Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

This grape is still the red darling of the on-premise business. Pure-bred versions continue to command top dollar while blends—from around the world—are also gaining acceptance. Here’s a closer look at some of Cheers’ wine panel’s favorites.

(98) Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). This wine has plum colors with aromas of cassis and cocoa. It is velvety smooth and luscious with long sweet tannins and is absolutely amazing. ($329)

(97) Robert Mondavi Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Nearly opaque in the glass, the purple edges reveal the youth of the wine. The nose is filled with scents of darker fruits with hints of spice and a touch of coffee. It is a fitting tribute to the legacy of one of Napa Valley’s wine pioneers. ($135)

(97) Trivium Napa Valley-St Helena Lles Ivrettes Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Stunning! It has huge fruit, exploding palate; simply extraordinary. ($60)

(96) Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007 (California). Fragrant nose of black fruit and fresh herbs with intense flavors of cassis, plum and currant. It is a classic Rutherford cabernet sauvignon. ($45)

(95) Etude Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (California). A deep, dark ruby in the glass, with hints of purple show that this wine is still a youngster. The nose is also deep and dark, with suggestions of black tree and bush fruits, followed by elegant high toned spices. The finish also reveals the pedigree of the wine, with lingering notes of fruit and spice, through the considerable length. ($100)

(95) Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Aroma of red fruits. Currants, plum, black cherry with nice tannins and a long finish. ($90)

(95) Nickel & Nickel Napa Valley Branding Iron Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Big, rich and agreeable; lush fruit, soft tannins and a finish that goes on and on. ($90)

(95) Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Classic Napa cabernet sauvignon with dark fruit flavors, hints of cedar and toasty oak with blueberry and currant flavors. ($45)

(95) Summers Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (California). This cabernet sauvignon is well focused and harmonious. Wonderful, rich and flavorful with a solid core of black cherry, blackberry, anise and plum. It is deeply concentrated with a lengthy finish that is perfectly balanced with the fruit flavors, spice and tannins. ($45)

(94) Erna Schein Jersey Boy Meritage 2007 (California). Cassis nose; plum, cherry and chocolate flavors. It has fairly substantial tannins and a long finish. ($70)

(94) Martin Ray Napa-Sonoma-Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Elegant, classy, with hints of lilac and roses leading to cassis and blueberry on the palate with supple tannins. ($23)

(94) Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Almost opaque in color, with a deeply scented bouquet; in the mouth, the wine is very reminiscent of a grand cru Bordeaux with its elegance and finesse; layer upon layer of flavors and a finish that is wonderful now; it can only improve with time. ($37)

(94) Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Tuscany 2003 (Italy). This is a magnificent wine from a scorching hot vintage which is a cabernet sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend. The nose has cherry with a soft loamy structure. The palate has well defined fruit showing some pure cherry; complexity with dry spices; with all the ripeness, still an elegant wine. ($160)

(94) ZD Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). This big and powerful cabernet sauvignon exhibits aromas of blackberry, cassis and tobacco followed by intense ripe blackberry, plum and oak with balance and finesse on the palate. The finish is silky smooth that lingers into the next course! Pair with a grilled Porterhouse steak. ($50)

(93) Angeline Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (California). Rich and robust with up-front black fruit aromas and flavors followed by soft tannins and a hint of Alexander Valley terroir. ($15)

(93) Cobblestone Cabernet Napa Sauvignon 2005 (California). The is an impressive showing from the rising star winemaker Sam Baxter. It is full bodied and rich in moderate tannins and layered on the palate with licorice and ripe dark fruits of blackberries and cassis. ($30)

(93) Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 2006 (Chile). Concha y Toro has been recognized as a winery that produces an amazing amount of volume, quality-driven wines. However, the Don Melchor is their effort to showcase the brilliance of a single vineyard offering when the proper dedication is given. This wine has competed with the best cabernet sauvignons in the world and has bested them for years. ($56)

(93) Decoy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (California). A new addition to the Duckhorn family of wines; full and rich cabernet sauvignon; wonderful structure filled with an abundance of berry and currant. ($22)

(93) Hendry Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (California). This big and full-bodied cabernet sauvignon is packed with aromas of cocoa, blackberries, and dark tea with a well balanced palate of ripe blackberry, plum and hints of oak. It finishes long and powerfully. Pair it with a beautiful cut of sirloin grilled and seasoned well. ($50)

