Wine & Spirits - December 2020 - 73

YEAR'S BEST US CABERNETS & BLENDS
91 | Le P'tit Paysan

$25

90 | I. Brand

$75

2018 San Benito County Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon (Best Buy) ^ Sourced from two
vineyards originally planted for Almaden 60
years ago, this cabernet smells of cedar and
bay laurel. The oak profile keeps the dark,
spiced plum fruit vibrant and acid-driven,
with a mentholated grip of tannins that
makes it ideal for rosemary lamb. -P.J.C. §
521835
2018 Carmel Valley Massa Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ^ Ian Brand manages this
organically farmed vineyard, formerly called
Heller. Planted in the early 1980s, this dryfarmed high-elevation site produced a wine
that's purple and intense. It's wearing a heavy
oak frame right now, with resinous scents of
pine needles and redwood bark, but the dark
berry flavors are deep and assertive. Give this
cellar time, then serve with a steak. -P.J.C. §
521847

90 | Lone Madrone

$15

2016 Clarksburg Cabernet Sauvignon
(Best Buy) ^ This wine has an appealing
warmth in its tar- and tobacco-scented cherry
flavors. It's priced to buy for an outdoor barbecue. -P.J.C. §
521820

87 | Firefly Ridge

$10

87 | Slow Press

$17

2018 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
(Best Buy) ^ All plum and berry flavors, with
a violet tinge to the tannins and a prickle of
acidity, this is built for pork sausages. -P.J.C. §
521870

521797

88 | Bogle

$11

2017 California Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ This is a downright steal of a cabernet,
with its woodsy oak scent adorning simple
red-cherry flavors. It's fresh and light on its
feet, with enough acidity to cut through a
plate of chilled roast beef. -P.J.C. §

86 | Mon Frère

$17

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ Fruit forward and bright, with violet
and plum aromas and tart pomegranate flavors, this is suited to barbecue. -P.J.C. §
521386

90 | Ravines

521825

88 | Giapoza

$18

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ Bright and forward, this has the crowdpleasing richness of cherry compote, at a
friendly price. -P.J.C. §
521876

88 | Sterling

$12

2018 California Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (Best Buy) ^ Scents of pine
tips and creosote lead in this inky cab. Brooding and dark, it needs air and a few swirls in
the glass to wake up. For barbecue. -P.J.C. §
521877

88 | Sterling

$12

2018 California Vintner's Collection Meritage (Best Buy) ^ A blend of all five Bordeaux
varieties but dominated by merlot, this starts
off thick and chewy when first poured. With
air, the merlot takes center stage, streamlined and red-fruited; for charcuterie. -P.J.C. §

$25

2016 Finger Lakes Maximilien (Best Buy) ^
A blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot,
this is a delicate red-fruited beauty, with
aromas of red berry and plum and a velvety,
mouthwatering texture. Pour it with lamb
chops. -P.J.C. (W&S 10/20; 1,650 cases) §

WASHINGTON
COLUMBIA VALLEY
521900

94 | Avennia

$75

2017 Columbia Valley Sestina Cabernet
Sauvignon ^ Sestina is a Left Bank-inspired
blend based on cabernet sauvignon, with 17
percent merlot and the rest cabernet franc;
all but the franc comes from old-vine sources
such as Bacchus, Dionysus and Red Willow.
The 2017 is aromatic with scents of dried
mint, plum and black cherry, and the fruit
glimmers, cradled in generous oak notes. It
feels composed, with Red Willow's signature
firm, grainy tannins, the wine ready for strip
steak. -P.J.C. §
521491

94 | Quilceda Creek

$17

2017 San Lucas Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ This cabernet's violet-and-plum scents
give way to tart, bright pomegranate flavors.
Pour it with barbecued chicken. -P.J.C. §

521858

NEW YORK

2018 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
(Best Buy) ^ With scents of violets and crayon
wax, and mildly sweet cherry flavors, this can
stand up to lamb medallions. -P.J.C. §
521884

87 | Tribute

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ All cocoa powder, plum and India ink,
this dark cabernet is thick and tannic; for ribs
slathered in spicy sauce. -P.J.C. §

$70

2014 York Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ^
York Mountain is a small appellation on the
cool western edge of Paso Robles. Neil Collins, winemaker at Tablas Creek, has been
drawing fruit from Carver Vineyard there
since 1996. This wine is deeply structured
and framed by oak, spicing the black-cherry
fruit and giving the wine a dark savor. It's
well served by its cellar age, and has the stuffing to age further. -P.J.C. §
521810

87 | Criss Cross

87 | AVA Grace

CALIFORNIA AVA

521801

87 | Carson Scott

$15

2018 California Cabernet Sauvignon (Best
Buy) ^ A powerful complement of oak frames
this wine's cocoa and plum flavors, and has
the tannins to go up against a steak. -P.J.C. §
521791

$200

2017 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ^ Quilceda Creek's flagship cabernet,
this is a blend of four vineyards, including
estate fruit from Palengat and Champoux,
in the Horse Heaven Hills. It's seamless,
balanced and exceedingly well tailored, the
scents of tar, tanbark and briar set against
bright red fruit in a firm, sinewy package. A
wine for lamb. -P.J.C. (W&S 10/20) §
521902

WINE & SPIRITS

DECEMBER 2020

https://shop.boglewinery.com/cabernet-sauvignon-2017-p9.aspx https://www.wine.com/product/mon-frere-cabernet-sauvignon-2018/584584 https://www.michaelpozzanwinery.com/product/Giapoza-2018-Cabernet-Sauvignon?pageID=01C8F5E1-0F8F-4248-9222-1F31232A9A75&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=8& https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/carlson+scott+cab+sauv+california+usa/2018

Wine & Spirits - December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wine & Spirits - December 2020