Have. Wowed the Critics, Earning Double 97-Point Scores.
Region: France, Saint-Estèphe
If you love the French style, you must try it. It will blow you away! If you collect wine, keep an eye on it, Id secure few bottles if I were you.
It has a fine and elegant robe with a beautifully intense and dark garnet. The nose, powerful and harmonious, is pleasantly woody.
Aerated, it reveals lightly toasted aromas, followed with hints of ripe fruits and licorice.
The palate is full and soft with tight tannins and a light sweetness. The finish is long and harmonious.
Vivinos tips: Great value for money. Similar wines usually cost 2 times as much.
Region: Italy, Toscana
I could simply say that Im Italian and I know my stuff. I could also add that for Vivino, similar wines usually cost twice as much and that critics love it. But by now, I know that you love details and so here you go.
Tignanello is the first and most consistent of the great Super Tuscans.
The first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first modern Tuscan wine to be blended with non-traditional varieties, and one of the first red Chianti Classico wines made without any white grapes.
Tignanello is an iconic Italian masterpiece and one of the cornerstone bottlings of the Antinori estate.
Vivinos tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 45% more.
About Sommeliers Choice Awards
Sommeliers Choice Awards gathers the top restaurant wine buyers, Master Sommeliers, wine directors who have a direct influence on the US on-premise market.
Put your wines in front of them and get rated by Food Parability, Typicity, Value, Quality, and Package.
If you’re looking to get in front of the top sommeliers and on-premise wine buyers of the USA, now is the best time to enter your wines.
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Cresta Velia Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
A lovingly crafted wine from a relative newcomer to the Napa Valley scene. The intense dark color in the glass is followed by an equally intense nose of dark fruit, plus hints of dark spice. On the palate, the flavors are also intense, with a luxurious texture. The finish is well balanced, with bright notes.
Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This wine is made by one of Napa Valleys most dependable producers, using grapes from select vineyard sites. Quite dark in the glass, the nose is dominated by focused dark fruits, and hints of spice and oak influence. On the palate, the wine is broad and intense, finishing with elegance and subtle chocolate notes.
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Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Winemaker Brian Rudin continues his winning streak of wines from the famed Red Mt. district. Sourcing from their own Longwinds vineyard, he continues the very successful Duckhorn formula of adding other key site producers to create a new classic for Washington. Aged 20 months in oak. Bright, creamy and bursting with strawberry, plum and cherry notes.
Whats Cabernet Sauvignon’s Typical Price Range
Theres a Cabernet Sauvignon for every pocket. The price varies considerably and quickly reach $1,000+ for the finest bottles.
- Good quality Cabernet Sauvignon at around $15-$30. Look for Australia, Chile, California , South Africa, and Washington bottles.
- Up to $100 you can get great bottles from California, Australia, and Italy.
- As you go for French and Napa finest bottles the price will quickly skyrocket towards $1,000 and above.
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Six Best Napa Cabernet Sauvignons
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is changing, and thats a very good thing.
After a misjudged fixation on big, high alcohol, over-oaked wines in the 2000s some winemakers were even aging their wines in two sets of new oak barrels, one after the other, talk about overkill the tide is turning. Now, we are seeing a growing emphasis on elegance and structure rather than pure, 15% alcohol, power. Phew!
For many consumers, that bigness is a virtue, the mark of a good wine. If a wines opaque, dense and lacks acidity it tends to rack up ratings points and draw the admiration of collectors with bank accounts more developed than their palates. Subtle is not the first word that comes to mind when one encounters these wines, while finesse takes a back seat to power and weight. Their virtue, if one can call it that, is they are seductively approachable, so little discernment is required.
Now the trend is towards lighter, more elegant and food friendly wines. Many of these come from the steep, rocky hills that flank the valley. Remember Virgils Vines love an open hill? It’s as true today in Napa as when he made his observation in Rome more than 2,000 years ago.
Mountainside wines tend to be angular and mineral-infused, possessed of a nervous energy. That doesnt mean you cant make great Cab on the valley floor, but you do have to be vigilant in restraining the vines exuberance.