(93) Newton Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Nearly impossible to see through, the color is a brilliant ruby, with plenty of purple in the mix. The weight on the palate unveil the work in the vineyard and winery, with dark fruit and a solid edge of tannins. Accessible now, it also has great aging potential. ($60)

(93) Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Washington State). The essence of Walla Walla. No expense spared to make the best possible wines from their vineyards. Dark fruit laced with mocha and a bit of spice. This is a gorgeous wine that has excellent potential in the cellar, if you can resist drinking it now. ($65)

(93) Pi del Nord Penedès Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Pinord (Spain). This wine has aromas of cured meat, cassis, Serrano ham, cedar, graphite and pencil shavings. On the mouth it has fresh cherries; confit orange rind, minty notes, rosemary and chorizo are lifted by a lively acidity with a mineral salty finish that has an Umami character. ($45)

(92) Amici Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Winemaker Joel Aiken’s first vintage with Amici Cellars coupled with a fantastic vintage from Napa has created a lush and aromatic wine. Balanced rich flavors of cocoa and spice layered over dark mountain berry fruit notes. Firm tannins to give this wine structure and focus. ($30)

(92) Benessere Phenomenon Napa Valley 2005 (California). A Napa Valley Super Tuscan! Primarily cabernet sauvignon with sangiovese it is kind of austere, with a big berry wallop at the end of the palate. ($73)

(92) Gordon Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Washington State). Raspberry and currants rush to the front and notes of coffee come to mind. The tannins are ripe and blend perfectly into the long satisfying finish. ($20)

(92) Justin Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (California). This is a big earthy, chewy cabernet accented by blackberry and cinnamon flavors. It finishes with bright cherries. ($26)

(92) Powers Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Washington State). A lovely ruby colored wine, that shows dark fruit on the nose and cherry, plum and cassis on the palate. A very nicely balanced wine with sweet and supple tannins. The cabernet sauvignon is sourced from the famous Champoux Vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills. ($25)

(91) Avignonesi Rosso 2007 (Italy). This wine is an Italian blend of 40 percent prugnolo, 30 percent cabernet sauvignon and 30 percent merlot. It has ripe cherries, forest floor and baked meat pie and nutmeg. On the mouth shows bright acidity with cherries plums and mushroom notes. The finish is earthy with lively acidity medium length. ($14)

(91) Bianchi Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Hints of ripe berries and herbs on the nose lead to flavors of dark fruit, vanilla and a hint of oak. It has great balance and finish and is a terrific value. ($20)

(91) Burgess Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (California). One of the “Old Time” Napa estates we tend to forget about!  This shows lots of terroir with well balanced fruit and oak and is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet. ($38)

(91) Chappellet Napa Valley Mountain Cuvee 2008 (California). This wine has a bouquet of cassis, currants, cacao, tobacco leaves, cherries and berries, spice box and vanilla bean. On the palate it shows currants, anise, tobacco and chocolate and medium acidity that evokes mixed berries with structured tannins and has a delicious finish. ($30)

(91) Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Washington State). On the nose you find a bouquet of raspberry, coca and leather. Its palate expresses flavors of black cherry, blackberry and chocolate. The finish has firm, ripe tannins and notes of tart cherries, red currants and toasty oak. ($30)

(91) Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2008 (Chile). This Reserve cabernet sauvignon shows the influence of Old World Bordeaux refinement and elegance while adhering to Chile’s unique terroir, which provides interesting flavors and complexity to the wine. ($14.50)

(91) Uppercut Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Dark purple, this is lightly earthy in the nose at first, followed by cocoa, cola nut and peppery spice notes that overly rich black fruit aromas. Medium bodied and very well balanced, it has a tasty mix of ripe black cherry, red cherry and plum. ($20)

(90) Cartlidge and Browne Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). This wine is smooth, rich, medium-bodied red with lush black fruit flavors nicely balanced by vanilla notes. It is an excellent value. ($20)

(90) Sanctuary Usibelli Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (California). Notes of green pepper, eucalyptus minty tones and vanilla aromas can all be found. On the palate it shows round, with notes of blueberries, black cherries, cassis, mint, licorice and lavender. It finishes dry with a river stones mouth feel. ($25)

(90) Sean Minor Four Bears Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (California). Elegant yet complex with substantial upfront fruits of blackberry, blueberry, cherry and currant. The middle is full leading to a finish that lingers which offers a nice hint of cedar and spice. ($17)

(89) Santa Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (<st1:place