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The Best California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine To Add To Your Cellar, From International Wine Competitions

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9 months ago

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The Best California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine To Add To Your Cellar, From International Wine Competitions


The steady decline in fine wine prices over the last several years makes it a perfect time to stock up on top-tier California Cabernet Sauvignon. Below are 15 top-rated wines that have been consistent medalists in international wine competitions. All of them are excellent cellar selections and worth accumulating.

California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely recognized red wine grape varieties, renowned for its depth and longevity. It’s considered the “king of red wine grapes” for its ability to produce wines with exceptional depth and complexity.

The grape varietal is believed to have originated in the Bordeaux region of southwestern France, where it is still a significant component of “Bordeaux blends.” These blends typically include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and sometimes Petit Verdot and Malbec. They’re known for their complex flavors and aging potential. The grape is a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, which occurred in the 17th century.

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It thrives in various climates but excels in warmer climates where it can fully ripen. The grape is known for its thick skin and hardy vine, making it relatively resistant to disease and frost. Its robust nature allows it to flourish in diverse vineyard soils, though it shows a particular affinity for gravelly and sandy soils, which provide good drainage and heat retention.

Cabernet Sauvignon was introduced to California in the late 19th century. However, its significant impact began post-Prohibition and escalated in the 1970s following the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris. In this blind-tasting event, a selection of California wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, triumphed over several First Growth French Bordeaux wines, shocking the wine world and established California as a world-class wine-producing region.

California Cabernet Sauvignon Wine: Aroma and Flavor Profile

Cabernet Sauvignon wines are best known for their intense color, full body, and alcoholic strength; they are also naturally high in acidity and tannins. Ripe and jammy black cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant notes are common, along with hints of blueberry, boysenberry, and prune.

A high-end California Cabernet often exhibits complex spice notes of black pepper, clove, cinnamon, and earthy undertones of graphite, cedar, and dried tobacco leaf. These wines are typically aged in oak barrels, contributing additional layers of complexity and imparting vanilla, toast, coconut, and caramel flavors.

The finest examples of California Cabernet Sauvignon, especially those from Napa Valley, are prized for their structural tannins, deep fruit flavors, and ability to age gracefully. These wines are often lush and powerful, with a deep color and a rich mouthfeel. They can also display an excellent balance between concentrated fruit notes and a well-defined tannic backbone, making them capable of long-term aging, developing a softer mouthfeel and more complex flavors. These wines can easily age 10-20 years.

Below are 15 highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon wines. All have been top medalists in international wine competitions and consistently receive excellent reviews. The indicated ABV is an average of recent vintages. The price is the average retail listed on Wine Searcher.

Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.8% ABV. $2,474

Screaming Eagle is one of Napa Valley’s most prestigious and expensive wines, known for its exclusivity and exceptional quality.

The wine exhibits a complex nose of blackcurrant, dark cherries, and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with velvety tannins and a layered complexity of dark fruits, cedar, and spices. The finish is long and elegant.

Harlan Estate, 14% ABV. $1,497

Harlan Estate aims to produce a “California First Growth” from its hillside vineyards in Oakville. Although expensive, you can often find it for under $1,000.

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The wine offers intense blackberry, mocha, and cassis aromas with subtle earthy undertones. The palate is robust, with concentrated dark fruit flavors and a touch of vanilla. Tannins are ripe and well-integrated, and the finish is long and layered, with lingering dark fruit notes.

Opus One, 13.5% ABV. $462

A joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi, Opus One is a flagship wine that helped define premium California wine on the world stage.

The wine features a rich bouquet of dark fruit, cedar, and hints of rose petals. The palate is seamlessly integrated with black currant, spice, and seasoned oak flavors, leading to a balanced and lengthy finish.

Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.4% ABV. $235

Caymus Vineyards is known for its high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly the Special Selection, hand-selected from the vintage’s finest barrels.

The rich, opulent wine exhibits ripe blackberry, chocolate, and leather flavors. It has a lush texture on the palate, with velvety tannins and a long, decadent finish.

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Joseph Phelps Insignia, 14.5% ABV. $342

A Bordeaux-style blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. It has consistently been a top performer, showcasing the best of Napa Valley.

