California Cab 2019
 

California Cabernet Sauvignon - 2019

 

The Fifty Best California Sauvignon Tasting of 2019

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 11 recent release California cabernet sauvignon wines (priced $50-$125 pre-tax), with 12 members of our wine judging panel. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the wines were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles. Only ice water and crusty white peasant bread were available to cleanse the palate.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each wine on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. There were no Bronze medals awarded.

The tasting notes that follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions, with all replicated commentary eliminated. Prices indicated do not include tax.

 



DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

ALTA Napa Valley Revival
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

(Napa Valley)  $60

This wine was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (7%), Merlot (5%) and Petit Verdot (3%).

Aroma: Dark cherry, blackberry, cassis, blueberry, mesquite honey, mushrooms, asparagus, tea tree oil, thyme, menthol, earthy, soil, moss, minerals, lovely lively oak and forest.

Palate: Black cherry, cherry, blackberry, plum, currant, herbaceous, green pepper, wet grass, mesquite, leather, graphite, mild oak, lean, soft, delicate.

Finish: Black currant, celery seeds, pepper, limestone, oak, tannic, complex, powerful, pleasant, elegant.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



ALTA Napa Valley 2015 Revival Cabernet Sauvignon

 



St. Supéry Napa Valley
Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

(Napa Valley)  $90

Following fermentation, this wine – made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes – was aged for 19 months in French oak barrels (66% new) prior to bottling.

Aroma: Sweet black cherry, light chocolate, musty, old books, cedar, wood, bright fresh-cut oak, nice richness, very pleasant.

Palate: Dark cherry, sweet black cherry, raspberry, currant, fruit-forward, red delicious apple skin, sweet pepper, herbaceous, bay leaf, sage, white pepper, light chocolate, coffee, licorice, musty, soft tannins, good oak integration, nice ripeness, bright, pleasant.

Finish: Honey, apple pie filling, pepper, sharp acidity, tannins, solid, well-balanced, nice finish.


Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



St. Supéry Napa Valley Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS


Lawer Estates
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

(Napa Valley)  $65

This wine was made from almost all Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Napa Valley (94.4%) and a small amount of Petite Sirah (0.6%) from Sonoma. Following fermentation, the wine was aged for 20 months in French oak (50% 2-3 year old barrels and 50% new barrels).

Aroma: RIch blackberry, raspberry, berry, cherry jam, dried cherries, chocolate, caramel, green pepper, moss, bitter almond, woodsy, oak.

Palate: Cherry, blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, currants, well-integrated fruit, cocoa, caramel, vanilla, cardamom, oak, smooth, balanced.

Finish: Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, minerals, flintiness, oak.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Lawer Estates 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon



Prime Solum
Cabernet Sauvignon Brokenrock Vineyard 2013

(Napa Valley)  $79

Following fermentation, this wine (made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon harvested from a vineyard in eastern Napa Valley) was aged for 33 months in French oak barrels (40% new, remainder one and two years old).

Aroma: Sweet black cherry, cherry, dark berries, raspberry, dark chocolate, red flowers, roses, sweet perfume, sage, cinnamon, fresh hot peppers, bright light oak, zingy.

Palate: Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, bay leaf, incense, tobacco, leather, flinty, graphite, strong tannins, black smoke, smoky, well-structured, robust, flavorful.

Finish: Black cherry, blackberry, green apple, bay leaf, hot cinnamon, mineral, tart oak, creamy.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Prime Solum Cabernet Sauvignon Brokenrock Vineyard



Jordan
Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2014

(Sonoma County)  $56

Made primarily from grapes (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot and smaller amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Franc) harvested from the Jordan Estate. Following fermentation and assembly of individual lots into the final blend, the wine was aged in mainly French oak barrels (94%) for 12 months prior to bottling.

Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, boysenberry, light raspberry, generous fruit, cola, cinnamon, cumin, cut walnut sapling, oak, high tannin, some complexity.

Palate: Cherry, raspberry, sweet blackberry, currant, cola, cigar smoke, woody, oak, bright acidity, tannins, lean, balanced, smooth, elegant.

