Tonight we brought two different wines to a business dinner and it became apparent to me how differently people perceive outwardly similar wines.  We had four wine drinkers and we were split 50/50, somewhat passionately, between these two.  Both wines were 2007 Napa Cabernet but they were very different in style.  The Turnbull, from Oakville is rich, opulent and upfront; almost sweet with mouth coating tannins.  On the other hand, the Chimney Rock, from cooler Stags Leap, is focused, clean, exceptionally long and almost Bordeaux-like.  Think Aussie Shiraz vs. Rhone Syrah – same grape, but much different styles.

What I took out of tonight is that both of these are great wines.  I own both and enjoy them in different ways.   The bottom line is, if you like it IS good. That’s really all that matters.  Perception is reality when it comes to wine.  For what it’s worth, we bought both of these at a major discount super store which tends to have the lowest prices anywhere, and both of the wines were truly great values.  LA Wine Co. has the 92 point Turnbull a full $7 cheaper at $29.95.  That puts it at a $20 discount over the Chimney Rock, which starts to make a compelling argument for the Turnbull.  Even still, the Chimney Rock is exceptional and totally worth the $50 we paid.

If you take to a particular style, buy and enjoy that wine.  Throw out the ratings and labels and enjoy what you like.  Wine is about enjoyment and any other motivation between its purchase and consumption is downright pretentious!

We have a serious blue chip Napa Cabernet deal coming this week, and believe it or not, this isn’t it!  But this is arguably just as good a deal.

Nickel and Nickel was founded by Gil Nickel, owner of the famed Far Niente label.  Whereas Far Niente is focused on making the best Napa appellation wine, combining the best grapes for multiple vineyards, Nickel and Nickel makes exclusively single vineyard wines.  In July of last year, we tasted through a selection of Nickel and Nickel’s single vineyard Cabernets and were impressed by all.  The only problem: all of the Cabernets are around $90.  Especially in this case, quality comes at a price.

Can you guess where this post is going?  Somehow, LA Wine Co. managed to get Nickel and Nickel’s second highest rated wine (94 points from Robert Parker), and they are selling it for $59.95.  The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Kelham Vineyard is a wine for now and a wine for 20 years from now.  When I was there on Saturday, only 11 bottles were left, but if they are out when you try to order, or you want more than 11 bottles, send me an email and I will find out if more is available.

If you like Oakville Cabernet, and especially if you’re a fan of Nickel and Nickel, this buy is as good as it gets!  Plus it shares a name for this blog, so it must be good…

Buy Here: 2007 Nickel and Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Kelham Vineyard $59.95

Robert Parker 94+ points

“Even more opaque ruby/purple-tinged (almost blue/purple) is the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Kelham Vineyard, which comes from a western hillside vineyard planted three decades ago. Like all the other wines, it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Classic creme de cassis, vanillin and spice box aromas emerge from this full-bodied, dense, rich wine. Approachable now, it promises to be even better in 4-5 years and last for two decades or more.

An impressive group of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from the Gil Nickel family represents an Oakville terroir lesson with the exception of the State Ranch which comes from a vineyard further south in Yountville.”

In the middle of the Stags Leap District sits a rocky peak with a spectacular Tuscan style winery perched on top.  That winery is the iconic Silverado Vineyards, where we would found ourselves spending a beautiful Sunday afternoon during our three day tour of the district in which it lies.  The weather had shifted from sunny and warm to breezy and cloudy, with snow still falling on Mount St. Helena to the north.  As we stood on the back porch sipping a glass of Sangiovese Rose, we took in the view of the changing weather from what has to be the most beautiful place in Stags Leap.

Walking through the production area makes me realize how big this place is compared to some of the lesser-known wineries like Hartwell Estate.  But, much like Hartwell, Silverado controls every part of the winemaking process starting with the growing of the grapes in their own vineyards, mostly located in the Stags Leap District.  Unlike the vast majority of the wineries in the valley, Silverado bottles their own wines, much to the chagrin of winemaker Jon Emmerich, who we ran into in the barrel room.  Most wineries rent mobile bottling trucks the couple of times a year when they are needed, but keeping things in house makes sense for an operation the size of Silverado.  Emmerich considers it wasted space, confirming the winemaker as artist (not businessperson) mentality.

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I’ve never seen Caymus at this price before.  This is usually one of those wines that sells for $59.95 at the lowest and you will not find it for anything less.  LA Wine Co. has once again (somehow) come out with the lowest price in the country and, having enjoyed this wine on a few occasions, I can confidently say it’s my favorite California Cabernet in this price range.  You can read my full write-up on the 2008 here, from back when the wine was selling for $5 more.  To summarize what makes Caymus special: it’s unique.  I’m pretty sure I could pick it out of a lineup of other California Cabernet every time.  This signature taste is what many wines are lacking and what makes Caymus a screaming value every year.

