wineries .

C A B E R N E T . S A U V I G N O N 98 GHOST BLOCK 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard; Yountville - Napa Valley $100 From the moment you smell this wine you know its going to be great. Beautiful aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, cassis and oak are supplemented by pepper-spice, caramel and light tobacco. Rich, smooth and sexy on the palate, this cab is wonderfully balanced, offers full-bodied flavors, and seems to melt in your mouth in its long, lingering finish. Superb! 98 MEADOWCROFT 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $36 Beautiful blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, currant, spice, vanilla and oak. On the palate, this is a rich, superbly-crafted wine with lots of character. It’s spicy and bold yet smooth and round, and the finish is wonderfully long and round. 98 SOL ROUGE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Reserve - Napa/Lake Counties $100 Doesn’t get much better than this. Beautiful rich aromas of blackberry, black currant, dark raspberry and plum, with sides of clove, coffee/black tea and oak. Smooth and elegant, this concentrated wine fills the mouth with abundant flavor, firm tannins and a nice long, lingering spicy finish. 98 SOL ROUGE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $75 Distinct Napa valley cab nose of black and red fruits, bits of anise and licorice, and the balance of spice and oak. On the palate this is a very elegant wine, offering rich, round flavors leading to a long, lingering finish. Excellent! 98 THE WINERY SF 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain $150 You know from the first whiff that this wine is going to be a stunner. Layers of blackberry, black currant, nuts, plum and cherry/black cherry are embraced by blueberry, licorice, chocolate and oak. This is a superbly-crafted, full-bodied wine that just never stops giving on the palate. A bit tight now, a few years will only make it better. 98 VENGE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve - Oakville-Napa Valley $125 You know from the moment you first smell this wine that it’s going to be a stunner. Layers of blackberry, black currant, herbs, plum and cherry/black cherry are embraced by blueberry, licorice, chocolate and oak. This superbly-crafted, full-bodied wine just never stops giving on the palate. And the best part is the wonderfully-long, round tannin finish. That’s what makes this wine distinctive! 97 FORCHINI 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor's Reserve - Dry Creek Valley $32 97 FOYT 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder - Napa Valley $75 A pretty nose of blackberry, currant, cherry and dark raspberry enveloped in spice, vanilla and oak. With time this will be a great wine, but right now (12/21/12) it’s still a bit closed and chewy. It’s going to be a great wine, and needs to be decanted if opened soon. 97 FREI BROTHERS 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Alexander Valley $27 97 MCNAB FAMILY RESERVE 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $40 97 MCNAB FAMILY RESERVE 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Trio - Napa Valley/Sonoma County/Mendocino County $40 97 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Paso Robles $54 97 SLINGSHOT 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $20 97 SOL ROUGE 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; Mayacamas Mountains - Napa Valley $100 Beautiful rich aromas of blackberry, black currant, dark raspberry and plum, with sides of clove, coffee/black tea and oak. Smooth and elegant, this wine fills the mouth with abundant flavor, firm tannins and a nice lingering finish. 97 THE WINERY SF 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain $150 Much like the Diamond Mountain, this is a pretty intense wine with layers of blackberry, black currant, nuts, plum and cherry/black cherry are embraced by blueberry, licorice, chocolate and oak. Well-balanced and a mouthful, the finish is a bit sticky, so decant or let it breathe a bit before drinking. 97 VENGE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Bone Ash Vineyard - Napa Valley $76 The nose is a little shy at first, but once this wine opens it displays wonderful black and red fruit aromas, complimented by a little spice and just the right amount of oak. The palate delivers the promise of the nose, offering a soundly-structured, full-bodied wine rich in flavors and ending in a well-balanced finish. 97 WILLIAM HILL 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bench Blend - Napa Valley $45 96 BRUTOCAO 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $24 Pretty aromas of cherry, blackberry, raspberry, cassis/anise, chocolate, vanilla and oak. Still a bit tight on the palate, experience dictates that this wine will get better with a little age. The rich fruit and secondary characteristics are nicely balanced, the body is a little firm but flavorful, and the finish is a little chewy but full. Decant now or age a year or so. 96 BRUTOCAO 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Mendocino $36 Beautiful nose of mature blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, plum and spices matched with leather/saddle leather, cigar ash, vanilla and oak. This wine has a nice, spicy character, with everything coming together on the palate in a well-balanced, smooth wine with a nice round-ish finish. 