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 Below is a list of Christine's Top 10 Must-Have Napa Cabernet Sauvignon wines. These wines offer outstanding quality, terrific aging potential and great value for the price point.1. 2005 Rockledge Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- The vineyard and winery sits right above Joseph Phelps Vineyard.
- The Winemaker is Mike Hirby who makes the very elite Behrens & Hitchcock and Realm Cellars Cabernet, both are mailing list allocated items.
- Received 92 points from BOTH Robert Parker & Stephen Tanzer.
- Small production and aged 100% in new French Oak: 40% Darnajou, 40% Taransaud, and 20% Sylvain
- 2005 was an excellent vintage for Napa Valley Cabernets.
- Was $60, which was already a good price; NOW ONLY $39.99 which makes this wine an absolute bargain.
- Most importantly, it is absolutely gorgeous in taste. It is a true Napa Valley Cab Lover's dream with big opulent fruits and chocolate, balanced out by solid tannins and good acidity.
2. 2005 Cavus Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- The Winemaker is David Phinney
- Received 95 points from Wine Spectator
- Only 320 cases made; mostly everyone is sold out of this wine. We still have a few and at the best pricing possible.
- From Stag's Leap District.
- 2005 was an excellent vintage for Napa Valley Cabernets.
3. 2006 Mica Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- Winemaker is Celia Welch Masyczek, who makes "cult" wines such as Scarecrow (at auction this wine was higher priced than the Chateau Petrus), D.R. Stephens, Buccella and Staglin.
- The Mica is the 2nd label of the "cult" Buccella wines.
- Limited production and the inaugural release.
- Our best selling Cabernet at this price-point; the crowd favorite at our last high-end tasting.
4. 2006 Wolf Family Vineyard "Phaedrus" Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- Only 575 cases produced.
- All estate grown fruit from the famed Inglewood Estate.
- Vineyard Manager is Jim Barbour - one of the most respected vineyard managers with over 30 years experience working with: | Amuse Bouche | Barbour Vineyards | Barnett Vineyard | Bella Oaks Vineyard | Blank Vineyards | Blankiet Vineyards | Bidwell Creek Vineyards | Cain Vineyards | Cakebread Vineyards – Howell Mountain | Chiarello Vineyards | DR Stephens | Fleming Vineyards | Grace Family Vineyard | Hundred Acre Wine Estate | Husic Vineyards | Keever Vineyards | La Sirena Vineyards | Lynch Vineyards | Narsi David Vineyards | Parallel Vineyards | Pillar Rock Vineyards | Policy Vineyards | Revana Family Vineyards | Seaver Vineyards | Snowden Vineyards | Von Strasser Vineyards | Wolf Vineyards | York Creek Vineyard.
- Winemaker is Karen Culler who has worked with Robert Mondavi, Vichon, Renteria Wines, Ladera, Rivera Vineyards.
- Received 93 points from Robert Parker.
- Very balanced Bordeaux (Meritage) blend; very velvety mouthfeel with a creamy, unctuous and lingering finish.
5. 2006 O’Shaughnessy Mt. Veeder Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- The Winemaker is Sean Capiaux who has worked with Jordan, Pine Ridge and Peter Michael.
- Received 95 points from both Robert Parker & Stephen Tanzer, 92 points from Wine Spectator.
- Only 800 cases produced.
- This is a Cab for those who are Bordeaux lovers and relish in the abundance of structure in a well-made Cabernet. The delectable dark chocolate truffles and black fruit balances out the gripping
6. 2007 Caymus Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- 2007 is an outstanding vintage for Napa Cabernets.
- Almost half the price of the Caymus Special Selection.
- In a Wine Spectator article of the 50 Best Napa Cabs over a 16 year span, the Caymus Cab came in #11 (this was tabulated by combining all the scoring over the past 16 years)
7. 2007 Caymus Cabernet Special Select - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- Just released, not yet rated.
- 2007 is an outstanding vintage for Napa Cabernets.
- Almost half the price of the Caymus Special Selection.
- In a Wine Spectator article of the 50 Best Napa Cabs over a 16
year span, the Caymus Cab came in #1 (this was tabulated by combining
all the scoring over the past 16 years)
- I just tasted this wine this weekend and it is a tremendous powerhouse of addictive dark mocha, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, cedar aromas and flavors.
8. 2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Stag’s Leap - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- Cult winemaking team from Colgin: Michelle Edwards and Philip Melka from Chateau Haut Brion, Chateau Petrus, and Dominus-named one of the TOP 9 wine consultants in the world by Robert Parker.
- Received 92 points from Wine Spectator.
- From Stag's Leap District.
- Sumptuous yet sophisticated; tremendous price to value ratio with notes of dark chocolate and roasted espresso. This wine has both girth and length from aromas in the beginning to the lingering finish.
