2018 Hoopla Cabernet Sauvignon California

2018 Hoopla Cabernet Sauvignon California

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

HOOPLA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 CALIFORNIA 

2018 Hoopla Cabernet Sauvignon California
A howling value, Hoopla’s California Cabernet is a mixed breed born from doggone good stock. Proprietor Lindsay Hoopes owns 35 prime acres in Oakville, and her 2018 California Cabernet includes fruit from Paso Robles’ top sites and other meticulously chosen vineyards in Monterey and Napa Valley. Raised by Anne Vawter, whose experience includes working alongside Heidi Barrett as the assistant winemaker at Paradigm for years, at $24, this Cab could become man’s second-best friend. 
 
Hoopla is a cross-breed that includes barrels that didn’t go into Hoopes purebred bottlings from Napa Valley, Oakville, and Howell Mountain. The wine offers a lush coat of smooth red and black fruits, intriguing spice and floral characteristics, toasty oak, and absolutely no bite. 
 
Kenneled for 20 months in French oak, the 2018 release is Cabernet Sauvignon, harnessed with other Bordeaux varieties, offering a rare breed of concentrated, focused fruit, uncommon at this value price. Keep this one on a short leash.
 
HOOPLA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 CALIFORNIA
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“The 2018 Hoopla California Cabernet is a ruby red, juicy Cabernet that sings with fresh aromas of blackberries, black plum, and roasted coffee. In the mouth, dense flavors of blackberries, black cherry, and cocoa powder mingle with broad, mouth- filling tannins. The lengthy finish is perfumed with vanilla bean.”
2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MAROON

SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 COOMBSVILLE 

2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville
Fueled by unparalleled quality and extreme scarcity, the following for Maroon’s Special Reserve Cabernet grows stronger with each vintage. Patronage is furthered by winemaker Chris Corley’s ability to harness Coombsville fruit’s power and deliver it with finesse and elegance. The Special Reserve is created from the top-performing blocks in the vineyard and priced in line with Coombsville greats Favia, Merus, and Meteor at $160 retail; As you can imagine, at less than 1/3 of the retail price, we have great difficulty keeping it stocked. 
 
Deeper and more defined than Maroon’s other bottlings, winemaker Chris Corley introduced as little manipulation as possible during the winemaking process, allowing the remarkable terroir of Maroon’s best Vineyard Blocks to shine.
 
The 2016 Special Reserve is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for a full 24 months in oak before bottling. If you’re looking for an elegant but powerful Cabernet with plenty of definition and complexity, this is it.
 
MAROON
SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 COOMBSVILLE
Retails at: $160
 
 
 
“The 2016 vintage of Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich, intense nose with briary wild berries, graphite, fresh sage, and hints of vanilla. The palate is concentrated, with penetrating crushed blackberries, dense black plum, decadent cassis, and an ethereal mouthfeel. It is a concentrated and focused wine with a finish that is elegant, powerful, refined, and long. It is a gift for your mouth now and will continue to drink beautifully for another decade or more.”
97 points
2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

BEAULIEU VINEYARDS

GEORGES DE LATOUR
2017 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A wine of grand distinction, BV’s Georges De Latour Cabernet is a liquid legacy epitomizing Rutherford’s distinctive terroir with a transpicuous window into the fragrance of Rutherford and deep connection to the area’s roots. Paid homage by winemaking and fruit selection of the highest level that and even after 80 vintages the wine is as solid as ever. This 2017 offers a choreographed union of power and grace, and with double high-90s reviews, it’s a joy to behold. 
 
Beaulieu Vineyards is a timeless classic, embodying every trait that makes Rutherford so wondrous. Created from vines planted in the early 1900s, George de Latour’s first vintage was in 1936, released in 1940 to honor the winery founder’s passing. 
 
Under the guidance of one of the world’s most iconic winemakers, Andre Tchelistcheff, BV built on a reputation of excellence and achievements. Composed inside the winery’s new state-of-the-art facility, Georges de Latour perfectly balances time-honored traditions with modern technologies.
 
Fun side note, friend and former head winemaker at BV (27 years there) Joel Aiken tastes with us on our tasting panel each week.
 
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS
GEORGES DE LATOUR
2017 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $145
 
Your Price: $125
 
 
“This is one of the most balanced Georges de Latour, offering currants, minerals, fresh herbs and spices. It’s full-bodied with very fine tannins. Long and focused. Subtle and complex. Very elegant and refined in the end. Reminds me of classic, old vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. Drink or hold.”
97 Points
2018 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

2018 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesUSA

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 PASO ROBLES

2018 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles
Created in a collaborative spirit that calls on the best, sustainably farmed fruit from a collection of neighboring vineyards, Eric Jensen of My Favorite Neighbor believes it takes a village to make great wine. His circle includes favorite neighbor Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure, and friend Justin Smith of Saxum, whom Eric spent five vintages with, gleaning top-level winemaking. This wine gives Paso Robles an unmistakable voice, powerful enough to be heard in Napa. A $50, 96 Point Cabernet from anywhere is a dominating force.  
 