Buy Here: 2008 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa $54.95

Wine Spectator 93 points

“Open fruit, rich, lush and layered, serving up a complex mix of plum, blackberry, black licorice and spices. Full-bodied and supple-textured, ending with a long, persistent finish that keeps repeating the core flavor themes. Drink now through 2018.”

Here’s something you don’t see very often: Opus One Winery with a snow covered Howell Mountain in the background.  I took this Saturday, February 19 from the parking lot of Oakville Grocery.

Louis M. Martini made big waves with this wine in the 2006 vintage when it received a 90 point rating from Robert Parker, an impressive feat indeed from a wine in this price range and made in this volume (66,000 cases!!).  As is the case with many ’07s, the current vintage is a little better than the ’06, so naturally it scored better.  But the price didn’t change and neither did the production, making this one of the best values on the planet for Napa Cabs.

Martini is one of those rare California wineries (along with Beringer and Mondavi), that despite production of gargantuan proportions and ownership by huge conglomerates, their focus on value and quality has never changed.  From the $80 dollar “Lot 1″ to the $12 Sonoma Cabernet, quality is high and price is reasonable.

Those looking for the vanilla and smoke flavors of significant new oak influence should look elsewhere, but those looking for broad ripe fruit and a very impressive, silky texture are in luck with this one.  Parker calls it “one of the great values in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon”, and I would have to agree.  As stylish as it is to take pride in drinking small production, rare or otherwise hard to find wines, I appreciate producers like Louis M. Martini who are bringing quality wine to the masses.  Buy it at the grocery store for $25 or at LA Wine Co. for $18.95.

Buy Here: Louis M. Martini Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $18.95

Robert Parker 91 points

“However, this estate does some stunning work in Napa as evidenced by one of the great values in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa. Made from 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, this stunning wine can undoubtedly be found discounted to under $25 a bottle. Moreover, there are nearly 66,000 cases produced, so it one of the few outstanding Napa Cabernets that also has tremendous availability. Its dense plum/garnet color is followed by a stunning perfume of black currants, loamy soil, blackberries and smoke. The wine cuts a full-bodied swath across the palate and possesses silky tannins, layers of fruit and a beautiful, opulent, round mouthfeel. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years. Readers may remember that I gave the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 90 points, and the 2007 is even better!”

Occasionally I send out a deal alert for an especially low priced, or rare wine.  Today, it’s the 96 point 2006 Dominus which almost needs no introduction.  In fact, I will leave it with no introduction.  If you know Dominus, you know $99.95 is the lowest price you will ever see (the 2007 was $129.95).  If you don’t know Dominus, you’re probably not interested in dropping a C note on it.

Buy Here: 2006 Dominus $99.95

Robert Parker 96 points

“There are 6,500 cases of the superb 2006 Dominus (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot). Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by aromas and flavors of truffles, forest floor, black cherries, black currants, and Asian spices. One of the finest wines of the vintage, it is complete, full-bodied, and seamlessly built with beautiful ripe tannins, low acidity, and a luscious, layered mouthfeel. The aromatics are even more evolved and complex than the 2005′s. The 2006 should drink well for 20-25 years.

Christian Moueix, Dominus’ owner, has purchased the 35-acre Swanson Vineyard, which is situated between the well-known California bistros, Brix and Mustard’s. I suspect that will result in a third label from Dominus. At present, the production from these large holdings in Yountville is approximately 10,000-12,000 cases, with the second wine, Napanook, representing 3,500-4,000 cases, depending on the vintage. It is ironic that Christian Moueix, the great Merlot specialist at his flagship chateaux in Pomerol, especially Petrus, prefers the other Bordeaux varietals at his Napa property. Interestingly, when I visit Dominus, they always open a fresh bottle and serve it alongside a bottle that has been decanted for 24 hours. On each occasion, the more complex, open wine is the one that has had 24 hours of aeration, something buyers of this wine should take into consideration. These are the two strongest back to back vintages for Dominus since 1990-1991 and 2001-2002.”

Cakebread is probably the most famous name in domestic Chardonnay.  It’s the wine business people drop $100+ on at restaurants when they are trying to impress clients and the wine I buy to celebrate my wife’s birthday.  The Cakebread name is synonymous with luxury and quality.  When you order Cakebread, you know you are going to get a great Chardonnay with remarkable consistency from vintage to vintage.

So when I opened a bottle of Cakebread’s 2009 Chardonnay to celebrate a friend’s engagement, I was a little surprised at what I tasted.  Not because the quality was anything different- the wine was fantastic.  I was surprised because what I tasted was a departure, although not a dramatic one, from the rich, oaky style Cakebread is known (and sometimes criticized) for.  As one who enjoys both citrus focused stainless steel Chardonnay and the buttery, oak and honey focused barrel aged version, I won’t get into the debate about which style is better.  Wondering if my taster was off, I emailed Dennis Cakebread, who has been nice enough to contribute his thoughts in the past, to see if he could offer any insight.