96 FORCHINI 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor's Reserve - Dry Creek Valley $32 96 GOYETTE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $24 96 HAYWOOD 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Los Chamizal Vineyards - Sonoma Valley $54 96 LOUIS M MARTINI 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $34 96 MCNAB FAMILY RESERVE 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley $40 96 MCNAB FAMILY RESERVE 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Largo - Mendocino County $40 96 R&B CELLARS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; Lyric of the Vine - Napa Valley $50 Beautiful aromas of blackberry, cherry, black raspberry, plum and saddle leather, with hints of mint/eucalyptus, pepper and oak. Holding up very well for its age, this cab has a nice spicy character, is well balanced and smooth all the way through the long, round, lingering finish. (tasted 3/16/13) 96 SMITH & HOOK 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast $30 95 BOGLE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon California $11 95 BRUTOCAO 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Contento Vineyard - Mendocino $22 Layers of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and cola supplemented with earth tones, spice, vanilla and oak. The aromas follow through on the palate, providing a concentrated wine that needs a little time to soften on the finish. 95 DIAMOND OAKS WINERY 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $25 Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and a good deal of oak, chocolate and vanilla. The flavors follow suit, adding hints of pepper spice, anise and roasted coffee. Although a bit heavy handed in the winemaking, this is a delightful wine, especially for the price. (This is a second label of Diamond Oaks Winery.) 95 EDGE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast $20 95 EDUCATED GUESS 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $20 95 HERITANCE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $28 95 HYPOTHESIS 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $40 95 MEADOWCROFT 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder - Napa Valley $60 A pretty nose of blackberry, currant, cherry and dark raspberry enveloped in spice, vanilla and oak. With time this will be a great wine, but right now (12/21/12) it’s still tight, chalky and chewy. Still, it’s a great wine and should be decanted if you have no patience. 95 OAKVILLE WINERY 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - Napa Valley $45 Inviting aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum and anise, with hints of spice and oak. On the palate this wine leans toward the firm side, with forward fruit and some spice, then tapers-off into a smooth, long-lingering finish. 95 PEDRONCELLI 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Vineyards - Dry Creek Valley $17 95 POMAR JUNCTION VINEYARD 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles $34 95 PROVERBIAL 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley $28 95 SAN MARCOS CREEK 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Paso Robles $35 95 SOL ROUGE 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve; Mayacamas Mountains - Napa Valley $60 Rich, concentrated aromas of blackberry, black currant, dark raspberry and plum, with sides of clove, coffee/black tea and oak. Packed tight, this wine fills the mouth with abundant flavor, firm tannins and a nice lingering finish. Best to decant when young. 95 VENGE 2008 "Silencieux" Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $48 A blend of mountain, bench land and valley floor grapes, this wine demonstrates how a talented winemaker can artfully blend to optimize each component. With a pretty nose of wild blackberry, cherry, raspberry, light spice and a hint of cola, this wine expands beautifully on the palate, leaving you with a long, lingering, round-tannin finish. 95 VILLA SAN-JULIETTE 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles $17 94 HOOK & LADDER 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $26 94 LOUIS M MARTINI 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley $30 94 ROCK HOLLOW 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles $18 94 STEPHEN VINCENT 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon California $14 93 CASS 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles $42 Classic cabernet flavors of black and red fruit, complemented by some spice, coffee/toffee flavors and a solid core on tannins. Given some time this will open into a wonderful wine. 93 CHATOM VINEYARDS 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Calaveras County $26 93 EHRET 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley $34 Pretty nose of currants, blackberry, plum and red fruit supported by leather, tobacco/cigar, vanilla and oak. A bit firm on the palate, this wine exhibits nice, mature black and red fruit flavors that give way to an edgy, slightly-tannic finish. Let breathe before drinking. 93 GHOST BLOCK 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate; Oakville - Napa Valley $60 A full nose of black fruit and oak followed by tobacco, caramel, spice, cassis and coffee. This is a medium-bodied cab, offering nice, ripe black fruit flavors surrounded by cassis, caramel and spice, finishing with smooth, round tannins. 93 GROVE RIDGE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon California $10 93 PICKET FENCE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley $18 92 CABLE CAR 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon California $10 92 INSATIABLE 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon California $10 92 SOL ROUGE 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Lake County $32 92 THRESHOLD 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley $25 91 CHESSMAN 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi $15 91 GROVE RIDGE 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon California $10 91 SHED HORN CELLARS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Lake County $29 91 THE WINERY SF 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast $25 90 ALAMOS 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza - Argentina $13 90 EDUCATED GUESS 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $20 90 R&B CELLARS 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Napa Valley $50 Aromas of mature blackberry, black cherry, plum and currant, with tea, chocolate and oak following. If you enjoy aged cabs, this wine’s for you. Still maintaining it’s dark fruit core, this cab is nicely balanced, well-structured, and lingers on the palate in a beautiful smooth finish. (Tasted 2/28/12)