In Napa Valley, “Cab is King,” as they say. But it’s not the only California region producing notable examples of the native Bordeaux varietal, which according to the most recent California Grape Acreage Report, produced in coordination with the United States Department of Agriculture, is the most widely-planted grape in the state.
When asked to assemble a list of exceptional California Cabs, our Tasting Department rounded out examples from Napa Valley—including those hailing from the Stags Leap District and Oakville—with bottlings from Alexander Valley in Sonoma County and Paso Robles in the Central Coast.
Writer-at-Large Elaine Chukan Brown, who reviews Napa wines, has been particularly impressed by recent vintages. “2019 stands as one of the classic vintages for Cabernet Sauvignon in California,” she says, noting that these bottles offer detail and complexity through a structure of approachable yet ageable tannins. “That combination is rare, but it means that many of the wines from the year will be not only beautiful now, but also worth holding in the cellar to drink years from now.”
Meanwhile, she notes a “freshness” to the best wines of 2020, which “should not be overlooked.” As for the 2021 vintage? It “has already proven itself to be full of excellent Cabernet Sauvignon,” Chukan Brown says. “It’s one of my favorite vintages for Napa Valley.”
Further south, Writer-at-Large and California reviewer Matt Kettmann is impressed by bottlings in Paso Robles. “Thanks to endless sunshine and a topography that varies from challenging mountains to easygoing plains, Paso
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