Please note, these are long-lived wines that will benefit from many years careful cellaring.
Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Rodney Strong’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is made by hand from the finest hillside vineyards in Sonoma County. The wines are aged only in the finest French oak barrels, ensuring outstanding quality.
This wine is lush and vibrant. The first flavor that stands out is the dark plum, followed by blackberries and cassis, all balanced with a slight touch of oak on this lingering finish.
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Noble Vines 337 Cabernet Sauvignon
Im not usually a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon from Californias central valley , but this one is a stand out. The mission at Noble Vines is to use exceptional vine stocks originating at the old chateaux of Bordeaux, France. . In France, these grapes grow beautifully in rocky clay soil, so they were planted in the same type of soil in the Clay Station vineyard in Lodi and have done very well there.
This is a complex, full-bodied wine with balanced flavors of blackberry, cranberry, baking spices, and a hint of herbs. It finishes with plenty of tannins and a lush mouthfeel that make it a wine to chew on. A winner for true Cab lovers like my dad! And by the way, it got 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Approx. $12.
Kunde Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
At $20-25, this Cab from Kunde Family Winery in Sonoma Valley is priced a little higher than the others but is worth the splurge. This is a wine that definitely starts off shy but wows you after its had time to open up. I grew to love the flavor of berry with a hint of chocolate in this rich, balanced wine. Im unsure of its national distribution, but its available at supermarkets and local restaurants around Northern California as well as on Total Wine online. Approx. $22.
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Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Chianti Classico’s ancient Tuscan wine-producing region meets the newly discovered Maremma area in this elegant, full-bodied red. The old and the new are utilized to make a balanced wine that will please any palate.
This cab has a dark purple color with intriguing black cherry aromas. It is also filled with balsamic herbs and coffee notes that are intertwined alongside the toasted oak flavors.
Black fruit dominates this flavor profile with some dried flowers, chocolate, and vanilla in an exotic tasting experience just waiting for exploration from start to finish. This complex and full-bodied bottle leaves a velvety smooth finish.
Penfolds Bin 407 2016
Origin: South AustraliaPrice: $60ABV: 14.5%
This is an interesting and complex Cabernet, blended with grapes from all of South Australias best Cab-growing regions. Its a well-structured wine made in a style that really accentuates spice. It offers hints of tobacco and bramble on the nose with an interesting interplay of black currant and olive on the palate. This wines tannins are firm. You could open it now but might want to wait a year or two to enjoy this one.
> For more information, visit the Penfolds official website.
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Eberle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
The Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is an elegant and balanced wine with aromas of black cherry, cassis with hints of mint chocolates. The palate-coating flavors are tart and juicy, supported by subtle tannins to make for a long lingering finish.
The Eberle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine for any occasion. It goes well with barbequed ribs to the classic oven-roasted lamb loin or even braised short ribs.
Daou Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Aged in 60% new French oak barrels, this Paso Robles wine is a deep, rimmed ruby red in the glass. Intense cherry and red berry aromas, along with hints of pepper, tobacco and vanilla. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering concentrated ripe currant, Bing cherry and spice flavors that deepen slowly and turn sweeter on the back half. Fine-grained tannins build on a long finish that leaves behind a suggestion of baked cherries.
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Mount Veeder 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Napa Valley, California, U.S.A.Varietal: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 3% MalbecPrice: $41ABV: 14.5%
Michael and Arlene Bernstein were the first to plant grapevines on Mount Veeder in 1970. When their Cabernet cuttings took root and flourished, they knew they were on to something. Encouraged by their friend and Napa legend Robert Mondavi, the Bernsteins established the first winery on Mount Veeder. Today, the winery has three vineyard ranches nestled high in the Mayacamas Mountains, producing powerfully flavorful, concentrated wines that express their unique mountain terroir.This blend has a deep garnet color, a rich nose with ripe black currants, plum, black cherries with hints of chocolate and spices. The palate is loaded with ripe black fruits, fine tannins and good mountain acidity making for a well-balanced, complete and complex wine.
