Recommendations for a $30 California Cabernet

[Michael_S_Monie]

Sebastiani Alexander Vally

[Mike_Evans]

@Chris Tuttle

@mmarcellus

If you can find them, Cabs from Ken Likitprakong (Hobo and Camp labels, among others) are always good and usually under $30. If you want decent quality wines that would do well in a “low cut dress” environment (to steal Matt Kramer’s term) you could do worse than Cameron Hughes:

Okay, are there any smashing, just gotta have Cameron Hughes wines being released now? - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers

While I would enjoy one of Kenny’s cabs (thanks Matt B.), I’m not sure the other tasters wouldn’t hold up the glass and utter, “What? Rosé?” Ok, so maybe not that pale, but you get the picture.

I thought the 2013 Hobo CS had plenty of color intensity and “oomph,” though with very nice acid to keep it bright. I’d definitely take a recent Hobo over recent Camps. The Camps are good, but the incremental quality increase for the Hobo is much more than the minimal price difference.

[J_O_S_H_L_O_N_G]

I’ll throw in 2013 Franciscan. If blindfolded, I’d say it tastes like a $50 cab but you can get it for around $25-$30.

[Blair_Ridley]

2013 Clos du Val

or…
2013 Franciscan (noted above by Josh)
2013 Beringer Knights Valley
2013 Justin
2013 Buehler

[ray_ormand]

I like 2013 Taken–60% Cabernet, 40% Merlot. Produced by Phelps and Trinchero offspring.

[K_e_v_i_n_B]

@Blair Ridley

2013 Clos du Val

+1 on this

[M_Dildine]

Dehlinger “Claret” - around $35?

[Dennis_Kanagie]

2014 Daou or 2013 Rutherford Ranch.

[Doug_Sher]

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Cheers, Doug.

[Pat_Martin]

Haven’t had these in ages (as Bordeaux takes up nearly all of the $30 Cab section in my cellar), but Souverain used to make some quite quaffable Cali Cab inexpensively. Wine-Searcher shows the Reserve can be had for ~$30. Ditto Beringer’s Knights Valley and Mondavi Napa.

Of course, these are not boutique wines and the style is/was middle of the road or worse, but in the 90’s I used to drink these with satisfaction on a grad student budget.

[A_Yambor]

Stuhlmuller
Chappellet Mtn Cuvee

[Greg_Smith]

@Dennis Kanagie

2014 Daou or 2013 Rutherford Ranch.

+1 on both of these along with Cameron Hughes 600. All good everyday drinkers.

[Andrew_Demaree]

2012 Hardin cab is a winner, and 2013 Textbook cab is nearly as good. I think the 2014 Daou will be terrific but it’s too young for me at the moment. I would steer clear of the 2012 Arrowood. I had one tonight and thought the oak treatment way overshadowed the fruit, with a prominent signature of American oak in the foreground. Not at all my cup of tea.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Andrew Demaree

2012 Hardin cab is a winner, and 2013 Textbook cab is nearly as good.

Two of the contestants in our $25 Cab-off - which I hope people don’t mind me linking to each time a thread about this comes up:

$25 California Cab-off

@Andrew Demaree

I think the 2014 Daou will be terrific but it’s too young for me at the moment.

Daou doesn’t use press juice so they’re Cab is much less tannic and more drinkable young. Agreed that it could be even better in 3 or 4 years.

@Andrew Demaree

I would steer clear of the 2012 Arrowood. I had one tonight and thought the oak treatment way overshadowed the fruit, with a prominent signature of American oak in the foreground. Not at all my cup of tea.

Had one a week or so ago and thought it definitely was NOT made for early consuming. Very tannic and oaky. Has nice fruit so it will probably be safe to rack for the long haul.

[Brian_Gilp]

@Mike Evans

@Chris Tuttle

@mmarcellus

If you can find them, Cabs from Ken Likitprakong (Hobo and Camp labels, among others) are always good and usually under $30. If you want decent quality wines that would do well in a “low cut dress” environment (to steal Matt Kramer’s term) you could do worse than Cameron Hughes:

While I would enjoy one of Kenny’s cabs (thanks Matt B.), I’m not sure the other tasters wouldn’t hold up the glass and utter, “What? Rosé?” Ok, so maybe not that pale, but you get the picture.

I thought the 2013 Hobo CS had plenty of color intensity and “oomph,” though with very nice acid to keep it bright. I’d definitely take a recent Hobo over recent Camps. The Camps are good, but the incremental quality increase for the Hobo is much more than the minimal price difference.

I had the 2012 Hobo CS tonight and it’s drinking great already. Hard to beat at the price point. And definetly not light, more mid weight.

[J_Migone]

@K e v i n B.

@Blair Ridley

2013 Clos du Val

+1 on this

+2 and also Charles Krug or the 2013 Mondavi

[Gary_Ahearn]

@Glen Gold

Stackhouse, Ultraviolet, Silver Ghost, Experience (Refuge), Cameron Hughes 545, and if you want to roll the dice (there’s a theory about bottle variation, as the notes are all over the place) the 2013 Clos du Val.

Might look at the '12 Clos du Val. Had two glasses at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, very tasty, even for $17 a glass.
Subsequently purchased two bottles–about $25. Quite good considering the price. Tried the '13 bottle, not as impressed. Have six more bottles . . . hopefully they will improve with some time (88-89 now, maybe 92-93 pts in a few years??)

[Drew_Goin]

Textbook Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - big cassis (think Chambord Liqueur) and salted caramel.

Crowd winner.

[Jeannean_Ryman]

@Dennis Kanagie

2014 Daou or 2013 Rutherford Ranch.

+1. In a similar taste testing from easily sourced wines locally, the Daou was #1 (unanimously), Franciscan was #2, and Rutherford Ranch was #3 (mixed votes among those two). I think everyone went out the following week and loaded up on the Daou for “daily drinkers”.

[John_Oglesby]

Sequoia Grove Napa Valley is in that 30-35 range.