He confirmed my observations that the ’09 had less oak, saying “We did back off on the amount of new oak used as we noticed the ’08 was more oak focused than we prefer”.  But what I perceived as less malolactic fermentation (turning crisp citric acid to buttery lactic acid), was more a function of a culmination of factors than a change in winemaking style.

Cakebread (the man not the wine) said “The 2009 has about 7% malo while the 2008 actually had no malo.  A lot has to do with the growing season and how the acids and pH’s come together”.  He goes on to cite variations in “growing season, crop size, berry size, cluster weights, weather just before harvest, how even was the set,  how was the spring, was the winter wet, when in the growing season did we get heat spikes” as factors contributing to the overall style.  Make no mistake about it, Cakebread is still making rich, complex Chardonnay that many consider to the the benchmark of the varietal in the U.S.  Consider the 2009 vintage a small step toward satisfying emerging trends while still sticking to their overall winemaking ideals.  This vintage is absolutely another in a long line of Cakebread fantastic Chardonnay.  If you haven’t tried Cakebread in a while, maybe it’s time to give it another shot.  If you have always enjoyed the wine, as I have, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the updated style.

Special thanks to Dennis Cakebread for his commentary for our readers.

Buy here: 2009 Cakebread Chardonnay $34.95

When was the last time you tasted a value priced California Merlot you could get excited about?  For me it’s been since last time I wrote up a Merlot back in May.  Well, six months later I’m sitting on the couch eating my homemade Sicilian pasta and drinking a fine California Merlot.  All Sideways style Merlot bashing aside, there is great Merlot grown in California and let’s not forget, that the most famous wine in the world, Bordeaux, is usually Merlot based.

I wouldn’t call California a hot bed for Merlot but some sub regions, particularly on the south side, world class Merlot thrives.  Ahnfeldt has found one of those hot spots on the southeast side of Napa near Silverado Country Club.  This wine is a 2005 and already shows some of the complexity good wine gets as it ages in the bottle.  It pours a bright ruby with the slightest amount of bricking around the edges.  Blackberry (not the mobile device), graphite and floral aromas emanate from the glass.  A deep core of rich fruit is complemented by smoky vanilla latte flavors lingering on the finish.  For $17, this is absolutely epic!

Paul Hobbs has started consulting for Ahnfeldt, so look for much more press about this up-and-coming winery.  In the meantime, pick up this fantastic Merlot, which LA Wine Co sells for half of the winery’s $34 price tag.

Buy Here: 2007 Ahnfeldt Merlot Napa Valley $16.95

Wine Spectator 90 points

“Densely structured at its core, but wrapped in plush, rich fruit. Aromas of red currant, smoky oak and exotic spice lead to intense, almost meaty flavors of blackberry, mocha and spice. Drink now through 2013. 850 cases made.

If you read over the pages of this blog, you’ll notice that I’m a big fan of large production wineries who create great wines year in and year out.  In Napa Valley, there is perhaps no better example than Robert Mondavi.  Their parent company Constellation Brands (market cap $4.46 billion), owns huge brands like Corona, Kim Crawford and, yes, Arbor Mist.  They can’t all be winners right?  But despite, or maybe because of their size, they are able to produce high quality, relatively low priced wines every year.

2007′s Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa outperforms the very good 2006.  Dark and opaque in the glass, it looks like a $50 wine as soon as it’s poured.  A full 38% of this wine comes from the famed To Kalon vineyard in Oakville where the likes of Schraeder, Paul Hobbs and Mondavi’s own reserve label are sourcing grapes for $100-250 wines (Mondavi owns part of this vineyard along with Andy Beckstoffer).  The nose is textbook Cabernet and on the palate it’s firm but already shows some of the nuances that a couple of years of bottle age will surely expose.  There is less oak influence and overall complexity in this bottling than the Oakville or Reserve, but the underlying fundamentals are all there, making the $16.95 price tag an outright steal.

This wine will be going strong a decade from now, which says a heck of a lot about a $17 Cabernet.  It received 90 points from both Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine cellar.  Cheers to Mondavi for making another killer value.

Buy Here: 2007 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa $16.95

Robert Parker 90 points

“It is hard to find a better value than the outstanding 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon (which may even be discounted for under $25 a bottle). This sleeper of the vintage exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color as well as loads of cassis, blackberry, graphite, and cedar notes. Full-bodied, rich, and concentrated with silky tannins and a lush, generous constitution, this beauty is capable of lasting 10-15 years.

I know there have been a lot of concerns about the huge Constellation empire running Mondavi, but these remain very impressive wines.”

Steven Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar 90 points

“Good deep ruby-red. Aromatic nose combines currant, flowers, menthol, mint and fresh herbs (I might have said garrigue Then sweet and lush but suave and not at all exaggerated, with very good tannic support to the red fruit and lavender flavors.”