Winter is Cabernet Season: Cabs to Serve with Cold Weather

Winter means a lot of things to a lot of people. It’s totally defined by where you live or where you’re traveling for the Holidays. Regardless of your hemisphere or flight itinerary, winter has a way of bringing us together to celebrate family, friends, and food. And if the weather is chilly where you are nothing is better than a soul warming Cabernet Sauvignon.

I love so many different varietals and wine styles, but you know that as “Big Cab Bigger Hair” I’m all about my opulent, plush, Cabernet Sauvignons. I wanted to put together a list of my “gotta-have-’em” Cabs for this Holiday season. With price ranges from $15 to $100, unique characteristics specific to place and the winery, and mostly broad availability in major North American markets I promise you’ll find the perfect stocking stuffer, food pairer, or bottle that you open when the kids are tucked in (or when the in-laws finally leave). What can I say; I love Cab Sauv, and I hope these wines and my tasting notes (tough job, but I had to make sure I gave you my personal reflections) inspire you to bring one, two, or all 11 of them to your wine glass this winter.

2014 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon – $55

A steakhouse staple, Jordan’s iconic wine label from the Alexander Valley is the quintessential cool-to-drink-it-early Cab Sauv. A strong, burly vintage gives you all the dark fruit you can handle. An iron fist wrapped in a velvet glove, the 2014 is focused with acidity, but opens to a lengthy tannic finish. If you’re serving Prime Rib, you really should be serving this wine.

2014 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon – $40

Another iconic Napa Valley producer brings it with the 2014 vintage. Currants and crushed rose petals on the bouquet give way to warm tobacco and sage. Grippy tannins with a bit of a flinty characteristic will have you chewing this wine all night – if you’re into that sort of thing.

2014 Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – $50

This might be the most interesting wine on this list given its price point. Yes, $50 is nothing to sneeze at, but this wine could just as soon be $150 and you’d be okay with that once it hits your lips. Wet stones, cedar, forest floor, and nutmeg all expressive out of the glass. Black licorice, stewed mission figs, plum, and clove on my palette. Kathryn Hall does it again.

2014 O’Shaughnessy Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – $100

If you read my blog you know this is probably the unofficial official wine of Big Cab Bigger Hair. The first time I tried this wine I honestly knew what it meant to fall in love with wine. Heavy on Cab Sauv, but married with six other Bordeaux varietals, the 2014 Howell from O’Shag is a dream. Not as chewy per se as the 2014 Hall, which is saying something for a young wine off of Howell Mountain, the tannins on the O’Shaughnessy are fine grained and elongated. Full of blackberry, black licorice, and cassis, this beauty is way too good to share. Decant it and keep it for yourself. (Check out my previous post for more details on visiting O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery.)

2015 Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon – $15

Value is the name of the game with this wine. An exceptional value at $15, the plum and cherry notes stand up next to a very mocha style creaminess. You’ve read that I love this wine with a burger dripping in cheddar cheese and sautéed onions. You should also know I love this wine as a crowd pleaser – no matter what time of year. With fruit coming from the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys, there are no disappointments with this label – ever.

2015 Raymond Reserve Selection Cabernet Sauvignon – $40

Here’s a food wine that does not mess around. This is a real deep Cab Sauv that rings herbaceous and douses your mid palette with mouth watering purple fruit flavors – cassis being most discernible. I think it plays a little like a Port – with some interesting sweet qualities to it, but it’s a winter wine – and I want it with my gingerbread cookies.

2015 Chappellet “Las Piedras” Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend – $70

I threw this wine in to let you know that I’ve visited Chappellet winery (humble brag). You probably won’t find this outside of the winery, but I think it’s very worth ordering a bottle to get a better sense of what Pritchard Hill (an appellation name that Chappellet technically owns) can really produce. All five Bordeaux varietals comprise this unique and graceful wine. Warm baking spices, fresh brewed coffee, and deep core of dark fruit will make you swoon.

2016 Textbook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – $21

Another of the great value buys on this list, the 2016 Textbook Napa Valley (from Scenic Root Winegrowers – Spicerack, Pey-Marin, Forager) is an example of what happens when great small lot vineyard sites meet up in a bottle. A “textbook” expression of Napa Valley – and at a great value. 90% of premium Stag’s Leap, Oak Knoll, and Oakville Cab Sauv laced with 10% of a racy Merlot make this wine way too good to be just $21. A great gifting wine for the student of wine (just like me) in your life.

2016 Chappellet Mountain Cuvée – $35

I threw this wine in to let you know that I’ve visited Chappellet winery – AND that you can find this outside of the winery. The bulk of Chappellet’s production is devoted to this beauty. Almost chalky and cocoa dusty in its mouthfeel, the 2016 vintage offers up concentrated chocolate, vanilla, dark plum, and nutmeg. You should buy a half case of this wine if you’re looking for something to serve all night with your Holiday meal – it’ll go fast. Maybe too fast if you invite me.

2016 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon – $80

Another of the great steakhouse staples. Caymus is a name you probably know if you’ve ever perused a fancy steakhouse wine list. If you haven’t tried this wine, winter might be the time to give it a shot, especially if you’re serving red meat. This is a vanilla, oak, and dark berry masterpiece – opulent is the only way to describe Caymus Cab Sauv.

2016 Anderson’s Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – $40

I love e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g ACV produces. Full disclosure, I’m a wine club member – but I’d sing these praises from on-high even if I wasn’t. It’s wines like this that got me to put pen-to-paper and pledge allegiance to ACV. An iconic Napa Valley producer, the 2016 ACV Cab Sauv is the soul warming wine you want in your glass. It’s loaded with warm dark fruit compote notes intertwined with very subtle dried herbs and spices. Mouth coating tannins keep this wine lingering all night and throughout the chilly winter season. (Check out my previous post for more details on visiting Anderson’s Conn Valley.)