Tasting Highlights' wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors' most recent scores and notes to WineSpectator.com members.
Avoid the sticker shock of Napa's upper-tier Cabernet Sauvignons with this selection. While Cabernet prices continue to climb, these wineries offer great value and indulging in their wines is a good way to explore what the region has to offer.
Girard, owned by Pat Roney, the CEO and president of Vintage Wine Estates, offers the best bang for the buck with a charming effort that shows the fresher side of Napa Cabernet. The wine is a regional blend of grapes from both the valley floor and mountain vineyards.
Napa stalwart Robert Mondavi winery crafted a textbook Cabernet with its Napa Valley bottling. For a few dollars more consider Maestro, a dark and winey Bordeaux-style blend.
Crane Family stepped up its game in the warm, dry 2015 vintage with a pleasantly rustic Cabernet that should evolve nicely in the cellar. Former president of Cakebread, Peter Chiarella, and his wife, Frances, moved to Napa Valley in 1990 and planted a hillside vineyard in the shadow of Mount Veeder, naming the estate after his father, Don Raffaele. Higher up the mountain, Mount Veeder winemaker Janet Myers crafted an engaging bottling from the winery's three estate vineyards.
CRANE FAMILY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Don Raffaele Selection 2015
This is marked by an alluring minty accent before the tobacco, sage and savory notes catch up. Features a core of gently steeped red and black currant fruit. Rugged grip through the finish gives this a brambly and pleasantly rustic feel. It will be fun to watch this wine evolve with cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2031. 418 cases made.
DARIOUSH Caravan Napa Valley 2015
A polished and fruit-driven style, with dark fig, plum and blackberry reduction notes that cruise through, inlaid with hints of baker's chocolate and warm tar. A singed alder echo weaves through the finish. Relies more on heft than purity but this is very solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2021 through 2031. 2,932 cases made.
GAMBLE FAMILY Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015
This is lively, with blueberry, açaí and blackberry fruit providing energy and range while light cocoa powder and toasted vanilla notes form the frame. Everything melds nicely through the finish. Rock-solid. Best from 2020 through 2030. 1,450 cases made.
GIRARD Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015
A bright and fresh Cabernet, featuring black cherry, red currant, floral and anise notes dancing through atop a light brambly accent. Engaging, with a light savory hint lingering through the finish. Displays lots of charm. Drink now through 2025. 9,549 cases made.
MOUNT VEEDER Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015
Engaging, with bramble, sage and tobacco accents out front followed by pleasantly grippy bitter plum, black currant and black cherry preserve flavors. Shows a rugged edge through the finish, but the tannins sparkle rather than dry, boding well for the cellar. Best from 2021 through 2031. 39,014 cases made.
ROBERT MONDAVI Maestro Napa Valley 2015
Dark and winey, with vivid blackberry and fig fruit flavors coursing through, carried by a strong graphite edge on the finish. Light licorice and savory notes add range and texture. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2030. 4,972 cases made.
ROBERT MONDAVI Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2016
A direct, focused style, with a core of steeped cherry and plum preserve flavors, liberally lined with toasted vanilla and licorice notes. Sports a pleasant tug of earth at the end of the juicy finish. Textbook Cabernet. Drink now through 2026. 95,663 cases made.