> For more information, visit the Mount Veeder official website.
Clos Du Val Winemakers Signature Series Three Graces Red Blend 2016
This is an incredible bottle with brooding dark berry and smoked salt aromas. In terms of structure, its the definition of full-bodied with seamless tannins still folding into the wine.
Clos du Val is a perfect example of how Napa Valley is highly maintained in producing excellent bottles. This blend is composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, with some Cabernet Franc and a small addition of Petit Verdot.
It has aromas that include freshly turned earth as well as violets and cassis. The dustiness from the rocks plays on your palate, with concentrated layers of black fruit transitioning to pepper spice in the finish for an elegant touch.
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Priest Ranch 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Napa Valley, California, USAVarietal: 100% Cabernet SauvignonPrice: $44.00ABV: 14.9%The historic Priest Ranch is now part of the Somerston Estate, a significant property with 244 acres of hillside vineyards. The wines of Priest Ranch are sourced from multiple blocks, showcasing the diversity and complexity of the combined property. Their 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon came from 24 unique vineyard blocks, planted at elevations from 850 to 1,650 feet. The wine was aged 20 months in 40% new French oak and 60% once-used French oak barrels. The lees were stirred for the first year followed by three rackings in the second year of aging. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.The wine has a deep crimson red color. The nose shows aromas of ripe berries, black currant, dark chocolate, mocha and a touch of oak. Layers of ripe fruit, spices, vanilla and chocolate reveal themselves on the palate. The wine has a good tannic structure with well-balanced acidity and a lengthy, refined finish.> For more information, visit the Priest Ranch Wines official website.
Napa 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin: Napa Valley, California, USAVarietal: 100% Cabernet SauvignonPrice: $35.99ABV: 14.5%
At the junction of Oakville Cross Road and Highway 29 in Napa Valley stands a landmark historical Victorian home and the iconic Oakville Grocery, founded in 1881, the oldest continuously operating grocery store in California. The general store served the visionary pioneers who first planted grapes in the valley and remains today a celebrated gathering place for the Napa Valley crowd. Known as 1881 Napa, the adjacent founders home today honors the rich legacy, history, and heritage of this world-famous wine region. 1881 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from prestigious vineyards throughout Napa Valley, creating a wine that celebrates the regions diversity and complexity.The wine shows a deep ruby color with a touch of purple on the rim. It opens up with a bouquet of ripe black fruit with mocha and toasted oak aromas. The mouth is well balanced with ripe fruit and licorice flavors all wrapped in medium tannins adding to the supple finish. It is aged in American oak.
> For more information, visit the 1881 Napa official website.
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Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
The gapes for this outstanding cabernet were sourced in the northern part of Napa Valley, which produces wines of intensity and saturation. Quite opaque in the glass, the nose is dominated by black fruit, with notes of wood and spice. The dark fruit coats the palate, with layers of appealing black fruit, followed by a bright, balanced finish.
Dominus Estate 2018 Napa Valley
This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, black currants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but its one for the cellar. James Suckling
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Niner Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This wine has a big, bold taste and an acidity that keeps things lively on the palate. It’s kind of thick for a Californian Cabernet, and it has aromas of blackberries and earth. Tannins are present as well, but they’re seamlessly integrated into this wine to provide structure.
Niner Estate’s latest vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect wine to accompany your next meal. With a taste that lingers on dark cherry flavors, this elegant and finessed cab will be sure to please all palates with its natural acidity.
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
This dark ruby wine has a sweet taste. The flavors such as blackberry, boysenberry, and Bing cherry dominate with nuances of milk chocolate, chocolate berry truffle dusted with cocoa powder, and aromatic cedar.
Herbs de Provence adds to the overall complexity of the drink by giving it an earthy flavor that you cant resist!
The wine is heavy and rich with a velvety texture. The fruity taste of dark cherry will linger on your tongue as the tannins fade away to leave you feeling pleasantly full.
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