The wine features a robust blend of dark fruit, smoke, and anise. The palate is well-structured, with layers of black cherry, tobacco, and earthy notes supported by firm tannins. The finish is long, with lingering black fruit notes.

Shafer Hillside Select, 15.5% ABV. $379

Sourced from the rugged terrain of Stags Leap District, this wine is a testament to the quality that Napa Valley’s specific microclimates can produce.

The wine displays deep notes of black fruit, graphite, and violets. The texture is dense and muscular, with a precise balance of acidity and tannin, culminating in a long, powerful finish.

Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard, 14.5% ABV. $327

This distinctive character wine is shaped by the unique terroir of Martha’s Vineyard in Oakville.

The nose features a classic eucalyptus note, blackcurrant, cedar, and spices. The palate is elegant yet intense, with a refined structure that leads to a memorable finish.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23, 14.8% ABV. $315

This wine combines fruit from two of Stag’s Leap’s best vineyards, creating a superb expression of the region’s terroir.

The wine features layered aromas of dark cherry, cassis, and vanilla. It is silky and complex on the palate, with a superb balance of fruit and tannins extending into a long, polished finish.

Silver Oak Alexander Valley, 14.35% ABV, $101

Silver Oak’s Cabernet is both distinctive and highly celebrated due to its exclusive use of American oak. The wine blends Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

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It’s very aromatic on the nose, featuring dark berries, plum, and smoky oak. The palate is lush, expressing vanilla, black cherry, and light toast, with a smooth, enduring finish.

Ridge Monte Bello, Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% ABV. $281

Produced in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge Monte Bello is a long-lived wine prized for its ability to age gracefully.

The wine presents complex aromas of blackberry, licorice, and chalky minerality. The palate is finely structured, with an extraordinary balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity.

Chateau Montelena, The Montelena Estate, 13.8% ABV. $206

Famous for its victory at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, Chateau Montelena produces structured, long-lived wines.

This wine offers a mix of earthy and fruity notes, with flavors of dark berries, forest floor, herbs, dried tobacco leaf, vanilla, and black cherries. Full-bodied and rich, it’s dense on the palate with ripe, well-integrated tannins. The finish is long, with lingering dark fruit notes.

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Robert Mondavi To Kalon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. $189

A Napa Valley wine industry pioneer, Mondavi’s Reserve Cabernet is a testament to high-quality winemaking.

The wine delivers rich flavors of dark fruit, spices, and sweet pipe tobacco, complemented by a firm structure and a lengthy finish rich with cedar and espresso.

Continuum Estate Proprietary Red, 14.9% ABV. $305

Crafted by the Mondavi family, Continuum is a single-estate wine from Pritchard Hill, representing the pinnacle of their winemaking philosophy. It’s a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, and 6% Merlot.

A complex, sophisticated wine, it features intense notes of blueberry, black plum, cacao, violet, graphite, and tobacco alongside layers of rich blackcurrant. The palate is full-bodied with powerful tannins and a complex finish.

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% ABV. $73

Duckhorn has consistently produced high-quality Bordeaux-style wines in Napa Valley. This wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

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The wine offers layers of black cherry, plum, and violets, with integrated hints of oak and spice, balanced acidity, and tannins. The finish is smooth with lingering black fruit notes.

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.1% ABV. $167

One of the oldest continuously operating wineries in Napa Valley, Beringer’s Private Reserve is known for its depth and complexity.

This robust wine features dense flavors of dark chocolate, black plum, dried black fruit, sweet spices, and anise. The texture is plush, with a complex interplay of tannins and acidity leading to a long, refined finish.

The 15 California Cabernet Sauvignon represent the pinnacle of California wine-making. They are richly flavored, robust wines with layered and nuanced complexity capable of extended cellar aging. These wines can easily be enjoyed over the next decade and likely over the next two. The current wine market softness offers an excellent opportunity to restock these classic California Cabernet icons at exceptional prices.



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De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita: live score, updates, highlights from California’s Open Division state championship bowl | Sporting News

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9 hours ago

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December 14, 2025

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De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita: live score, updates, highlights from California’s Open Division state championship bowl | Sporting News


MISSION VIEJO, California, Dec. 13 — The No. 7/SN No. 15 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles ended a 14-year state championship drought Saturday night in a 47-13 romp past the No. 15/SN No. 25 De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans in California’s CIF Open Division state championship bowl.

