Cabernet Sauvignon

1995

Paumanok Vineyards

Grand Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon

The 1995 is a stunningly beautiful wine, offering layers of pressed violets, dried rose petals, loamy earth, currant, and cassis. Juicy acidity remains vibrant and fully in check, balanced by firm, mineral-rich tannins. With time in the glass, notes of leather, tar, black olive, liquorice, and charcuterie emerge, adding depth and savory complexity. Enjoy this wine with pizza at Fiocha Pizza in Mattituck, NY.

Red

2010

Paumanok Vineyards

Tuthills Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2010 shows some tension right out of the gate, but with air, it opens beautifully—offering cassis, currant, wet slate, and warm brown spices. The palate builds with integrated tannins that carry both grip and a velvety texture, framed by savory notes of sage and bay laurel. A firm saline-acid tension drives the finish.

Red

2018

Kalasi Cellars

Kanchi Red Wine

This Bordeaux blend features Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 685, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Carménère, aged for an impressive 48 months in neutral French oak. Named “Kanchi,” after a village in South India renowned for its wedding saris, the name evokes a sense of rich history and elegance—qualities reflected in the wine itself. The wine is both elegant and intense, offering high-toned red berry fruit and warm spices. Full-bodied, it boasts plump, velvety tannins with layers of mocha, brown spices like cardamom and coriander, and intriguing notes of grapefruit zest and orange peel. The finish is long and deeply satisfying, marking this wine as a standout.

Red

2019

Becker Vineyards

Canada Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Grapes for this red are sourced from Canada Family Vineyard, located in the Texas High Plains, atop primarily limestone-based soils. Compared to the Wilmeth Vineyard, this wine exhibits a more structured profile with greater grip and intensity on the mid-palate. It bursts with red and blackberry fruit, cassis, and is supported by fashionable, polished tannins that build gracefully into a lengthy, mineral-driven finish. A truly complete and harmonious wine.

Red

2019

Becker Vineyards

Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, sourced from the Wilmeth Vineyard (also known as Diamante Doble) in the Texas High Plains, is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 1.6% Petit Verdot, and 1.4% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 30 months in a combination of 70% American oak (35% new) and 30% French oak (20% new), this wine is juicy, approachable, and easy to drink. It features satiny, silky tannins and rich dark berry flavors, accented by ample brown baking spices. The palate carries a welcome lean elegance, leading to a long finish with fantastic slate and iron minerality and a touch of wild herbs. During the tasting, I also sampled a 2016 vintage, which showed remarkable evolution—fuller, richer, and with more intense tannins. Its truffle notes and loamy earth character were reminiscent of aged California Cabernet or Bordeaux Supérieur. Both vintages exemplify the vineyard’s exceptional potential and craftsmanship.

Red

2019

Belle Fiore

Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a gorgeous Left Bank–inspired nose of blackberry, graphite, and expressive cedarwood, layered with rich tobacco nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, it features fine, dusty tannins and vibrant black currant fruit, with notes of loamy earth, vanilla bean, and savory wild herbs framing the long, focused finish. A tremendously satisfying wine of elegance and mineral purity. Belle Fiore Winery is an estate in Oregon’s Rogue Valley, with 31 acres of planted vineyards.

Red

2020

Adega Vinho

Estate Mourvèdre

This Mourvèdre from Bilger Family Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country, is sourced from vines grown on sandy, limestone soils. Red-toned fruits transition seamlessly into cool, limestone-driven minerality, with layers of espresso bean, charcuterie, and bright citrus notes of blood orange and grapefruit zest. A totally pleasing red, it strikes a perfect balance of richness and freshness, making it an excellent choice for pairing with smoked brisket or chicken dishes.

Red

2020

BoaVentura Winery de Caires Winery

Venture Red Wine - Iberian Blend

Made primarily from estate-grown Iberian varieties, this blend includes Tinto Cão, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Touriga Nacional, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It opens with a bright mix of red and black fruit on the nose, accented by orange zest and walnut husk, lending a high-toned, refreshing aromatic lift. On the palate, it’s soft and supple, framed by gentle tannins with an Earl Grey tea quality. Blackberry and black cherry fruit layer in beautifully, finishing with loamy earth and wet river stone minerality. A very intriguing and distinctive red.

Red

2020

Calais Winery

TX RG Red Wine

“RD” stands for Rive Droite, while Calais’ “RG” bottling refers to Rive Gauche—Ben Calais’ nod to the Right Bank and Left Bank of Bordeaux. Very refined, with lovely purity of cassis fruit and bright spearmint notes, layered with rich cocoa character and hints of blood orange. Ripe, supple tannins are framed by juicy blood orange acidity, all building toward a full-bodied finish. At just 12.9% alcohol, this is a remarkable effort, showing excellent Texas density balanced by vibrant tension and a long, spice-laden finish.

