According to Wine Spectator senior editor James Molesworth, Cabernets from Napa Valley's 2021 vintage are “ripe, vivid and fresh.” This week, we spotlight eight recent examples, each earning 91 points or more on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale, with most priced less than $75. There’s never been a better time to enjoy Napa Cabernet, especially at these excellent prices!
One of the wines atop the list is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Guarachi, and it's packed with blackberry, black cherry and plum compote flavors. Winery founder Alex Guarachi grew up in Chile with aspirations of becoming a professional soccer player; but after a career-ending injury, he found a second passion: wine. Following decades of success as a retailer and importer, he founded Guarachi Family Wines in 2007. Grapes for this blend come from an estate vineyard dubbed Meadowrock on Napa’s Atlas Peak.
A new label to keep an eye on is Quattro Theory from Trinchero Family Estates. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is the debut vintage for the brand, which also offers Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The winery takes its name from four elements that come together to make wine: "vision, vineyard, winemaking and experience." Landon Donley, who previously worked at Mollydooker in Australia and Spottswoode in Napa, heads the winemaking. Quattro Theory's juicy and ripe Cabernet Sauvignon uses grapes from Trinchero's Napa Valley estate vineyards, including two valley-floor vineyards in St. Helena as well as sites in the mountainous Atlas Peak and Mount Veeder appellations.
This selection also includes Turley's Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Turley Estate 2021, one of three top scorers, which is rock-solid with dark fruit and tobacco notes. Read on and get our score and full tasting note for this wine and seven others!
Tasting Highlights' wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors' most recent ratings—including scores and full tasting notes—to WineSpectator.com members.
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