Guided by inspiration, Eric interferes as little as possible during the winemaking process, resulting in elegantly balanced wines with a salient sense of place. Modeling consistency, this wine’s cumulative average rating from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate over the past six consecutive vintages is an astounding 96 Points.
 
Impeccably farmed, Eric’s 100-acre certified organic estate vineyard on Paso’s Westside produces noble quality fruit. The 2018 blend includes 77% Cabernet Sauvignon accented with Bordeaux and Rhone varieties, aged 18 months in oak.
 
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 PASO ROBLES
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“…deep purple/ruby-hued and has slightly more red fruits with lots of black raspberry, cassis, toasted spice, unsmoked tobacco, and incense aromas and flavors. It almost has a Margaux-like perfume and is medium to full-bodied, seamless, and wonderfully balanced on the palate. Some chalky minerality comes through with time in the glass, and it has plenty of tannins and a great finish. It’s not an over-the-top blockbuster and impresses just as much for its elegance as its richness.”
96+ Points
 
“… Deep ruby-black in color, it gives up luscious crème de cassis, blackberry pie, kirsch, mint chocolate, vanilla bean, coffee and grilled meats scents with touches of tobacco and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, it offers intense, expertly managed, ripe fruits and loads of spices with a firm, finely grained frame and great freshness, finishing long and spicy.”
93-95+ Points
 
“Dark, bright-rimmed purple. Deeply perfumed aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, sandalwood and potpourri take on a smoky mineral nuance and a spicy top-note with air. Palate-staining blackberry, cassis, cherry-vanilla, spice-cake and mocha flavors are joined by suggestions of candied rose and cola on the back half. Finishes on an alluringly sweet dark berry preserve note, with well-knit, gently gripping tannins and sharp definition.”
94 Points
2013 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2013 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

TOGETHER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 NAPA VALLEY

2013 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Together’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is flawless, deepened with six years of bottle development, accentuating the mountain fruit’s power, and Grant Long Jr’s gentle winemaking techniques. The once muscular profile is now silken, with soft tannins, balanced acidity, opulent fruit, and balanced, integrated oak. At our price, words cannot do this wine justice with how it’s drinking right now. 
 
Grant wove together Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the surrounding mountains of Napa Valley and a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality. Robert Parker alerted readers that the 2013 vintage “…may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years.” 
 
This remarkable wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, which were vital in balancing the distinct Mountain terroirs. The wine was cave-aged for around 20 months in premium oak barrels, and after six years in the bottle, it’s stunningly brilliant.
 
TOGETHER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“The Precursor to the lovely 2015 and 2014 vintages that I’ve written about is the Together Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, which is an absolute delight to drink. It begins with a concentrated nose of wild berries, bramble, cocoa powder, Spring florals, and wood spice. The concentrated palate is supple and opulent, with the wine’s characteristic black cherry/berry blend balancing the brighter, fresher red fruit notes and finishing with a chocolaty characteristic. Like the two previous vintages, it is rich, densely concentrated, and powerful, and the finish is smooth, satiny, balanced, and ready to drink right now.” 
93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Keever Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2016 Keever Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

KEEVER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Keever Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Marked by an alliance of elegance, intensity, and balance, Keever Vineyards is a small family estate located on a 6-acre rock-laden hillside Southwest of Yountville. Planted and farmed by renowned viticulturist Jim Barbour, the vineyard sits at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, where the earth has eroded from the slopes over millennia. Guided by taste, not laboratory numbers, the fruit is harvested at the full physiological ripeness and under the guidance of Celia Welch, whom you might recognize from Scarecrow, Barbour, and Dalla Valle. 
 
At Keever, each vineyard block ferments separately and with individual attention, ensuring absolute quality. In the cellar, gentle handling is foremost, supported by gravity flow and vibrating sorting tables where the wine team meticulously inspects every grape, removing any that are less than perfect. 
 
Created with resolute intent on highlighting the best features of each vineyard block and seamlessly blended to represent the highest quality wine possible each year, every decision made at Keever executed with the highest regards to quality. At around $100, this is one of the most undervalued Napa Cabernets. 
 
KEEVER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $135
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“…even better, with an awesome bouquet of sweet cassis, cedarwood, incense, and dried flowers. As with all the wines from Celia Welch, this beauty is impeccably balanced, has medium to full-bodied richness and depth, subtle background oak, and a great finish. It shines for its purity and elegance as well as its depth of fruit and intensity. Drink it over the coming two decades or more.”
95 Points
2018 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

LOBO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Founded on farming first and foremost, Lobo’s Oak Knoll Vineyard’s high-density planting, aggressive pruning, and idyllic terroir caught the eye of great winemakers like Randy Lewis from the get-go. Calling on Mario Bazan’s 30 years of experience managing vineyards like OPUS ONE, To-Kalon, and Stags Leap, Lobo positioned themselves for a seamless transition from selling grapes to becoming a boutique winery making ridiculously high-quality wines. 
 
Lobo winemaker Victoria Coleman is well-rounded in her skillset, working alongside Erick Tourbier at Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Jade Valley Winery in China. Her exposure to Old-World winemaking technique resonated and manifested in the elegantly balanced, terroir expressive wines she produces. 
 