Red

2020

Wente Family Vineyards

Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon

Fermented in small stainless steel tanks with pumpovers performed three times daily to maximize color and flavor extraction, this Cabernet Sauvignon was then aged for 22 months in new French oak barrels. Sourced from just two select vineyards, this represents Wente’s top-tier Cabernet offering in this vintage. The nose is intensely spicy and complex, with layered aromas of cinnamon, basil, cedar, tobacco leaf, and rich cassis. A silky entry gives way to a deeply expressive palate featuring black plums, black cherries, and a continuation of the tobacco note, all supported by a fine line of minerality. Hints of dried herbs add intrigue to the long, resonant finish. -JR

Red

2021

Brander Vineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The 2021 Brander Reserve is a savory, layered Cabernet Sauvignon, medium- to full-bodied, with red and black fruit woven throughout. A host of savory notes—walnut husk, tobacco leaf, and cigar box—intermingle with dried sage, finishing on a deep, earthy register of loamy soil, black olive, and licorice. Super savory and best enjoyed alongside herb-dusted pork loin or espresso-rubbed roasted meats.

Red

2021

Brennan Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

Brennan Vineyards’ 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from Newburg Vineyard in Comanche County is a well-balanced, unfussy, and easy-drinking red. Packed with vibrant strawberry and raspberry fruit, it’s complemented by notes of fruit leather, panna cotta, and coriander cream. The wine’s full-bodied expression of Cabernet is supported by robust tannins, adding structure while maintaining a smooth and approachable character.

Red

2021

Covert

Cabernet Sauvignon

Julien Fayard’s 2021 Covert Cabernet from the Coombsville AVA is a full-bodied, silky, super-enticing wine with heady boysenberry fruit, dark cacao, and sweet oak spices. Plush, velvety tannins form a solid foundation, framing gobs of dark berry fruit, cassis, graphite, wild herbs, and cedar spices. All too easy to drink, and at 14.9% alcohol, balanced as it is, this is a wine to savor with a burger and fries, roast chicken and potatoes, or braised meats and hearty stews.

Red

2021

JMC Cellars

LVVC Red Blend

The LVVC (Livermore Valley Vintners Collective) is a collaboration of six Livermore winemakers who come together each year to craft a unique blend, with each contributing their own interpretation using wines from their cellars. In this expression, Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Syrah, Merlot, and Malbec to create a rich, harmonious red. The nose is peppery and floral, with savory blackcurrant aromas, while the palate delivers bold flavor with impressive balance—powerful, polished, and delicious. -JR

Red

2021

JMC Cellars

The Blind Pig

Cofermented from all five traditional Bordeaux varieties, this blend comes from a field planting of less than an acre in the Davis Vineyard. Intensely savory and deeply expressive, it opens with bold aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, dried herbs, oak, and a touch of vanilla extract. The palate is supple and rich, continuing the savory thread with ripe, plummy dark fruit, impressive concentration, and a lift of blood orange acidity. -JR

Red

2021

Meierstone Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Meierstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas High Plains offers alluring cherry and strawberry fruit notes, complemented by tobacco, leather, and vanilla aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, it reveals more of the same vibrant fruit, supported by a firm foundation of taut tannins that create tension and structure. The wine maintains freshness through its blood orange notes, leading to a finish tinged with a hint of orange zest, adding a refreshing and zesty element.

Red

2021

Meierstone Vineyards

Wrecking Ball

The 2021 “Wrecking Ball” is a full-bodied red blend of Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon, offering crunchy red-toned fruit and brown spice notes, with hints of molasses and dried herbs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it maintains good tension, finishing dry, with a robust backbone of crisp tannins that provide structure and depth.

Red

2021

Paumanok Vineyards

Tuthills Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Alluring aromatics of rich loamy earth wrap around dark currant fruit and warm tobacco spice. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with a plump core of cassis, blue fruit, blackberry, and black cherry. The tannins are velvety and mouthcoating, leading to a long, lingering finish layered with cedarwood, truffle, and earthy depth.

Red

2021

Star Lane Vineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Astral

This is a nicely structured wine that lands somewhere between Napa Valley and Bordeaux on the palate, with crunchy red-berry fruit, graphite minerality, and expressive dusty cedarwood. Fine-grained tannins linger, lifted by subtle notes of dark chocolate, ironstone, and a zesty spine of tingly acidity. It’s that vibrant acid tension that evokes Bordeaux, while the firm, integrated tannins nod to Napa—wrapped in the distinctive minerality and energy that define Happy Canyon.