Finish: Cherry, cassis, sage, tannic, woody, oak, sharp acidity, smoky.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley



Levendi
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

(Napa Valley)  $60

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from Mill Race Vineyard in Yountville, and following fermentation was aged for 20 months in French oak (55%) and Hungarian oak barrels (45%) before bottling.

Aroma: Bright cherry, dried cherry, prunes, vegetal, mossy, green herbs, asafoetida, dusty, minerals, black graphite, stone, fresh-cut pine.

Palate: Blackberry, chocolate, grape skin, green pepper, tomato, vegetal, white pepper, fresh-sawn oak, structured tannins, BBQ char, smoke, soft and silky.

Finish: Cola, unripe fruit, nutty, clove, bitter oak, tannins, lean, elegant.


Gold Medal
Gold medal



Levendi Cabernet Sauvignon



Rowland
Sleeping Lady Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon C2B2 2012

(Yountville, Napa Valley)  $125

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes harvested from a sustainably-farmed vineyard, was fermented using “wild” yeast and aged in 100% new French oak.

Aroma: Black cherry, cherry, cassis, concentrated blackberries, plum, unripe stone fruit, prunes, violet, spice, tobacco, leather, oak.

Palate: Cherry, blackberries, black currant, herbaceous, clove, white pepper, oak, strong tannins, graphite, tart, smooth, dense rich body.

Finish: Black cherry, clove, menthol, pepper, old oak, earthy, tannic, clean, well-balanced, velvety.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Rowland Sleeping Lady Vineyard 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon C2B2



SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Amizetta
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

(Napa Valley) $85

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was fermented at low temperatures and aged in oak barrels (70% new) for 20 months before bottling.

Aroma: Cherry, blackberry, black plum, blueberry, vanilla, caramel, violets, green herbs, minty, tobacco, evergreen, dusty, very light wood, oak, like a velvet curtain.

Palate: Cherry, blackberry, black plum, blueberry, juicy, candy corn, rich vanilla, leather, tart, light wet oak, tannic, smoky, lovely secondary flavors, bold.

Finish: Cherry, chocolate, raisin, big vanilla, simple syrup, almost herbal, very mild oak, smoky wood, savory.


Silver Medal
Silver medal




Amizetta Cabernet Sauvignon



Maze
Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

(Bottled by Glencar Wines, Napa) $83

This wine was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes harvested from Stagecoach Vineyard (noted for volcanic soil). Following fermentation, the wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels.

Aroma: Blackberries, cherry, blueberry, blackberry pie, vanilla, perfume, tobacco, earthy, mineral, wood, mild oak.

Palate: Ripe cherries, ripe blackberries, sweet berries, ripe stewed black fruit, jammy, chewy, juicy, honeydew, citrus, green bell pepper, milk chocolate, baking spices, mild pepper, good acid, mild oak, underlying wood, nice balance, very different.

Finish: Strawberry, blackberry, cherry jam, lemon, mild pepper, leather, tight, juicy.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Maze Cabernet Sauvignon



ALTA Napa Valley
Oso Malo Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

(Napa Valley) $75

Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Merlot (4%), this wine was aged in French oak barrels (70% new) for 30 months following fermentation.

Aroma: Cherry, black cherry, boysenberry, light raspberry, generous fruit, cola, cinnamon, cumin, cut walnut sapling, oak, high tannin, some complexity.

Palate: Cherry, raspberry, sweet blackberry, currant, cola, cigar smoke, woody, oak, bright acidity, tannins, lean, balanced, smooth, elegant.

Finish: Cherry, cassis, sage, tannic, woody, oak, sharp acidity, smoky.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



ALTA Napa Valley 2015 Oso Malo Cabernet Sauvignon



Roberts + Rogers
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon - Louer Family

(Napa Valley) $75

Following barrel fermentation, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels.

Aroma: Concentrated cherry, cherry jam, blackberry, black plums, fruit salad, gardenia, floral, tobacco, woodsy.

Palate: Blackberry, strawberry, leather, earthy, graphite, very dry oak, upfront tannins.

Finish: Plum, strawberry jam, cola, leather, tannic, oak.


Silver Medal
Silver medal



Roberts + Rogers Cabernet Sauvignon Louer Family

 

 

 

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