Published on December 2, 2024
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There’s no denying the weather is getting cooler, and the days are getting shorter, so we’re looking to heartier red wines to enjoy on long autumn and winter nights. Nothing warms your heart more than sharing a few bottles of nice wine with close family and friends in front of a blazing fireplace, but since there’s more people around the fire why not save a few dollars by purchasing excellent quality Napa wine at amazing prices. We’ve scoured the market and tasted hundreds of wines to find the best under $100 a bottle. Here are our picks for the 10 best wines that won’t break the bank.
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Heitz Cellar 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
began making wine in Napa Valley in 1961 and is widely credited as being the first to make a vineyard specific Cabernet Sauvignon. His beloved Martha’s Vineyard has been turning out excellent grapes for almost seven decades and his Napa Valley AVA Cab is an excellent bargain that should not be missed. It has aromas of black plum, blackberry, and crushed violet petals with silky tannins and flavors of caramelized orange peel, pencil lead, ripe black fruits, and finely ground nutmeg.
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Smith Madrone 2019 Spring Mountain District Napa Valley
Smith Madrone was founded in 1971 when brothers Stuart and Charles Smith purchased the land that would house their vineyard and winery. The moniker is a mash up of the brothers’ family name and the Madrone trees that grace the property. Their 2019 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon is inky purple with aromas of graphite, violet, and cassis. Silky smooth tannins envelope the palate with flavors of blackberry, red plum, and brown baking spices.
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Grounded Wine Company 2021 Steady State Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Josh Phelps cut his teeth making wine alongside his father Chris and today the two of them partner in making , which we love, but Grounded Wine Company remains Josh’s personal project. For this Steady State Cab Josh fermented 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in stainless steel tanks inoculated with French yeast. He allowed maceration to continue for 20 days which is why the color is so intense. He then aged his wine in 50 percent new French oak barrels to add to its complex structure. Heady aromas of black plum, wet river rock, and cassis draw you into the glass for flavors of ripe black fruits, vanilla, and toasted hazelnut.
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Silverado Estate 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
was founded in 1981 by Ron and Diane Miller along with Diane’s mom, Lillian Disney (yes, that Disney) with the goal of making excellent wine from historic plots. The estate was named after the abandoned mining town that once flourished in Napa Valley and today the property is under the careful stewardship of Bill, Carol, and Courtney Foley. Their 2021 Silverado Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is blended from two estate vineyards and aged in 40 percent new oak. It has aromas of freshly picked cherry, black plum, and a whiff of clove with a sturdy tannic skeleton that supports flavors of dark chocolate, cassis, and black cherry.
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Beaulieu Vineyard 2020 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley
For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has consistently made high-quality, well-regarded wines from grapes grown in Napa Valley. While they tend to be very traditional in their winemaking approach, time has gently guided them to modern state-of-the-art upgrades and techniques. The Rutherford Reserve 2020 is made from fruit sourced in proffering heady aromas of black currant, black raspberry, forest floor, and cigar box with flavors of black plum, graphite, and a just a touch of finely ground pepper.
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Raymond 2021 Reserve Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
The Raymond family arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and founded Raymond Vineyards almost 40 years later with the establishment of their 90-acre Rutherford estate in 1970. Today the estate is owned by Jean-Charles Boisset and consists of 300 acres in Rutherford, Jameson Canyon, and St. Helena. Boisset pays homage to the founding family by creating fine Cabernet-dominant wines made under certified organic and Biodynamic principles. He also honors his French roots by blending in soupçons of Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. His 2021 has enticing aromas of brown baking spices, mocha, and blackberry with silky tannins and flavors of black plum, cassis, mint, and vanilla.
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Penfolds 2020 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Head winemaker Peter Gago and his Penfolds team started making wine in Napa Valley in 1998 when they planted Australian vines in American soil. The result has been simply remarkable; the 2020 Bin 704 has aromas of crushed violet petal, black raspberry preserves, and a touch of finely chopped herbs and dried eucalyptus leaves. The tannins are opulent yet smooth and showcase flavors of cassis, black olive tapenade, chocolate, and graphite.
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Cliff Lede 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Cliff Lede founded his namesake winery in 2002 and purchased 60 acres of land in the Stags Leap District AVA. He began replanting relatively soon after and named each plot after his favorite rock music albums including Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and the Who’s My Generation. His premium wines have been widely acclaimed but are a bit pricier than this well-made Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which we think offers great value. It has aromas of black cherry, raspberry, and pencil lead with pleasantly grippy tannins and flavors of cassis, violet petal, and a touch of forest floor.
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Robert Mondavi Winery 2021 the Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Napa Valley
Robert Mondavi founded his eponymous winery in 1966 and is widely credited with many important innovations in American winemaking. Although the winery is no longer owned by his family, the current owners continue to make excellent wines including this stellar Cab made from grapes grown in the Stags Leap District AVA. This bottle is 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. Red plum, mocha, and a whiff of sea air lead you to soft tannins in the mid palate with flavors of black raspberry, cassis, violet petals, and dark chocolate.
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Inglenook 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley California
Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Ellie vowed to reunite the Inglenook estate in 1975 because many of the original plots were sold off over the years. They achieved their goal in 1995, and in 2011 they acquired the Inglenook name and trademark. The current winemaker is Philippe Bascaules who previously worked at Chateau Mârgaux in Bordeaux and in our opinion he brings an elegant and opulent style to Inglenook’s winemaking. The 2018 Inglenook Cab is garnet colored with aromas of black raspberry, pencil lead, cinnamon, and blue fruits. Velvety tannins pave the way for flavors of crushed violet petal, black cherry, and dried cherry.
Authors
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Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
Credit: robbreport.com