Red

2021

Wente Family Vineyards

Charles Wetmore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Aged in a combination of new, second-, and third-use French oak barrels, this wine is named in honor of Charles Wetmore, California’s first agricultural commissioner and a key figure in the state’s viticultural legacy. The nose is complex and inviting, with notes of black olive, blackcurrant, cocoa, cedar, vanilla, and ripe plums. The medium- to full-bodied palate is spicy, soft, and seductive—an immensely tasty red that balances richness with approachability. -JR

Red

2021

Wente Family Vineyards

Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon

Sourced from five distinct vineyards, the 2021 vintage of Wente’s top-shelf Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the benefits of a mild summer and extended growing season—yielding a layered, complex expression. The nose is a sensory cascade: black cherry, blackcurrant, cocoa powder, dried herbs, oak spice, licorice, and dark chocolate—almost too much to count. On the full-bodied palate, dark chocolate reemerges alongside rich black plum fruit, giving way to a sophisticated structure marked by polished tannins and impressive length. -JR

Red

2021

Whatley Wines

Erste Rose

Whatley Wines’ Erste Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Texas High Plains is bold and dark, with deep rose petal hues in the glass. Call it “the Cowboys’ rosé”—barrel fermented and aged for 8 months in oak, it’s robust, with grippy tannins that lend structure and grip amid its aromas of red berry fruit and subtle nutty undertones.

Rosé

2022

Eden Hill

Good Texan Red Wine

Eden Hill’s 2022 “Good Texan” is a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. This straightforward red wine showcases vibrant strawberry fruit, complemented by dusty mineral notes and the scent of pressed violets. Medium-bodied with robust tannins, it finishes with a loamy earth character and emerging hints of strawberry fruit leather.

Red

2022

Heath Vineyards

Absolution Red Blend

A heady mix of red and black fruit unfolds with rich cedarwood spice, building through cocoa powder tannins and crunchy red fruit accented by warm Indian spices on the mid-palate, carrying through to the full-bodied finish. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

Red

2022

Invention Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet Sauvignon is medium-bodied, showing red currant fruit and black tea notes layered with sagebrush. Superfine tannins provide a solid foundation for this tangy, zesty, blood-orange-fueled red, which finishes with savory black olive and black truffle charcuterie nuances. Winemaker Jason Englert oversees an 80,000 case production across all Heath Family Brands (Grape Creek Vineyards, Heath Sparkling Wines, Jenblossom Cellars and Invention Vineyards).

Red

2022

Kalasi Cellars

Narra Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 8 (Heritage Collection - Red Label)

The most captivating wine I tasted at the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival in October 2025 came from Kalasi Cellars. This is a medium-bodied red with redcurrant fruit and darker blueberry notes, supported by super-fine tannins that offer a pleasing grip—almost like apple-skin tannin. Brown spices weave through the palate, leading to a medium-bodied, spice-bright finish. A great food-pairing wine thanks to its grip and vibrant spice profile.

Red

2022

Paumanok Vineyards

Tuthills Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Kareem Massoud says this took six weeks to finish fermentation—and he was thrilled with the vintage. And no wonder: this is something else. Deep black in color with blue highlights, it opens with inky dark berry fruit, blue fruit, and violet aromatics. A bold, ripe expression of Long Island Cabernet Sauvignon, it delivers a full-bodied palate with soaring tannins and a finish that layers cedarwood spice, tar, black olive, and pressed rose petals. Powerful, structured, and built to age—this is a red wine with serious longevity.

Red

2022

Ron Yates

Cabernet Sauvignon

Grown by Friesen Vineyards and aged for 22 months in 40% new French oak, this Cabernet Sauvignon is bold, rich, and unmistakably Texan in style. “Everyone wants a Cab and a slab here in the Hill Country,” Ron Yates tells me. In the glass, it unfolds with aromas of blackberry, red currant, cassis, and cedarwood, accented by mild Indian spice. Medium- to full-bodied, it offers supple, satiny tannins and a dark-fruited, mineral-rich finish.

Red

2022

Verdad Wines

Two Wolves Cabernet Sauvignon

From the organically farmed Two Wolves Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers expressive aromas of cassis, tobacco, and cedarwood. On the medium-bodied palate, savory notes of black olive and liquorice emerge, framed by crisp, finely structured tannins. Juicy blackberry and cherry fruit underscore the finish, adding lift and freshness.

Red

2023

Wines by Alisa Jacobson

Distinctive by AJ Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet from Alisa Jacobson, known around the Santa Ynez Valley as ‘AJ’, is sourced from her top sites in Paso Robles and the Santa Ynez Valley, with a splash of Santa Ynez Valley Merlot. Medium to full bodied and well balanced, it offers juicy, ripe red and black fruit layered with sweet baking spices. Plush tannins frame the palate, leading to a pleasing finish accented by sagebrush and crushed cocoa nibs. Aged primarily in neutral French oak (10% new).

Cristaldi Scores

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Paumanok Vineyards

Grand Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon

Paumanok Vineyards

Tuthills Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Kalasi Cellars

Kanchi Red Wine

Becker Vineyards

Canada Family Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Becker Vineyards

Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

Belle Fiore

Adega Vinho

Estate Mourvèdre

BoaVentura Winery de Caires Winery

Venture Red Wine - Iberian Blend

Calais Winery

TX RG Red Wine

Wente Family Vineyards

Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon

Brander Vineyard

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Brennan Vineyards