While the win ended Santa Margarita’s drought, it prolonged De La Salle’s own dry spell in championship bowl games, extending the Spartan’s losing streak to eight games in these contests.

Santa Margarita is ranked as high as No. 4 in the country by three selectors (High School Football America, MaxPreps, and USA Today’s Super 25). In the High School Football America rankings, they’re ranked ahead of both the No. 1/SN No. 1 Buford [GA] Wolves and the No. 3/SN No. 5 Carrollton [GA] Trojans – two teams that will play for Georgia’s GHSA Class 6A championship on Tuesday night.

Whether the win over De La Salle can get the Eagles – who will finish the season with three losses at 11-3 – a share of the national title remains to be seen.

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De La Salle, meanwhile, ends its season at 12-1.

WATCH ON THE NFHS NETWORK: No. 7/SN No. 15 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles vs. No. 15/SN No. 25 De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans

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Refresh for updates

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End of the fourth quarter: Santa Margarita 47, De La Salle 13

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SANTA MARGARITA 47, DE LA SALLE 13

Santa Margarita gets a pick six to put capper on this one.

 

 

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SANTA MARGARITA 41, DE LA SALLE 13

Johnson finds Gazzaniga for his second touchdown of the game. The tight end entered the game with two touchdown receptions all year, and he’s got two in the state title game.

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End of the third quarter: Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 13

The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.

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SANTA MARGARITA 35, DE LA SALLE 13

De La Salle forces another turnover and converts it to points to give them a glimmer of hope that they can climb out of this deep hole.

 

 

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The third quarter is under way, and to make matters worse for De La Salle, Santa Margarita is on offense first.

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End of the second quarter: Santa Margarita 35, De La Salle 7

The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.

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Santa Margarita has been a different team offense since Mosley’s return around midseason. And they’re one half away from a state championship in Carson Palmer’s first year at the helm.

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SANTA MARGARITA 35, DE LA SALLE 7

Just over a minute to play in the first half, Mosley scores again on another short play, and then he adds the 2-point conversion. This feels like it’s over.

 

 

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SANTA MARGARITA 27, DE LA SALLE 7

It’s Duce plus a deuce. Santa Margarita marches right back down the field after the Spartans’ touchdown, and Duce Smith carries it in for another touchdown. And even with the score by De La Salle, Santa Margarita still has its biggest lead of the night after converting the 2-point conversion. It’s Johnson to Ryan Clark on the extra two.

 

 

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Santa Margarita into the red zone again.

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SANTA MARGARITA 19, DE LA SALLE 7

Helped along by the turnover and a couple of penalties, De La Salle’s offensive line shows some muscle in the trenches and they power their way down near the goal line where Jaden Jefferson carries it across. That felt like a must-score situation, and they get the touchdown. Now, can they stop Santa Margarita’s offense again?

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De La Salle gets its first real break. Mosley fumbles, and the Spartans pounce on it inside the Eagles’ 40. If they want to have any chance of staying in this game, they need to make the most of this short field.

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End of the first quarter: Santa Margarita 19, De La Salle 0

The first quarter is in the books, and it’s all Santa Margarita so far.

 

 

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SANTA MARGARITA 19, DE LA SALLE 0

Johnson finds Luke Gazzaniga on a wide-open post against a blown coverage. It’s too easy for the Eagles right now, and with their elite defense, it’s possible they’ve already scored enough to win this game.

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De La Salle with a quick three-and-out on offense, and they punt on a 4th-and-19. Mosley returns it inside De La Salle’s 35. This is already starting to look ugly.

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SANTA MARGARITA 13, DE LA SALLE 0

Trace Johnson finds Mosley with a short swing pass to the right side of the field, and the senior standout does his thing winding and weaving his way 34 yards through traffic before running over the final defender at the goal line. Again, the early feeling watching this is not good for De La Salle.

 

 

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Santa Margaria quickly approaching the red zone again.

