Wine List: Top Cabernet $20-$25 Tasted 12/13

Top Cabernet $20-$25 Tasted 12/13

1. Mossback Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (2010)

Next » 1 of 10

Average price: $19.⁹⁵ from 1 store

Lovely dried chile, macerated dried herbs and smoky orange peel aromas greet the nose followed by some sweet, candied vanilla notes and a base of dark plummy fruit all topped with a perfumey note of flowers. Some early acids snaps this to attention and lends it great focus in the mouth. The flavors in the mouth are simpler than the nose but quite attractive in their own right, all red currant and faintly blueberry tinged with a nice edge of earth and wood spice. This is very well put together, nice acids which might be high for some palate, ripe yet firm tannins, all wed to a medium full bodied frame. The finish is perhaps a touch short, and this could probably improve a bit over the next 1-3 years, gains a bit of weight on the mid-palate and length but it's drinking well even today. Really quite delicious. 90pts

View more details »

Like this wine?

List It

In this list

150558moldavi33 I'd like to add Educated Guess to this list. Phenomenal Cab for $20-$25, drinks more like a $40 bottle. Napa fruit, but not overly extracted, and pretty well structured, to boot. Gimmick-y label, but don't let that dissuade you; it's very, very good.
89065Gregory Dal Piaz Good call Moldavi. A very attractive wine!
12988261206gene I still think the H3 ( Horse Heaven Hills ) cab from Columbia Crest is one of the best bargain cabs around, with plenty of cab character for $11.69 to $15, depending upon where you buy it.
89065Gregory Dal Piaz Absolutely gene. I serve it blind on occasion and it has no problem keeping up with $20-$25 Cabs. Thanks for the suggestion.
1145575wolfarthe Anything from Waterbrook! Great producer at affordable prices. Merlot is even better than their cabs.