33rd Annual Best of The Best:
California Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red Blends
QRW Tasting Team
These 18 offerings from 2011 and 2012 testify to California’s world-class position as a red wine producer. They are exceptional, age-worthy wines that any serious collector would wish to own.
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ Five-Star Wines ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
Wines of extraordinary character and quality —
in a class by themselves.
2012 Caymus Special Selection (Napa Valley), $165.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Intense, pure, voluptuous, ultra-concentrated, blackberry and oak vanillin flavors. Palate boggling stuff. CO-BEST OF SHOW
2012 Ridge Monte Bello (64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot,
8% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Verdot), Santa Cruz, $175.
Earthy, minerally, rich blackberry, with lacing of anise/cassis, oak spice, huge structure, and rich, deep, long finish. CO-BEST OF SHOW
2012 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select (Napa Valley), $125. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Big, rich, blackberry, coffee and oak vanillin flavors; staunch, muscular structure; long, resonant finish.
2012 Corley Cabernet Sauvignon State Lane Vineyard (Napa Valley/Yountville), $75. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, rich, concentrated, well-structured, black fruit and French roast flavors.
2012 Dry Creek Vineyards The Mariner (Dry Creek Valley), $45. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Big, rich, mouth-filling, blackberry and coffee flavors supported by staunch tannins.
2012 J. Davies Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley $100. Rich plum, oak spice, blackberry flavors, silky tannins, with rich black cherry in an elegant, delicious, and stylish finish.
2012 Madrigal Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley), $43. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 2% Merlot. Intense, plush, well-modulated, anise, blackberry and coffee flavors.
2012 Paraduxx Proprietary Red (Napa Valley), $48. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Zinfandel, 3% Petit Verdot. Big, rich, powerful, utterly prepossessing, blackberry, coffee and oak vanillin flavors.
2012 Shafer One Point Five, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, $80. Big, dense, plush, ripe black fruit, coffee notes, anise, with long mocha flavors.
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ Four-Star Wines ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
Wines of outstanding character and quality —
benchmarks of their type.
2012 Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch (Napa Valley/Howell Mtn), $150. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lush, round, well-knit, blackberry and dark chocolate flavors.
2012 Corley Proprietary Red Wine (Napa Valley), $65. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot. Sleek, supple, utterly delish, blackberry compote and nutty oak vanillin flavors.
2012 Corley Cabernet Sauvignon Tietjen Vineyard (Napa Valley/Rutherford), $75. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Big, deep, rich, authoritative, black fruit and smoky oak flavors.
2012 Corley Cabernet Sauvignon Yewell Vineyard (Napa Valley/St. Helena), $75. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush, round, elegantly knit, black fruit and toasty oak flavors.
2012 Dominus Estate Napanook Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley/Yountville), $150. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot. Deep, rich, firmly structured, black fruit and smoky oak flavors.
2012 Eberle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Roble), $40. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Round, suave, elegantly knit, black fruit and mocha flavors.
2012 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley/Oakville), $64. 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot. Lush, round, velvety, black fruit and smoky oak flavors.
2012 Kunde Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley), $25. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush, sexy, utterly entrancing, blackberry and French roast flavors. BEST VALUE.
2011 J Lohr Cuvee Pau (Paso Robles), $50. 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec. Big, rich, well-structured, black fruit and smoky oak flavors.
2011 J Lohr Cuvee St E (Paso Robles), $50. 63% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 9% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Plump, round, well-integrated, blackberry and toasty oak flavors.
2011 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard (Sonoma Valley/Sonoma County), $85. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Plump, round, supple, black fruit and smoky oak flavors.
2012 St Supery Cabernet Sauvignon Dollarhide Ranch (Napa Valley), $100. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, ripe, stylishly knit, blackberry and toasty oak flavors.
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• 33rd Annual Best of The Best: California Pinot Noir
• 32nd Annual Best of The Best: California Pinot Noir
• 30th Annual Best of The Best: California Pinot Noir
• 29th Annual Best of The Best: California Chardonnay
• 29th Annual Best of The Best: Champagne Tasting
• 29th Annual Best of The Best: California Pinot Noir
• 29th Annual Best of The Best: California Zinfandel
