Just For Fun top 10 lists - California Cabernet Sauvignon

Original post by Gregory Dal Piaz, Jan 4, 2011.

So here's a little project I've been kicking around to no end.

The idea is simple, what are the top 10 wines in any region that remain affordable and really deliver exceptional experiences?

I know there are so many varaibles here but a list of 10 is large enough to account for the variables.

So let me start by defining affordable. I would say, in this conext, an affordable bottle is one that when purchased by a group for a tasting is, well , affordable and I'm pegging that at less than $150 a bottle.

So that was the easy part, now I begin the hard part. Naming names. Starting with California Cabernet seems to be a comfortable place. So in no particualr order, if I wanted to blow the shoes off of someone looking for grea Californai Cabernet I would be pouting

1 - Ridge Monte Bello

2 - Mondavi Private Reserve

3 - Mayacamas

4 - Dunn Napa

5 - Dunn Howell Mountain

6 - La Jota Anniversary

7 - Chappellett Prtichard Hill

8 - Rafanelli Terrace Select

Then maybe Pahlmeyer, Spottswood, Laurel Glen, Lokoya,

Any suggestions? Any giant killers? Once we nail this down we can move onto the next group and eventually end up with the greatest wines of the world list, tasting, book, and movie....

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Replies

8 549: Reply by Girl Drink Drunk, Jan 12, 2011.; Nickel and Nickel makes 13 different single vineyard Cabs. Which do you prefer?

7127 2939: Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Jan 12, 2011.; Ok, so some wines were too expensive. Many some of these wineries have lost their minds.

And about price, while I would not pay $150 for a bottle of Cabernet by myself I would chip in with 7 other people to add a few bottles at that price point to a tasting.

So here is a short list of top California wines with approximate prices. What doe you think? Is this a reasonable list for a grand tasting. what should be added, or taken away?

John Anthony     45-60
Larkmead    55-70
Viader     65-109
Honig Bartolucci    55-105
Corison     59-105
Cortesan Wines/Bridget Wines    ???
Cakebread Benchland    95-130
Turnbull black label reserve    76-101
St. Supery Dollarhide    65-84
Robert Keennan Spring mtn    78-96
Ridge Monte Bello    100-165
Pahlmeyer    85-180
Mondavi Private Reserve    95-135
Mayacamas    59-74
Laurel Glen    50
Dunn Napa    75-90
Dunn Howell Mountain    85-100
Charles Krug    ????
Emblem Oso    40-50
La Jota Anniversary    ???
la Jota Howell mtn    40-50
Montelena    100
Chappellett Prtichard Hill    110-140
Pine Ridge    80-90
Rafanelli Terrace Select    110-130
Beringer PR    85-110
Heitz Trailside    70-80
BV George de la Tour    70-100
Justin Isoceles    45-70
Matriarch by Bond    120+140
Continuum     125-160
Chateau Boswell    110-125
Myriad BGIII    70-75
Rivers Marie    60-100
Forman    80-100
O'Shaughnessy    70-85
Crocker & Starr    85-95
Dominus    85-125
Mount Eden    40-55
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars SLV    80-110
Kuleto Cabernet    50-60
cornerstone    45-60
Ramey Pedregal    110-160
Ramey Larkmead    55-75

75 3465: Reply by JonDerry, Jan 12, 2011.; Re: Nickel & Nickel

I like both the John C. Sullenger and Martin Stelling

Re: Grand Tasting:

Looks like quite a full list! Think the Nickel & Nickel Sullenger would fit in well. Would make sure the Georges De La Tour was a 2007.

0 10: Reply by ama il vino, Jan 12, 2011.; I like the N&N Sullenger as well but currently have the carpenter.

8 549: Reply by Girl Drink Drunk, Jan 12, 2011.; Greg, for me, I'd nix:

Cakebread, BPR and SLV. These are all some of the biggest rips in the industry today, IMO.

Which Pine Ridge? Andrus?