9. 2006 Vine Cliff - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- In a Blind tasting on August 3rd, Vine Cliff Oakville Estate Cabernet ranked #2 against the competitors such as Screaming Eagle, Colgin Herb Lamb, Dalla Valle Maya, Schrader To Kalon, and Harlan
- Received 92 points from Wine Spectator, outscoring the the cults… again:
91pts ~ 2006 Screaming Eagle; Wine Spectator August 17, 2009
91pts ~ 2006 Dalla Valle; Wine Spectator August 17, 2009
91pts ~ 2006 Araujo Eisele; Wine Spectator August 17, 2009
90pts ~ 2006 Bond Oakville St. Eden; Wine Spectator August 17, 09 - From the Oakville Estate in Napa Valley.
- Amazing breadth and depth in aromas and taste; has a very concentrated core of dark chocolate, cassis and blackberry fruits with a smidgen of pencil lead and leather.
10. 2007 Beau Vigne "Juliet" Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- The Winemaker is David Phinney.
- Not yet rated, 2006 vintage received 93 points from Robert Parker
- 2007 is an exceptional year for Napa Cabernets
- From Stag's Leap District
- Much less in pricing than their Reserve Cab which received 96 points from Robert Parker. He compared it to the Shafer Hillside Select.
- If you love immense, opulent Cabernets with cocoa, dark black fruit and massive structure than this is your ideal Cabernet.
11. 2007 Amuse Bouche - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Wine?- The Winemaker is Heidi Barrett of famed Screaming Eagle.
- Collector's Wine.
- Limited Production.
- Sells out every year; even now.
- Goes for a high pricing at auction.
- I just tasted this wine this morning and it has an unbelievably velvety mouth feel and an exquisite and addictively lengthy finish comprising of anise, spice, cocoa shavings and graphite.
12. 2006 Robert Mondavi Reserve Napa Cab - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?- Scored 96 points from Wine Spectator.
- The highest rated Mondavi Reserve Cabernet ever
- The 2004 vintage got 95 points in Wine Spectator and Rank #9 in the Top 100 wines of 2007.
- Probably will make the Wine Spectator's Top 100 for 2010.
- Also scored 94 points from Robert Parker, and 93 from Stephen Tanzer.
- Lowest pricing in the USA -take advantage of this amazing offer.
- Be the first to get this new release, arrives mid-December!
13. 2005 Altamura Napa Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?
- Scored 95 points from Robert Parker, and 93 from Wine Spectator.
- Frank Altamura was Winemaker at Caymus and was part of the blending team when the 1984 Caymus Special Selection received 98 points and became #1 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 in 1989.
- 2005 was a spectacular vintage for Napa Cabs.
- A succulent mix of black cherry, wild berry, plum and currant, a very focused wine, revealing greater depth and complexity and ending with a nice firm, tannic backbone. Will drink well and evolve for two decades, easily.
14. 2007 Amuse Bouche "Vin Perdu" Napa Cabernet - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?
- Winemaker is the legendary Heidi Barrett, winemaker for the famous cult wineries such as Screaming Eagle, Dalle Valle, Grace Family, Hartwell.
- Crafted from magical pieces of Barbour Vineyards, La Sirena, Revana and Amuse Bouche Winery.
- Not yet rated, the 2006 vintage was a Cellar Selection and scored 94 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
- Delicious blend of 44.1% Cab Sauv, 43.5% Syrah, 4.2% Petit Verdot, 3.2% Petite Sirah, 2.9% Merlot and 2.1% Cab Franc.
- 2007 was a spectacular vintage for Napa Cabs.
- Extremely limited, a collector's item.
- If you cannot splurge on the Screaming Eagle or Amuse Bouche, this would be the lower price alternative.
- The creamy mouthfeel has flavors of blackberry marmalade, dark bitter chocolate, licorice and peppery spices. Complex and refined with a mile long finish. This is the most bag for your buck as far as "cult" wines are concerned.
15. 2004 Xtant Napa Cabernet Blend - Why is this a "Must Have" Napa Cab?
- Scored 94 points from Wine Spectator and earned a "Highly Recommended" designation. Also scored 93 from R. Parker.
- Limited production, only 1000 cases made.
- Unique blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Malbec.
- The Winemaker is Jeff Gaffner from the famed Saxon Brown winery; he was also assistant winemaker at Chateau St. Jean when the winemaker was the renowned Dick Arrowood.
- A rich, graceful and seductive style that exhibits layers of ripe plum and currant and jazzy, smoky, toasty oak, with hints of mocha that fan out on a palate. Ends with succulent, supple tannins and a long, elegant finish.
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