Best Napa Cabs Under $30

Best Cabernets
$30 and under
Mostly Napa Valley, one great blend Back Room Wine Bar

Back Room Wines hosted a blind tasting of Napa Cabs that cost $30 and under last Wednesday. Of the 29 wines tasted, I picked out 4 superb Cabernets, and offer them to you below (the first four wines). Three Cabs you may recognize from previous emails as they're not new to the shop. Needless to say, I am pleased these not-new wines (Fisticuffs, John Robert Eppler and Layer Cake) got my thumbs-up with my eyes turned down. I love it when I agree with myself! I finish with a Cabernet-based blend that's sure to please Cabernet drinkers. It's called Trios, and I'm excited to have in the shop. It's very good, and such a good price. I hope my notes inspire you.

FISTICUFFS Fisticuffs Cabernet

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2006 $30

Far and away, the Fisticuffs was the biggest "slam dunk" wine in our Cabernet tasting. Rich, very ripe, creamy, well oaked (vanilla toast)...this is wine candy. Want a sure thing Napa Cabernet for a dinner party, or just want something simply good at home? Provided you like vanilla cream flavors in your wine, this is the ticket.

RAMIAN Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2006 $29
I've been a Ramian wine fan for a few years. Last week's tasting was the first time I tried this Cabernet. I LIKE IT, and you will too. 100% Cab Sauv, 3/4 from Rutherford, 1/4 Mt. Veeder. Sweet spicy nose of cola, black pepper, fruitcake, and Mexican chocolate. Dark mulberries and blueberries, full and rich mouth presence, juicy, supple tannins, BIG. 500 cases made.

JOHN ROBERT EPPLER (JRE) Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006 $19

Killer-diller value Napa Cab from grown on Pritchard Hill & Mount Veeder.
7% Cab Franc adds perfume and polish. Got high marks from everybody at the Under $30 tasting. Great concentration, luscious, full-bodied, smooth. Blossoms and gets fatter as you swoosh around your mouth. Ready to drink. Many cases of JRE Cab have left the building, so perhaps you've already tried it, and hopefully agreed-this is GOOD!

LAYER CAKE Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley 2007 $29
This fruit-driven, rich, juicy Napa Cab is eager to please. Drinks like the Fisticuffs Cabernet above without as much oak. Great concentration, black cherry pie, just enough acidity to balance this teeth-staining wine.

RUSTON Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 $26

Black fruits, low-acid, full-bodied and smooth, the Ruston is an easy choice to make for top-notch Napa Cab at a very fair price. It pours from the bottle purple-black, tastes rich and full with mocha, Maduro cigar and vanilla flavors complementing the rich fruit. Finish is big and very smooth.

TRIOS Proprietary Red, Sonoma Valley 2006 $21
Sixth vintage of this wine, but the 2006 is the first I've had of Trios. From an Estate vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains overlooking Sonoma Valley (it's near "Monte Rosso Vineyard"). It's half Cab Sauv, a third Syrah then Merlot , Cab Franc and Petit Verdot. Had it twice and am enamored with it. Oodles of fruit with an oomph of sweet spice & earth, tobacco, French roast coffee, cedar and red roses. Deliciously complex and intriguing. I kept coming back to it, looking for another flavor. Unusual in a 20-something wine. We picked up a bunch of Trios as we think you will like it a lot, too.

Mixed Case
Two of each: $275 (Includes 10% discount)

Half Case
One of each: $145 (Includes 5% discount)

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