California Cabs and Blends - Published in August 2012

Top-scoring reds to stock up on

August 2012 Featured Collections

Burgundian Beauties Prosecco-Palooza California Cabs and Blends Online Exclusives

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Cardinale 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

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Price $250

Another fabulous Cardinale, better than the 2007 but short of the perfect 2006. This is so complete; it tastes like Cabernet on a cloud, light but ethereal, with ripe, polished blackberry and cherry flavors and touches of mocha, spice and cedar. The tannins are a wonder—soft and pliant—yet gorgeously complex. Drink now-2016, at least. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Celani Family Vineyards 2008 Ardore Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

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Price $195

Young and succulent, this is fresh, with ripe flavors of blackberries, cassis, chocolate and herb, with a toasty overlay of oak. Powerful, but not overbearing, this shows an internal coherence that lifts it to a high level of elegant complexity. As good as it is, it will benefit from 8-12 years in a proper cellar. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Ridge 2009 Estate Monte Bello Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains)

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Price $40

This Cabernet-Merlot blend is packed with blackberry and crème de cassis, with a firm minerality. With the weight of the middle palate and the long, spicy finish, it’s especially attractive, although it's also quite tannic. The only difference between this Estate Monte Bello Cabernet and Ridge's Monte Bello Estate Cabernet ($150; note the difference in the… — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Snowden 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

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Price $80

This Cabernet takes its place among Napa’s top tier. Bone dry and nobly structured, it shows firm tannins and bracing acidity, framing classic blackberry and currant flavors. Should come into its own after 2015. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Sherwin Family 2007 Cobalt Red (Napa Valley)

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Price $98

This is fabulously rich and spicy, showcases flamboyant flavors of blackberry jam, mocha and cedar, flecked with minerality and wrapped into refined tannins. As flashy as it is, it’s balanced and dry, although the alcohol is on the heady side. This should provide great drinking pleasure over the next 10 years. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Laird 2009 Flat Rock Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $80

This is dry and brisk in acidity, with firm tannins and great structural integrity. At the same time, it’s vast in blackberry and cherry-jam flavors, while the oak overlay is strong but perfectly matched with the wine’s volume. Very fine, complex and elegant, this is a Cabernet to cellar for eight years; it could be one for the long haul. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Dancing Hares 2008 Red (Howell Mountain)

Cellar Selection
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Price $125

Rich, vital and dramatically layered, offering tiers of ripe cherry and blackberry flavors. The oak is sweetly toasted and fine. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this is framed with firm mountain tannins that make it ageworthy. The first bottle tasted was off. Drink now—with a long decanting—through 2020. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

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Darioush 2008 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

Cellar Selection
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Price $80

This tastes fresh and juicy, like ripe blackberries picked on a hot summer day. The fruitiness disappears in a swirl of tannins and oak spice, leading to a long, dry finish. Fine, complex and elegant, this should develop over the next 8-10 years. — S.H. (8/1/2012)

2010 Bogle Old Vine

What a delicious Zin this is. Sourced from the warm climates of Lodi and…

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