Wine

are you just asking about Cali Cabs? You might try to 07 or 09 vintages of your favorites. It is difficult to generalize but I can just share my own expereince with Cali cabs. There are some fine QPR wines in the $ 20-25 rangeand I think if you choose wisely you can find very satisfying cabs for current drinking in the mid $20's. I do see a GENERAL jump in quality when one goes to the $50-75 retail range but here are a big set of factors that go into the winery's pricing strategy (not the least of which is ego).
I have had many high end cabs going back to the 1970's and I have been more disappointed than thrilled with the bottles that today would be in the $ 100+ range.

 

I'm not impressed by Insignia. Its valley fruit.

Biggest bang for the buck is definitely in the lower priced wines. But if you have the palette (and $s) there's some really great cali cabs in the 100 - 350 range. Beyond that you're getting into collector territory.

 

There is some bottle to bottle variation, and absolutely huge variations. A wine may be good, but not suite your taste. More expensive wines may be more "esoteric", may be built for aging, may be crap, etc. Dollars don't necessarily equate to a better wine, and they definitely don't necessarily equate to a line you will enjoy more. I'd suggest doing a bit of reading, and trying lots of wines in the 10-25 dollar range. Try to buy wines with descriptions at the store (take a phone photo of those) or look them up on line. You may then find a varietal, and certain taste profiles, that you like. For example, you may decide that you like wines that taste jammy or plummy, or perhaps a bit barnyard like, or maybe even dusty or tarry. Once you have some descriptive words, any good wine store should be able to guide you toward things to try.

P.S. If you know all of the above, is Cab Sauv what you want to explore, versus Burgundy/Pinot Noir, Zin, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, Barolo, Barberesco, etc.? If you have a varietal and a state/country, I'm sure you can get some great suggestions here.

 

A few thoughts from over 30+ years of wine tasting, collecting and enjoyment:

1. It is important to determine your personal tastes and the wines you most enjoy to drink. This will also evolve over time and be greatly impacted by the food (if any) that is paired with the wine.

2. Reviewer's scores are only useful to the extent your tastes might align with theirs.

3. Price is generally no indication of value, quality, enjoyment, etc. My wife and I have employed a fun ratio rating for all wines:

score = "what would we pay" / "what did we pay"

This provides us utility with both $8 wines and $800 wines.

4. Explore, learn, invest, vigorously defend your personal choices, don't adopt other's views unless through trust developed over time.....

 

go to CELLARTRACKER. Its free and I use it to manage my 2,000 bottle cellar. There you can read tons of professional and community reviews, and view ratings on virtually any wine on the planet. Just about anything 90+ and better is pretty stellar stuff. I tend to play in the 92-100 pointers.

My favorite napa cabs are Lokoya, Cardinale, Verite, Alpha Omega, Ovid (all mountain fruit). They are small production boutique wines but should be aged 10 years or more before maturity.

 

Personally I've been a wino... wine guy since i was in culinary school in the late 80's. In my experience price and quality dont always go together. rarity does come into play and drives price even when the quality is sketchy.

Go with what you like.... and do some reserach on the grape varietal and location of where your favorite wine comes from. if you understand terrioire (sp?) you will then have more better experiences than bad with wine.

 

I love Cellar Tracker.

And I also have an app for my iPhone called cork.z. It uses your CellarTracker to go mobile.

I like the 2008 Insignia actually, but I'm mostly a Bordeaux guy.

If you're good with a $55-$60 range. Try the Cantenac Brown. It's a great Margaux!

 

Italiafan. I'll offer one of each. Your first description sounds like Cote du Rhone to me. For $15 drinking buy the 2009 J.V. Fleury Cairanne. Widely available. I have had 2 cases of this.

For the high end, since you like CaliCabs, I recommend the 2007 Beringer Private Reserve. A Parker 97 for you points chasers and a sublime wine with years ahead of it.

