CALIFORNIA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
97 Shafer 2014 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District). For full review see page 91. Cellar Selection.
abv: 15.5% Price: $295
97 Turnbull 2016 Black Label Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville). This is a head-turning wine, especially at the price—an impressive study in cohesive elements of black currant, lavender and licorice melded with meaty, lengthy tannin. The black currant gives way to more sumptuous flavors of blueberry and cocoa powder, offering balanced body weight and complexity. Editors’ Choice. —V.B.
abv: 14.9% Price: $150
96 Alpha Omega 2015 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena). Dr. Crane delivers rewarding complexity and contour within a framework of firm, substantial tannins and stark structure. Leather, grilled meat and gunpowder complement tangy layers of acid-driven cassis and red currant, combining effortlessly in a seamless array of evolving flavors and aromas. The minerality takes form in a sensation of crushed rock. Enjoy from 2025–2035. Cellar Selection. —V.B.
abv: 14.4% Price: $220
Fruity in blueberry and black cherry, with a citrus-tinged undertow, this blockbuster beauty is a mix of sleek tannins and complex structure, offering undeniable deliciousness as well as something to think about. Gunpowder and tobacco give it a savory edginess and lingering finish of black pepper.. —V.B.
