TIME TO SPLURGE

While we know that any time of year is an enjoyable time for sipping fine red wine, there’s something about winter that lends itself to reaching for a bottle on a chilly evening. That’s why we’ve curated a collection of some of America’s finest red for your drinking pleasure; these will pair with those hearty dishes you’re serving up throughout the winter months, too.

NAPA VALLEY
Cabernet is king in the Napa Valley, so you’ve probably heard of some of the biggest names producing fine reds from that fertile valley already, like Shafer, Pine Ridge and Chimney Rock from the Stags Leap District, or Silver Oak, Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel from Oakville.

But what about Davis Estates in Calistoga? That family-owned winery produces four stellar Cabernet Sauvignons, each one from a different Napa appellation (Calistoga, Oakville, Rutherford, Howell Mountain), but all with the rich, red-fruit-forward, smoothly tannic flavors that helped make the valley famous. Davis Estates wines pair fabulously with food and once you taste them, you’ll want to plan a visit to their spectacular estate as well.

Palmaz Vineyards has been making world-class Cabernet Sauvignons since 2001, using cutting-edge scientific techniques to make the most of their Napa vineyards. Expect flavors of blackberries, dark stone fruits, chocolate and spicy oak in these bottles of liquid gold.

Sequoia Grove is one of Napa’s oldest wine estates (and yes, there’s a grove of sequoia trees on the property), still making top-notch Rutherford Cabernet today. We’re partial to their single-vineyard Cabernets like the Lamoreaux Vineyards, that bursts with peppery cassis and has a glorious mouthfeel and perfect structure, but all their reds are exemplary.  

Quilt Wines is a relative newcomer to the Napa scene, but with deep roots there. Joe Wagner’s family is known in the valley for Caymus Vineyards; now he’s making his own mark with these wines from where he’s got deep roots. His award-winning 2017 Reserve Cabernet is a perfect place to start, with dark cherry, chocolate and coffee flavors melding into a perfect blend. 

Handwritten Wines is another newish wine producer on the Napa scene, with a beautiful tasting room in the heart of Yountville (a don’t-miss small town that also boasts the French Laundry). They make a Yountville Cabernet that’s a juicy, fruit-laden red bomb with hints of vanilla and smoke; and their Calistoga Cabernet Franc is a revelation for those who don’t think of that rape as anything more than a blending element. Try that one paired with a wild boar or venison stew for a winter taste delight. 

OTHER TOP REDS
Ready for a bigger, spicier red wine? Then how about Zinfandel? Sonoma’s Dutcher Crossing Winery is the label to look for, as they make eight different Zins, mostly from the Dry Creek Valley AVA within Sonoma. With a more earthy, oaky structure that often surprises with floral notes and baked bread layered on a peppery foundation, their Zins are sinfully good.

If Meiomi Pinot Noir is your go-to red wine, consider going to the source. Originally conceived by Joe Wagner from the Belle Glos vineyard that Caymus owned, it’s now a part of a bigger conglomerate and no longer under his purview. But Belle Glos Pinot Noir is, and if you haven’t tried one of their five different bottlings (all with their distinctive red wax covering the top half of the bottle), discover the single-vineyard designates (Clark and Telephone is our favorite) that burst with rich flavors and have the velvet structure that sets Pinot Noir apart from every other red wine.  

And if you’re an NFL fan planning a Super Bowl party, surprise your guests by pouring Intercept, an eminently drinkable Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Paso Robles AVA that is produced by ex-NFL superstar Charles Woodson. With a retail prince of just $20, this one’s a real steal from a man who knows his wine as well as he knows his pigskin.