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De La Salle puts together a good drive to get into position for a short field goal attempt. But it’s blocked by Santa Margarita, ending the scoring threat. If you’re a De La Salle fan, you’re encouraged by the offense being able to move against the Eagles. But combined with the defensive personal fouls on Santa Margarita’s first drive, you also get the feeling early that this could be a really tough night for the Spartans. It’s early, we’ll see how they rebound from the lost scoring opportunity.

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SANTA MARGARITA 7, DE LA SALLE 0

Helped along by a couple of personal foul penalties, Santa Margarita drives quickly on its first possession, scoring on a short run by Trent Mosley out of the Wildcat formation.

 

 

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Santa Margarita won the toss and deferred to the second half. De La Salle picks up one first down against this stout Eagles’ defense before being forced to punt.

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They’re under way in California! This is the final game of California’s high school football season.

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Coming soon!

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De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita start time

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 13
  • Start time: 11 p.m. EST (8 p.m. PST local)

The game between De La Salle and Santa Margarita is being played at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.

How can I watch De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita today?

MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF HEADLINES

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Two girls, 9 and 11, awarded $31.5m after sister’s California torture death

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21 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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Two girls, 9 and 11, awarded .5m after sister’s California torture death


A lawsuit over the death of an 11-year-old California girl who was allegedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family reached a settlement on Friday totaling $31.5m from the city and county of San Diego as well as other groups.

The suit was brought on behalf of the two younger sisters of Arabella McCormack, who died in August 2022. The girls were ages six and seven at the time. Their adoptive mother, Leticia McCormack, and McCormack’s parents, Adella and Stanley Tom, are facing charges of murder, conspiracy, child abuse and torture. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, and their criminal case is ongoing.

Arabella McCormack. Photograph: San Diego county sheriff’s office

The lawsuit alleged a systemic failure across the city and several agencies and organizations to not report Arabella McCormack’s abuse.

The settlement includes $10m from the city of San Diego, $10m from San Diego county, $8.5m from the Pacific Coast Academy and $3m from the Rock church, the sisters’ attorney, Craig McClellan, said. The school oversaw Arabella McCormack’s home schooling, and her adoptive mother was an ordained elder at the church.

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“The amount is going to be enough to take care of the girls for the rest of the lives,” McClellan said. But it “isn’t going to be enough and never could be enough … to replace their sister, nor is it going to erase the memories of what they went through”.

The lawsuit said county social workers did not properly investigate abuse claims and two teachers at the Pacific Coast Academy failed to report the girl’s condition. It also said a San Diego police officer, a friend of the girl’s adoptive mother, gave the family a wooden paddle that they could use to hit their children.

San Diego sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a child in distress at the McCormack home 30 August 2022. They found Arabella McCormack severely malnourished with bruises, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.

Her sisters are now nine and 11 and living with a foster mother. They are in good health and “doing pretty well considering all things”, McClellan said.



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California High School Wrestlers To Watch – FloWrestling

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1 day ago

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December 13, 2025

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California High School Wrestlers To Watch – FloWrestling


California consistently produces an incredible amount of high school wrestling talent. The current crop of high schoolers from The Golden State has piled up a massive collection of accolades and has major next-level potential. Here’s a look at some of the top wrestlers to watch this year in California. 

Michael Bernabe (Fresno) — Freshman, 106 pounds

Bernabe is one of the top freshmen in the country and is currently ranked second nationally at 106 pounds. Bernabe had a productive offseason, placing sixth in Fargo and third at the Super 32. He will be looking to run the table and win a California state title as a freshman, but it will not come easily. He will likely have #3 Luke Loren and #5 Thales Silva, both of whom are also incredible freshmen who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at Super 32, as well as #4 Eli Mendoza. 

Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan) — Senior, 120 pounds

Zinkin is one of the nation’s fastest-rising prospects. The two-time California state finalist won his first state championship last season at 113 pounds and followed that up with an eye-popping summer, finishing third at U17 World Team Trials, winning Fargo in the Junior division and looking incredible at Super 32 on his way to the 120-pound belt. Those showings propelled Zinkin from #100 on the 2026 Big Board up to #11. The Oklahoma State commit is currently ranked #2 in the country at 120 pounds and could have a showdown with two-time U17 World Champion Sammy Sanchez this season in his quest to close his career with a second state title. 

