Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons Edited by Darryl Beeson A lesser known statistic is that Sonoma red wines win more awards than Napa reds. Possibly they are constructed in a way to be approachable sooner. The following are Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons worth looking into. Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000 Price $36.99 Rating 90 Dick Arrowood makes red wines that are like velvet hammers, soft on the surface but packing a powerful punch. A spectrum of ripe red fruit expands within the sip. Complex, the red remains on the palate for a great length on the palate. Look for subtle complexities in the finish such as olive and soft herb. To learn more, visit www.arrowoodvineyards.com. Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2002 Price $16 Rating 89 Look for flavors of Blackberry, black currant (cassis), black raspberry, plum, blueberry, herbs, chocolate , earth, black olive, bell pepper and euclayptus. "Cab is a big wine and stands up well to full-flavored dishes. Try this wine with hamburgers, steak or rich, meat-sauced pasta dishes," suggests wine maker Erik Olsen. Olsen comes to Clos du Bois with a powerful resume. He earned a BS in Fermentation Science from UC Davis, an MS in Food Science from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Washington, giving him that rare background of both technical and business training. And for almost two decades, with time out for a graduate research position at Cornell, he has crafted wine at some of the most prominent wineries in California and Washington, including Robert Mondavi, Simi and Chateau Ste. Michelle. Clos du Bois Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2002 Price $25 Rating 91 The sip begins with ripe currant, mocha and a hint of olive. Concentrated blackberry, vanilla from the toasted oak and hints of spice develop within the good length on the palate. Find out more at www.closdubois.com. Clos du Bois "Marlstone" Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2002 Price $50 Rating 93 The blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc. The color is deep and dark. The nose exhibits blackberry, clove, floral like violets along with more concentrated, ripe fruit. The sip mirrors the nose with complexities of tobacco, cedar and subtle pencil shavings. Coffee and mocha appear within. The length is long and complex. Clos du Bois "Briarcrest" Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2002 Price $39 Rating 93 The wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The color is deep black within ruby. A sniff allures with toasty oak, spice and classic cassis. The sip brings huge, ripe fruit, vanilla, black fruit and exotic spice in the very long, complex length. Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2002 Price $18 Rating 89 The nose is complex with dark fruit and mineral. The sip is ripe with flavors of plum and mint. Kenwood is a predictable producer of some of Sonoma's finest red wines. Serve this approachable Cabernet Sauvignon with fire seared beef, pasta with meat sauce or with a perfect burger. Visit www.kenwoodvineyards.com to learn more. Kenwood "Jack London Vineyard" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2002 Price $30 Rating 91 The elegant and powerful nose showcases big black cherry character along with nuances of mocha and cedar, tobacco and cigar box. Bold and chewy on the palate, we find concentrated cassis, blackberry and cedar flavors along with firm tannins. Though still very youthful, the structure offers soft powerful tannins while still showing elegance on the long finish. Lake Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2001 Price $24 Rating 91 "The 2001 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits forward, focused aromas of ripe black currant, accented by fresh mint notes," says a trusted winery spokesperson. Black fruit also dominates the sip, augmented by blueberry, cocoa and butcher shop complexities. Soft, but obvious tannins give weight and smoothness to the palate. Sebastiani "Cherry Block" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2002 Price $75 Rating 95 For Sebastiani, the wine from this vineyard would be The Franchise. Great care is taken to maintain this benchmark. The nose is dominated by black fruit and firm mineral. Intense flavors of black cherry, maple syrup, malt, and mineral combine forces in the long length on the palate. More to know is at www.sebastiani.com. Valley of the Moon Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 2001 Price $20 Rating 88 Very subtle aromas of blackberry, black currant and mint, followed by lean, softly structured flavors of black cherry and black currant with hints of spice like vanilla. Says a winery spokesperson,"In addition he the primarily Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, as well as Merlot and Petit Verdot, Valley of the Moon also included a percentage of Petite Sirah, which added structure to the flavors and a hint of subtle spice to the aromas." Valley of the Moon Winery welcomes visitors to its historic wood and stone cellar in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery produces Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese and Cuvée de la Luna, a Bordeaux-inspired blend. For more great wine suggestions, click here Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com Copyright © 1998 Inter Active Media Solutions. All Rights Reserved. The interactive components of this site require that you use a current browser version of Explorer; be sure to maximize your window out so you can see the entire page. This page was created by Inter Active Media Solutions.