Most of my wine buy/ consumption has been focused on OR Pinot/ Barolo/ Red Burgundy/ Bordeaux and Barolo.
I would like to get some help from the community in discovering West Coast Cabernet Sauvignons.
More of dark red fruit, lighter on their feet and where the oak doesn’t take away from the juice/ terroir.
Any recommendations on what to try out would be great.
Corison and Matthiasson. Enfield Wine Co. if you can find it.
If this is what you are seeking, David’s recs are spot on
Thanks a lot.
Can find a bunch of different Corison options at Domaine, which makes it convenient.
Result of a Crush has a killer wine shipped under $25 on a case. I gave it 92 in the summer and WS 94. 2019 Bordeaux Style Blend || Result of a Crush (obtainwine.com)
Andrew Will Cabs are outstanding but need some age. Leonetti and Januik are excellent from Washington as well.
Funny you say that. Having 2013 sorella as I type this. Quite like it.
The 2016 Sorella is my wine of the year at the moment.
I would add the Ceritas to that list. A must buy for me each year.
From WA, I recommend Cadence. Terrific wines that age well at a very reasonable price. Ceritas makes one Cab. It’s high quality but in a very different style from most other Cabs from CA or WA.
Cheers,
Hal
Good suggestions so far. I’ll add Mount Eden, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Styled quite differently from most Napa cabs.
neither fit the light oak criteria
Santa Cruz Mountains is strong, there.
From the Bates Ranch vineyard:
Ghostwriter
Sandar & Hem
Origin (not sure if the first one is released yet)
I. Brand Cab Franc
Martin Ranch Therese Vineyards Estate is right next to Bates, but it can only claim Santa Clara Valley.
Directly adjacent to Mount Eden’s Cabernet is the Peter Martin Ray Cabernet. So, Mount Eden, which is better than ever. The PMR’s:
Ceritas (already mentioned)
Birichino
Jaimee Motley (Her own small label. She’s the current winemaker at Stony Hill. Former asst. at Pax.)
Sandar & Hem (not yet released)
Kathryn Kennedy. Recent releases of the Estate are very pricey, as most of the vineyard had to be sold. At the same time they increased production of the Small Lot, which is an excellent regional blend, with a large portion from Martin Ranch.
Cedarville from the Sierra Foothills is shockingly good, if you can find it.
In Sonoma, Rafanelli and Scherrer are excellent.
I’ll speak to Washington wines, since they comprise the slight majority of what I drink.
First off, the above recommendation of Cadence is spot on. You can get an idea of the house style by finding some inexpensive yet good Cadence Coda, their entry-level wine. It would also be a great idea to source an older vintage too, because they reward time.
I’d also recommend looking at Gramercy Cellars and Avennia as wineries making great Cabs that might fit your style. I really love Upchurch too, but they might be a little darker-fruited for your liking.
They do have the dark fruit however. Probably limited in Washington. I personally don’t find the oak to take away from the wines from either producer. It is not Quilceda Creek like for sure.
Another Washington-based opinion…
Savage Grace Red Willow -this one is leanest Cab Sauv of recent vintages that I have encountered. Really bright Red fruit, low oak, low intervention.
Eight Bells David’s Block Red Willow
Owen Roe Red Willow
Adams Bench Red Willow
Seven Hills Klipsun Red Mountain, not sure of recent vintages after Casey McClellan retired/semi-retired.
Hightower Red Mountain
Any of a number of wines from Windrow, Walla Walla, Cooper was my intro to Windrow, but I don’t know if that is still made or available. I have tasted other place, not sure where, and it has always been a solid Cab.
Abeja Walla Walla, Heather Hill in Particular
aMaurice, Walla Walla
Woodward Canyon, Old Vines, Artist Series, Walla Walla, Champoux
JB Neufeld, Yakima Valley. Their entry wine, and lower oak than the single vineyard wines which are more dark. Often available on Berserker Day.
Owen Roe DuBrul
Cote Bonneville DuBrul, and Train Station (entry wine)
Rasa Creative Impulse, DuBrul
Tamarack DuBrul (out of production)
Pomum, Konnowoc Pass
Thurston Wolfe. The Geologist, Snipes Mountain
DeLille Harrison Hill
Old School Columbia Winery, Harrison Hill, Red Willow, Otis. I was blessed with the opportunity to taste an Associated Vintners,1967 I think, not identified other than Yakima Valley, but likely sourced from any or all of those vineyards It was still going at 50+ years with some bright red fruit, and acids in balance.
Endorse Andrew Will, long list of good wines that fit the bill. Sorella, Two Blondes, Champoux
Also Powers Champoux at a low entry price.
Cadence I have not much experience with, but I think of them as more Bordeaux Blends than Cab Sauv.
In general, for WA I’d avoid Red Mountain or Wahluke Slope if looking for red fruited Cab, or even Merlot. Stick more to the cooler (relatively) vineyards named. AVA’s Yakima Valley, Rattlesnake Hills (often labelled Yakima Valley), Walla Walla, some Horse Heaven Hills.
Thanks all.
For the moment I have shortlisted the following 6 to try.
Two of these are already on the way. Will post in commerce corner to see if anyone in NYC has other 4 for me to try.
Enfield Waterhorse ridge
Corison
Ceritas Martin Ray Cabernet
Cadence
Mount Eden
Andrew Will Sorella
Woodward need some serious cellaring. I find the oak influence too much for the first 10 years then it mellows out.
Maybe true, @John_Glas. Cadence I know for sure also benefits from long aging. Practically any high quality Washington Cab does. Lots of the ones I listed would be likely available on secondary market to buy a bottle or two with 10+ years. Woodward Canyon I think would be on that list.
That 1989 would a great wine to try I bet.