 

I'll add one more recommendation you didn't ask for, and that is for a sub $10 wine. In my opinion, the world's greatest red wine bargain is a super-Tuscan widely distributed in the U.S. called Monte Antico. I have been drinking this wine (except for the 2002) for more than a dozen years. Some vintages (2006, e.g.) are spectacular quality-price ratio values. There has been a string of solid vintages in Tuscany. This wine is available in supermarkets, and our local Costco has it for $ 8.99. Screw top.

 

I live in Napa, and have a pretty solid grasp on the scene here. If you want a good-great wine, spending at least $50 is a must. Usually...

Here are some of my favorite recommendations:

1. Chappellet's Signature Cab - Mountain fruit, from Pritchard Hill in St. Helena, big powerful wine, great structure and a lot of long-lasting flavor. Also one of my favorite wineries to visit if you're in the area. 2009 Pritchard Hill Cabernet from Chappellet
2. Ehlers Estate - 120/80 and their Reserve Cab are simply stunning; super velvety, big ripe fruit, long finish...the 120/80 is only $40, and the reserve is around $80. Their Merlot is also really really yummy. Ehler's Estate
3. Anything Keenen - Located on Spring Mountain, they have been pumping out killer Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab. Good price points too, and really delicious. Robert Keenan Winery
4. Most Howell Mountain/Spring Mountain producers make killer stuff. These are primo wines, that fetch the usual $100 price points but are typically worth it. Some are hard to acquire - look at Outpost for some super secret "custom crush" blends by people like Maybach (yes the car guy) and others. Outpost Wines Home
5. Possibly one of the best collections of wines is at Ma(i)sonry. They carry about 15 labels from small, boutique producers, and big name winemakers - a who's who of all stars here. From TOR to Lail, and even the cheaper Recuerdo, I have not tasted a bad wine here. Ever. Very exclusive, highly sought after wines here. Wine tasting collective & art gallery in Yountville - Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley

And for a random, much cheaper winner, try this wine: Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon which might be the best QPR cab I have tried ...ever? So good. Soft tannins, ripe (but not fruit bomb ripe) and so drinkable. For $35 or so...can't beat it.

 

Have you been down to Brian Fluery's vinyard? I like his F'In Red... some of his other stuff is good but a bit too tannic for me.

 

As the crow flys, Caymus and Phelps are grown less than 5 miles apart but it might as well be 500. Both are valley floor vineyards, but winemaking practices in the 2 wineries are very different. Caymus uses mostly (or maybe all) American Oak for aging where Phelps Insignia is aged in French Oak. American is a VERY aggressive flavor (herb, sweetness) where French is much more subtle. In the business, we would call Caymus a "flashy" wine (much like the other famous American oak cabernet, Silver Oak), Insignia is much more elegant and refined. There is no right answer, if you like the style of Caymus, tell your local merchant that, and he/she can guide you to other wines of that style.

Jimmy

 

Rioja is a region, not a grape variety. It is usually made up of Tempranillo, and some others in smaller amounts. As far as I know, it has nothing to do with the Pinot grape. I think Riojas are some of the best valued wines out there.

George

 

I think every one should try the 3 pack of reds that dstacy sells. I did and found them to be excellent so I purchased a case. If you life full bodied reds with a smooth flavor, i highly recommend his winery.

Just my opinion.

 

I agree Sir a fine wine indeed.

 

I have not. Where is it located?

On another note, I did just visit Bello Family Vineyard in St. Helena. Talk about a baller tasting room! Chris Bello is super friendly and down to earth too. And their wines are pretty damn good - typical Rutherford cab, Bordeaux blend stuff. Check em out Bello Family Vineyards - Bello Family Vineyards - Home

 

Meiomi Pinot Noir is probably the best ~$20 wine I've come across. Meiomi Wines :: Home

Also, Google: Orin Swift, his wines are fantastic for the money, he's sort of new so his prices are aggressive...but he is hot right now and they're going up.

 

What is everyone's thought on Opus One?