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ness of the blackberry jam and meaty characteristics,
all dotted with black-pepper accents. —V.B.
abv: 15.2% Price: $60
88
Director’s Cut 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Alexander Valley). Made in a lush, fullbodied
style, with 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet
Franc, this wine delivers in deep, concentrated
flavors of blackberry, currant and dried cherry, the
oak integrated and toasty. Sumptuous hits of mocha
and dark chocolate add to its richness. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $29
88
Dry Creek Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Dry Creek Valley). This is a remarkable
value, over-delivering in terms of its varietal
characteristics of cola, cinnamon, grippy tannin,
black pepper, cedar and leather. Medium bodied
and approachable, it’s right for the table or cocktail
party, able to please a range of palates. Editors’
Choice. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $26
88
Duckhorn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa
Valley). Sinewy leather, tobacco and dried
herb intertwine on the thick, full-bodied palate in
this unfussy red that should appeal to a broad spectrum
of tastes. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $72
88
Great American Wine Company 2014 Cabernet
Sauvignon (California). This wine draws
a lot of its flavor power from oak, which is evident
from the spicy, cinnamon aroma to the lightly sweet
maple flavor and finish. Not too full bodied, it is also
light in tannins and rather easy on the palate. —J.G.
abv: 13.5% Price: $16
88
J. Moss Wines 2012 Spicer Vineyard Cabernet
Sauvignon (Stags Leap District). This
soft, round and juicy wine is ripe and full bodied, a
good representative of the vintage. It shows brambly
black fruit, mocha and hints of coconut flakes that
endure through the finish. —V.B.
abv: 14.8% Price: $70
88
Malibu Rocky Oaks 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
(California). Dark hibiscus, deep red
cherry and rare roast beef show on the nose of this
wine from Malibu that is fragrant but fairly light
in aromas. Pencil shavings, baked blackberry and a
touch of clove show on the sip, which is juicy and
interesting. —M.K.
abv: 14.4% Price: $25
88
Medlock Ames 2014 Bell Mountain Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley).
With 11% Petit Verdot, this hearty, full-bodied red
shows crunchy, high-toned cranberry and elements
of black pepper, pencil shavings and dried herb. A
toughness of leather dives into the tobacco-laden
finish. —V.B.
abv: 14.7% Price: $48
88
Oberon 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa
County). This lightly crafted, affordable
red blends in smaller percentages of Merlot, Petit
Verdot and Syrah. It works as a soft, approachable
and rounded experience of moderately tannic
black cherry and cola, with a streak of black pepper,
graphite and cedar mixed within. —V.B.
abv: 13.7% Price: $25
88
Robert Mondavi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Oakville). Toasted coconut meets a big grip
of tannin and wood in this full-bodied wine that
offers moderate acidity. Tobacco leaf, currant and
graphite dance around the edges of rich black cherry
compote. —V.B.
abv: 14.5% Price: $55
88
Trotter 1/16 2013 Oak Canyon Ranch Cabernet
Sauvignon (Napa Valley). A 100% varietal
wine from grapes sourced in Coombsville, this
offers cranberry, currant and clove in equal measure.
This tiny-production project features tightgrained
tannin and a dusty texture built around
moderate acidity and body. —V.B.
abv: 14.3% Price: $75
87
Franciscan 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa
Valley). This softly layered wine has a tannic
bite that undergirds its lighter stylistic approach.
Currant, cedar and vanilla play on the palate in
pleasant, straightforward ways. —V.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $28
87
J. Lohr 2014 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
(Paso Robles). Baked boysenberries, purple
flowers and baking spice show on the nose of this
widely available bottling. The palate is quite minerally,
with crushed lava rocks, followed by cooked
elderberry, black-cherry pie and a touch of clove.
—M.K.
abv: 13.5% Price: $17
87
Malibu Rocky Oaks 2014 Collective 10 Year
Anniversary Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (California).
Baked red cherry and strawberry scents
meet with touches of soy, nori and crushed rock
on the nose of this bottling. Lots of peppery spice
shows on the palate, though blackberry-pie flavors
are sweeter than expected. —M.K.
abv: 13.8% Price: $18
87
Piña 2013 Wolff Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
(Yountville). This 100% varietal wine
opens in a heady aroma of leather pouch, clove and
marshmallow. Both herbaceous and tannic, it begs
for more time in the bottle or substantial swirling
in the glass. —V.B.
abv: 14.9% Price: $85
87
Pull 2012 Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
(Paso Robles). Black-pepper-crusted beef,
crushed graphite, dried mint, elderberries and
blueberries show on the nose of this bottling. The
palate reflects a juicy, fruit-forward style, with ripe
mulberries and red plums lifted by star anise, clove
and cinnamon. —M.K.
abv: 14.1% Price: $18
86
Angeline 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
(Paso Robles). Fairly simple blackberry,
olallieberry and strawberry fruits meet with just a
touch of dried herbs and black spice on the nose of
this bottling. It’s very juicy on the sip, with more
ollalieberry fruit. —M.K.
abv: 13.8% Price: $18
86
Bianchi 2012 Signature Selection Cabernet
Sauvignon (Paso Robles). Dried black
cherries, dried herbs, pencil shavings and touches
of roasted meat and balsamic vinegar show on the
nose of this bottling. The sip conveys smoked berries,
dried strawberry, red plum and touches of
oregano, marjoram and black pepper. —M.K.
abv: 14.5% Price: $21
86
Castoro Cellars 2014 Estate Grown Cabernet
Sauvignon (Paso Robles). Black cherry,
blueberry, pepper spice and a touch of toasted pine
shows on the nose of this bottling. There is juniper
spice and baked cherry on the palate, which is relatively
simply yet flavorful. —M.K.
abv: 13.9% Price: $16
86
Five Rows 2015 Durant Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
(Lodi). A strong, smoky, grilled-sage
aroma and similar flavors give this wine plenty of
personality. It’s medium bodied, dry and shows the
herbal side of the variety, with a lively mouthfeel
and light tannins. —J.G.
abv: 13.1% Price: $14
86
Francis Coppola 2014 Director’s Cabernet
Sauvignon (Sonoma County). This bold,
leathery red includes sizable additions of Petite
Sirah, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc. These
wrap layers of reduced oak, cedar, dried herb and
pepper around a relatively light but round body,
with a distinct taste of blackberry. —V.B.
abv: 13.5% Price: $21
86
Klinker Brick 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
(Lodi). An aroma like maple syrup on waffles
and similar, sweet-seeming flavors are reminiscent
of breakfast, but this will pair well with slowcooked
barbecue. Most of that spicy sweetness
comes from oak barrels or add-ins, complementing
the full body and light tannins. —J.G.
abv: 15% Price: $19
85
Ernest & Julio Gallo 2013 Estate Cabernet
Sauvignon (Northern Sonoma). Cherry,
plum and vanilla aromas and flavors ride a dusty
texture in this wine that’s beset by astringent tannin
and wisps of dried herb. —V.B.
abv: 14.9% Price: $95
85
J. Moss Wines 2012 Steffensen Vineyard Cabernet
Sauvignon (Coombsville). Perfumed in
rose and violet, this full-bodied wine is leathery and
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