Louis M. Martini 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Though they have been around since before prohibition, Martini still seems to fly somewhat under the radar. Of note is their excellent Napa Valley cabernet that drinks beyond its price and is worth looking into for a solid dependable Napa cabernet. What this wine does best is to blend oak, fruit, tannic structure, and acidity into a lovely wine that is not a fruit forward jammy production but one that truly represents classic old-school Napa cabernet. The tannins are firm enough and the fruit light enough and deftly handled that you still get black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, and huckleberry notes but it’s not overt. This is that cabernet that you want to sit down with for a while and sip as you mingle with guests. And this traditional throwback is a welcomed respite in a sea of “fruit forward” Napa cabs.

ORIGIN: Napa Valley
ALCOHOL: 15%
PRICE: $45 (750 ml)
>SCORE: 93 POINTS

Top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - 2019 Tastings

The top Cabernet Sauvignon tasted and reviewed by Loren Sonkin in 2019.

Read full article

Top 50 California Cabernet Sauvignons to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

In putting together a list of the top California Cabernets, there is sure to be some disagreement. I tried to include those wines that have a track record, the wineries still making great wines, those that seemed to have the commitment for the future and some personal favorites. I am sure I left some out. 1. Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select – It’s always hard to name the number one wine. But this has a track record that’s very long. Even in less than stellar vintages, it is an outstanding wine. They just don’t seem to make a dud. My only complaint is the price at over $200 a bottle. But, in comparison to other Napa Cabs or elsewhere in the world, this is a fair price.

Read full article

Louis M. Martini 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The biggest complaint I hear is that Napa cabernets are too expensive. And yes, some are. But there are some that fly under the radar, like Martini. Though the winery dates back to 1933, they were making other wines for church use and home winemaking before and during Prohibition. Once Prohibition...

Read full article

Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

Of all Bordeaux first growths, perhaps none is as well known, both inside and outside of the wine world, as Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Its name transcends wine, standing as a symbol of luxury. How did it get this lofty reputation? And, more importantly is, it deserved? The answer to the second question is a definite yes. This article will explore the first question in more detail. The History: Records of this estate stretch as far back as 1234 when Gombaud de Lafite, abbot of the Vertheuil Monastery north of Pauillac, owned the property. The name Lafite comes from "la hite", a Gascon expression meaning "small hill." Records from the 14th century indicate that it was not a vineyard, but what the French call a seigneurie. This is an estate run by a lord and others who are effectively sharecroppers. The manor house was constructed in the 1500s and still standing today. Read part one of the First Growths Series. The Ségur family bought the property in the 1600s. Jacques de Ségur planted the vineyard in 1680 although grapes were no doubt grown before that. By the early 1700s, thanks to Nicolas-Alexandre, Marquis de Ségur, Chateau Lafite wines were very popular with those wealthy enough to afford them, first in English Society (where it was a favorite of Prime Minster Robert Walpole) and later in French society.

Read full article

Winemaker David Vergari Talks Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and....Armed Guards?

Sometimes there are people you encounter in life who, the minute you meet them, you think "This guy has a story to tell and I bet he tells it well." David Vergari is that guy. A veteran winemaker, David launched his own eponymous label, Vergari Wines , in 2003. He recently sat down with IntoWine to share with us his evolution as a winemaker and, most interestingly, the stories "behind the wine". You founded the Vergari Wine Company in 2003. What inspired you to strike out on your own? It happened in two ways: gradually, then quite suddenly.

Read full article

Louis M. Martini 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Food and Wine Pairing Tool

Related Articles

Top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - 2019 Tastings

Top 50 California Cabernet Sauvignons to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

Louis M. Martini 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Bordeaux First Growths: Chateau Lafite, First Amongst First Growths

Winemaker David Vergari Talks Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and....Armed Guards?