Watch Zinkin dominate in the Super 32 finals

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Samuel Sanchez (Esperanza) — Sophomore, 120 pounds

The #1 prospect in the Class of 2028 Big Board is the truth. After winning the U17 World Championships in 2024, Sanchez won a state title as a freshman last season at 106 pounds and then one-upped himself by going back-to-back with his second U17 World title at 51 kg this summer in Athens, helping lead Team USA to the team championship. Sanchez is so much fun to watch, and if we were to get a matchup between him and Zinkin, it could be one of the nation’s most anticipated high school matches of the season. 

Watch Sanchez win his second U17 World Championship

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Moses Mendoza (Gilroy) — Senior, 132 pounds

Mendoza is another Californian who has made big jumps heading into his senior campaign. The returning state champion for Daniel Cormier’s Gilroy High School team placed third at the state tournament in 2024. He has a lengthy list of freestyle accolades. The Michigan recruit defeated his former high school teammate, Isaiah Cortez, for the Fargo Junior freestyle title at 132 pounds this summer and won Super 32 in October. The nation’s second-ranked 132-pounder could have a big test in front of him for his second state title in #3 Ashton Besmer. 

Watch Mendoza win his Super 32 belt

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Ashton Besmer (Buchanan) — Senior, 132 pounds

Besmer put together an incredible run to make the U17 World Team at 60 kilograms, punctuated by a sweep of U17 World champion Paul Kenny in the best-of-three championship series. Besmer also notched wins against Moses Mendoza and Manuel Saldate on his way to a Doc B title last season before finishing third at the state tournament. The Army West Point commit has worked his way up to #3 in the national rankings at 132 pounds and could be looking at a rubber match with Mendoza this season. Last year in the Doc B semifinals, Besmer defeated Mendoza 22-15 in a crazy match, but just two weeks later Mendoza got his revenge in the Five Counties finals with a 16-1 tech fall in two periods. 

Watch Besmer defeat Saldate for the 2025 Doc B title

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Joseph Toscano (Buchanan) — Senior, 144 pounds

The third and final Buchanan wrestler on this list, Toscano is a three-time California state runner-up, He won a Doc B title as a freshman back in 2023, followed by two runner-up finishes, and has also been fourth at Super 32 the last two years. The Cornell commit is looking to get over the final hurdle on his way to a state championship, but it won’t be easy. Along the way,  Toscano could match up with the likes of #7 Ivan Arias and #17 Arseni Kikiniou. 

Arseni Kikiniou (Poway) — Junior, 144 pounds

Arseni Kikiniou is an interesting prospect and a guy to watch this season. Kikiniou’s father was a Greco-Roman World bronze medalist and Olympian for Belarus before their family moved to the United States, and his influence is evident in Arseni’s wrestling. Arseni claimed a bronze medal in Greco and a silver in freestyle at the U17 World Championships this summer. Arseni has placed second and fifth, respectively, in his first two state tournament appearances. He recently made his commitment to Cornell and will be making a big jump up in weight this season to 144 pounds. It’ll be intriguing to see if his international success translates to even more folkstyle success this season, especially with a possible showdown with future Cornell teammate Toscano on the horizon. 

Watch Kikiniou win his U17 Greco-Roman World bronze medal

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Mason Ontiveros (Pitman) — Senior, 175 pounds

Ontiveros has had an impressive 2025, finishing second at the state tournament, taking third at NHSCAs, and placing second in Fargo in the Junior division at 175 pounds. This has vaulted Ontiveros up to #6 in the country at the weight. Ontiveros is an Oklahoma recruit who will be looking to close out his career with a state title in what could be an interesting weight class in California. As it currently stands, we could see #7 Mario Carini, #9 Travis Grace, #12 Isai Fernandez and #14 Slava Shahbazyana, along with Ontiveros, all battling it out for the 175-pound California state championship this season.

Watch Ontivero’s win in the 2025 Fargo Junior semifinals

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Coby Merrill (JW North) — Senior, 285 pounds 

Coby Merrill is one of the most physical wrestlers in the country at any weight class. After state runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore, Merrill dominated the 285-pound field last season, finishing 48-0 with 44 falls. Merrill finished sixth at the U20 World Team Trials this summer and finished second in Fargo. The second-ranked heavyweight in the country is a heavy favorite to win his second state title this season. 





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