Not a big Napa Cab guy…mostly because I prefer Bordeaux and pinot, but also because I detest paying $$$ for wine that I feel Bordeaux does better and cheaper. Nevertheless, will be going to Sonoma/Napa for a few days with a Napa Cab lover. So, can you give me suggestions for:
a) Napa/Sonoma wineries producing quality $75 and under wines (Do they exist?)
b) AFWE bent if possible
Thanks
Sonoma (town & Valley) Cab Sauv:
Sojourn Cellars
Keating Wines
Hawkes
Korbin Cameron
REPRIS
B Wise
Calluna!!
-Corison (Though slightly higher than your $75 ceiling)
Anderson’s Conn Valley (usually available under $75 but not at the winery)
Think the Outpost Howell Mountain is still right there price-wise.
Drinkward Peschon is great around that price but not sure they take visitors.
Larkmead is also excellent but a maybe on the ripe side for you.
Mayacamas is under $75 and waaaay AFWE.
Montelena would be another obvious one. Their flagship cab is over $75, but I think all the rest of their wines are well under.
By the way, Montelena and Mayacamas make two of the best restrained/ageworthy-style chardonnays, and at very moderate prices ($30-40).
You can taste D-P at Behrens if Robin has any remaining. I’d contact her first just in case. BTW, Behrens is a really fun tasting but the wines are not AFWE
and you’ll pay 40 bucks just for the visit.
and they won’t sell you any of the good stuff unless you buy their collector’s package. ![[snort.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/b/bdc3944606213c4dca6c1169cf0a166c8bc4f8c9.gif "snort.gif"){kind=small}
Checked the Mayacamas website. The 2008 Cab is available at $125.00 / 750ml
Checked the Montelena website. The Estate Cab is $150
Ouch! Napa pricing is awful. I think of all the OUTSTANDING, age-worthy Bordeaux I could get at those prices ![[shock.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0b1dcf699ec319f43254f92e3f145786dcd93904.gif "shock"){kind=small}
Appreciate the suggestions above,. Sad to see so little to choose from in Napa
Match
Smith-Madrone
I have a feeling that this is more about confirming your existing feelings about California cabs than it is about exploring new things with an open mind, but in case I’m wrong, I’ll continue to play along.
Mayacamas cabernet is pretty widely available in the $55-75 price range from many vintages. Their excellent merlot sells for $30-40. Montelena Estate is pretty widely available in the $75-100 price range from many vintages, and I think every other wine they make is under $50 at retail. Look on WS-Pro.
Unless you’re visiting there to purchase bottles (apparently, not a great idea in these two instances), those are both places you can go to visit and taste classically-made, ageworthy California cabernet which sells for $75 and less, which is what you asked in your original post.
They don’t exist, stay home.
EMH Black Cat should be right up your alley. Get in touch with proprietor and fellow board member Merrill Lindquist. You won’t regret it.
I give a +1 on Sojourn and Keating’s, but really, I would steer you towards Ridge’s Lytton Springs facility. Beautiful setting amongst gnarly old vines, and beautiful wines in an older world style, and I love their ATP wines and estate cab, all of which are well within your price range.
Would also throw out Copain, also beautiful, and also a banner-carrier for AFWE wines, though no cabs.
Lagier-Meredith does some fine stuff, and you could always see if Merrill at EMH would to a tour for you. I would also consider Dunn and Forman, while at the high end of the price range, they are definitely more restrained and built for the long hall. I
Are you really that lazy? http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/mayacamas+cabernet/1/usa
You remind me of the guys who think you cannot get drinkable Burgundy for under $1000. Drink what you like.
Conn Valley
When are you going ?
Napa
Forman-
Bressler
Dunn
EMH
Drinkward- try emailing them if you come after harvest
Corison
Sonoma
Calluna- i’ll be there Thursday.
Above that price point
Greer
Kapcsandy- if there are 4 of you make an appt and pay the tasting fee. it will be worth it.
In addition to many of the aforementioned, definitely look at Jean Edwards
Broman
Frank Family
Dutch Henry
Hardin
Georg Rafael
Ehlers
Kuleto
Congruence
Darioush Caravan
Frazier
Farella-Park
Husic Palm Terrace
James Johnson
Round Pond
Grassi
Sbragia
Regan
Snowden Ranch
Quivet Napa
Myriad Napa
Jones Sisters
and many more.
You’re just not looking hard enough. 
If you buy at the winery, you’ll pay full retail. Probably best to shop around a bit.
I’m going to suggest two places that don’t seem to get a lot of love on these boards. However, I think they both provide tremendous QPR.
Regarding Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, I find that I am much preferring mountain fruit over valley floor fruit. I certainly go along with the Mayacamas and the Smith Madrone suggestions. Neighboring Smith Madrone on Spring Mountain is Keenan. I think the Keenan estate CS is around $50 and their Reserve CS is around $100. They also have outstanding Merlot (yes, there is such a thing) and Chardonnay. Being on Spring Mountain, they are off the Route 29 hubbub. The winery setting is idyllic. If you bring a lunch, they have nice picnic tables with a view of vineyards, below. Call ahead for an appointment.
Since you opened the door to Sonoma, I am going to make a suggestion over there, also. In fact, from Keenan or Smith Madrone you can continue up Spring Mountain Road over the mountain drop into Santa Rosa, take Rte. 12 towards Sonoma and visit Enkidu. I visited their tasting room (drop in) last June and was blown away by everything I tasted–including a CS under the ANU label that was $80. They had a Rose of Syrah that I thought was killer.
One last thing. Street prices are always 10-20% (maybe more) than “street” prices. Thus, the above discussions on price disrepancies. I think (not sure) the retail industry has used its legislative influence in California to not allow the wineries to undercut them. One advantage of visiting and purchasing from the winery is the opportunity to ocassionally pick up a library or otherwise rare bottles.
OK, I also endorse the Myraid/Quivet suggestions that came in while I was composing mine.