Under $75
Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2011
“This wine, sourced mainly from the dry, rocky soils of Pritchard Hill, offers the deep color and concentrated flavor we’ve come to expect from Napa-made cabs. Notes of ripe berries and plum give way to hints of espresso, bittersweet chocolate, and dried herbs. Pair with braised short ribs or your favorite gourmet pizza.” Available at Bottles, $58
$76-$100
Inglenook Cask Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2010
“This is not the Inglenook jug wine your parents drank, thanks to Francis Ford Coppola’s acquisition of and investment in the property. It jumps out of the glass with notes of red cherries, boysenberries, sweet toasted oak, and hints of leather and spice. I’d pair it with a rack of lamb or just enjoy with friends.”
Available at Avondale Wine & Cheese, $90
$100 and up
Ridge Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, 2007
“This is grown above the fog line, where limestone-enriched soil provides a rich streak of minerality. All-encompassing tannins are balanced with ripe notes of cassis and black cherry. As the finish lingers, I think of the bay views and redwood forests of the wine’s birthplace.”
Available at Bull Street Gourmet & Market, $130
