This was my favorite from the first flight at the Snooth Cabernet tasting last week. Initially, beautiful dark ripe blackberry aromas assault together with wafts of berries, and hints of vanilla, spices and cassis. 15% alcohol and $16.99 MORE >>

grew up drinking Kendall Jackson cabernet sauvignon at home and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo out. The 2008 Monte Bello will (probably) be made from just cabernet sauvignon and merlot for the first time in twenty-five years. The rationale is that Ridge wants to focus exclusively on cabernet, chardonnay, and zinfandel. MORE >>

We tasted these wines blind over the past five nights, with a 2004 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon thrown in to mix things up. The 2004 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ** by contrast was mote black and abundantly oaky on the nose at first glance. Drink this with dinner over the next 4-5 years. MORE >>

Welcome Napa Valley Vintners! First, I’d like to apologize for the boorish NY rogues who elbow their ways to the front of the tables and stick their glasses under your noses as they demand, “Cabernet please!” The Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon * was less thrilling than previous vintages, but hinted at boysenberry and dark cocoa. MORE >>

numbered them and we did a blind tasting, pitting Girard's 2002 Cabernet Franc against a 2000 Ch. Charmail **, a 2005 Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot, 2000 Ch. The Mondavi 2005 Merlot, which we had opened the night before but left half-full, uncovered, had already spoiled. The wine left open had spoiled (duh). MORE >>