Find these wines near you: Wine Finder
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Do pencils grow on trees? This is the ripest graphite I’ve ever tasted. It’s also got an awesome diabetic bondage thing going on: boysenberry, chocolate, and oiled leather—the mint and thyme in the finish tones down some of the aggressive tannins here.
Glenelly “Glass Collection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
A standout newcomer to the PLCB wine shops. Licorice and black pepper jump out of the glass—the black fruit reduction. The body is lush and thick with savory eucalyptus—a hint of cigar box and chocolate smoke on the finish. Unctionless delight beyond its price point.
Night Harvest “John George” Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River (Australia)
If you haven’t experienced wines from Western Australia, this is the time to do it. Far from the commercial center of the Southern states and their kangaroo wines, the wine profiles are very different. The wine industry here has always been small-scale and more influenced by France than California.
Here we have a gravel core of tannin that frames the cedar and graphite of a classic cabernet. The delicate acid and medium-bodied structure give freshness to the fruit. The oak is here, as is the deep black fruit. Damson Plum.
Ruffino “Modus” Cabernet Blend, Toscana (Italy)
This is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Sangiovese. This is a chocolate truffle of a wine. Round and ripe, with a core of cherry compote. The ample core of tannins is soft with a tobacco-inflected finish.