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2018 Enfield Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Waterhorse Ridge
Credit: Somm Picks
Most of the time, people say you need food to go with your cabernet sauvignon, but not this one. "This wine is ripe and delicious, and something that holds up to food, but still perfectly fine to be drunk on its own," said Max Tierno, wine director at La Devozione in New York City.
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2018 Catena Alta Cabernet Sauvignon
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Credit: VivinoThis Argentinian cabernet is a blend of grapes grown in three regions: Valle de Uco, Lujan de Cuyo, and Mendoza.
"It's a rich, bold, and spicy cab with hints of blackberry, tobacco, and leather aromas," said Nicolás Andrés Martianhes, sommelier at Balvanera in New York City. "It has velvety tannins and a long aftertaste."
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2017 Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
"This cabernet sauvignon is so great because of its complexity, power, elegance and balance between acidity, tannin and fruit," said Carlo Maggi of Chicago's Gioia Ristorante.
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2019 Matthews Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Credit: Vivino
"Matthews Winery from Washington State just recently picked up the most influential wine making team of the former vintners of Quilceda Creek," said Bill Cox, director of wine at Counter in Charlotte, NC. Quilceda Creek is a boutique winery in Washington that only produces cabernet sauvignon.
"The new blood only heightens the legacy of excellent wine making from Matthews, and the quiet juggernaut that is Washington State cabernet," he said.
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George Saites, beverage director at Limani in New York City, considers this cabernet to be at the top of its class.
"[It's] an extraordinary wine to add in any cellar. It ages beautifully, has nice tannins and an excellent mouth, is balanced, powerful, and elegant at the same time," he said. "[It's] also a little oaky with rich flavors of blackberries."
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2018 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos Apalta
Credit: Vivino
"It's a cabernet that pairs well with a variety of food," said Fernando Zamudio, master sommelier at Amal Miami. "It offers all the elements that a cabernet sauvignon should have, like ample depth and notes of fruit."
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2015 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon
Credit: Vivino
Winemaker Virginia Wilcock makes three levels of cabernet sauvignon. This one is the rarest and most expensive, but worth it, according to Alex Ring, wine director at Chicago-based restaurants Sepia and Proxi.
"The wine expresses elegance and aromatics rather than just pure mass, a welcome change from many prestigious cabs that are more than twice the price," he said.
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2017 Castello Dei Rampolla D'Alceo
Credit: Millesima
Andrea Fasan, global head sommelier and wine buyer for LPM Restaurant & Bar, suggests this cabernet sauvignon from Italy. "Their wine is a true and the best example of what the grape variety cabernet sauvignon is outside Bordeaux," she said. "Great finesse, purity of fruit, balance, and structure combined elevate the status of this majestic wine."
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2017 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon
Credit: Vivino
"The Paul Hobbs Winery Napa Valley Cabernet has layers of red currant, boysenberry, graphite, and blueberries with velvety tannins," said Thomas Delasko, general manager at Via Sophia in Washington, DC.
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2019 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
Ted Rink, beverage director at BLVD Steakhouse in Chicago, is a big fan of winemaker Cathy Corison. "She's a 40-plus-year Napa veteran that many wine drinkers haven't heard about," he said. "Her approach is classic Napa: plenty of fresh, ripe fruit that is framed beautifully with just the right amount of tannin and acidity."
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2018 Anderson Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Credit: Wine Exchange
"The best cabernet is a classic from California—Anderson Conn Valley, Napa 2018," said Ahmet Erkaya, co-owner of Los Angeles-based Mandolin Taverna. "It’s super balanced between tannins and acidity."
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2019 Robert Craig Cellars Howell Mountain Cuvee
Credit: wine.com
"There are so many wonderful cabernet sauvignons on the market, but I usually lean towards cool climate cabernets from the Napa Valley," said Laura Cipolletti, general manager of Haymaker in Charlotte, NC. "One of my absolute favorites is Robert Craig Howell Mountain Cuvee, which showcases the amazing fruit from this specific area in Napa. The price point on this wine is also one of the best values in the region."
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2012 Silver Oak Cellars Alexander Valley Cabernet
If the following endorsement by Norbert Szalay, food and beverage manager at The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort, doesn't get you to purchase this wine, I don't know what will.
"It has a youthful and exuberant purple hue, showing no signs of age," he said. "It is dominated by chocolate and graphite aromas as the fruity characters of cassis and blackberry have taken a back seat at this point in the wine’s life. It has a generous and giving, mouth-coating entry and mid-palate with a lot of density and flavor. The tannins are definitely present but balanced by their fine-grained nature. It finishes with depth and a touch of grip with excellent length."
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2018 Napa Valley Lion Tamer Cabernet Sauvignon
Credit: Hess Persson Estates
Who doesn't want to try a wine called Lion Tamer? "The Hess Collection has cabernets that give you everything you love about a traditional California Cabernet," said Oscar Amaya, beverage director at the Rusty Pelican in Miami. "Its wines are full of blackberry and red berry flavors as well as notes of vanilla, cocoa, and mocha."
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