Raised under the shadows of the Mayacamas Mountains, Lobo Vineyard’s well-drained gravelly loam and micro-climate cooler than the neighboring Yountville produces Cabernet Sauvignon fruit of dynamic complexity. Their 2018 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon crafted in a style that melds balance and enchantment, power and grace, and at less than $100, this wine is stunningly impressive. 
 
LOBO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“A savoury and spice-driven nose of tobacco leaves, underbrush and earl grey tea. Tender red fruits and zesty acidity provide a delicious lift to the finish, where the tannins and edgy but pleasing. A delicious Cabernet at a relative value…”
92 Points
 
“… More beauty than beast with nose of meadow flowers and red berry fruit, it offers lush, pretty flavors of red currant, cherry, pomegranate, black raspberry and allspice. An elegant and sensual wine that promises wonderful aging potential and is ready to enjoy when you are.”
2018 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

2018 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainNapaUSA

KAMEN

2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 

2018 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District
Kamen Estate was masterfully scripted by Robert Kamen and plot with renowned viticulturist Phil Coturri and winemaker Mark Herold. Set in the Southern Mayacamas mountains where cutting-edge grape growing meets skilled winemaking, resulting in this timeless classic. Perennially high-scoring, Kamen’s 2018 Estate Cabernet is riveting from start to finish, and at around $100, this is a blockbuster you won’t want to miss. 
 
Talented screenwriter Robert Kamen wrote several classics, including; The Karate Kid series, Fifth Element, Transporter series, A Walk in the Clouds, Lethal Weapon III…
 
Carved into volcanic-lava and nutrient deficient soils at 1100′ to 1450′ elevation, Kamen’s Vineyard produces powerfully expressive, story-telling fruit. Directed by Mark Herold, whose Doctorate in Ecology and vast experience crafting some of California’s top wines is unmissable in this wine.
 
KAMEN
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Offers alluring warm plum sauce and crushed açaí berry aromas and flavors that move through this with focus despite the rather lush feel. Subtle alder and sage accents line the finish, with a nice underpinning of iron. Distinctive in feel and profile. Drink now through 2030.”
93 Points
2016 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2016 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

INGLENOOK 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 RUTHERFORD

2016 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Inglenook’s first harvest was in 1882, and they created one of Napa Valley’s earliest gravity-flow wineries in 1887. Recognized for producing richly captivating, classically styled, and texturally pleasing wines, they’re the 5th oldest winery in Napa Valley. Located on the Rutherford Bench, their vineyards neighbor sites like Morisoli, Scarecrow, and BV. Vinous writes that the wine “impresses in the way it balances intensity and detail,” which is a signature of some of the world’s best wines. 
 
Francis Ford Coppola made vital enhancements to the Estate in the late 1970s when he purchased the property, propelling the winemaking to new heights. Frances hired André Tchelistcheff, one of America’s most influential winemakers, to consult at the Estate. 
 
Cut from Chateau, Cohn, Red Barn, Creek, Small Block, and Walnut Vineyards, this wine is classically Rutherford and embodies the perfect mix of drama, charisma, and antiquity. The main character is Cabernet Sauvignon at 82%, supported by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec.
 
INGLENOOK 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $100
 
Your Price: $65
 
 
“Inglenook’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has turned out beautifully. Savory and exquisitely layered, with striking aromatic nuance, the 2016 has so much to offer. Dark black cherry, tobacco, cedar, grilled herbs and licorice are finely sketched. More than anything else, the 2016 impresses in the way it balances intensity and detail. And of course, it is absolutely delicious…”
95 Points
 
“…It has a classic, Saint Julien-like bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco lead, damp earth, and spice that gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, textured Cabernet that hits all the right marks… Drink this stunner any time over the coming 20 years or more.”
94 Points
 
“Beautiful aromas of ripe cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrants and perfume that follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a pretty long finish. Shows poise and polish. Drink in 2021.”
94 Points
2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

CALCULATED RISK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Dedicated to crafting wines that express their true sense of the land, natural varietal character, and balance, Calculated Risk’s Oakville Cabernet is a foremost example of the winery’s driving force. Oakville’s notorious complexity is powerfully bestowed and incarnated with robust intensity, keen focus, and lasting balance. Priced in line with many Oakville neighbors at $120, at $46, it doesn’t take a calculus degree to sum up this deal. 
 
Winemaker Dwight Bonewell married two Oakville Vineyards, Money Road, near Oakville’s center, and a State Lane property bordering Yountville AVA. The wine presents a broad interpretation of Oakville terroir, delivered with balance and polished in an easy-drinking style.
 
Striking balance between bold and supple flavors, the final blend includes a small amount of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, from the incredible 2018 vintage, which was virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, enabling the grapes to mature and accumulate intense flavor and complexity.
 
CALCULATED RISK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“Plenty of ripe berries and cherries here with some chocolate and hazelnut undertones. It’s full-to medium-bodied with round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows richness with balance. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.”
93 Points