When you think of good wine from the US and France two of the top regions that come to mind are likely Napa and Bordeaux. Whether you are looking for powerful Cabernet Sauvignon or fresh Sauvignon Blanc both regions are making some excellent examples of either grape, that said what can you expect when buying either regions wines? We wanted to lay out what to look for when buying Cabernet based wines from either region.  

Bordeaux has a long and storied history when it comes to wine production. They’ve been making some of the world’s top wines form 200+ years. We’ll focus on the left bank, where wines that tend to be based on Cab. The area is great for the grape because of unique gravely The Bordelaises won’t come out and put cab on the label but if you look for these terms you’ll know you are getting a left bank wine and one that is likely to be a Cab dominated wine.   

• St. Estephe: Wild and can be tannic 
• Pauillac: Polished and posh, widely considered the best 
• St. Julien: Pauillac’s little brother, not quite as regarded, but a similar style 
• Margaux: Our wine director’s favorite, strikes a balance between wild and polished 
• Medoc/Haut Medoc: A larger area, the wines can range here but tend to be slightly subdued compared to the individual villages above.  

Now for Napa, whose history isn’t nearly as long, but the wines and stories are just as interesting and varied. Napa grows Cab throughout the valley, but it can vary drastically depending on where it is grown. Elevation, soil type and location north or south in the valley can change the wines drastically. Also, remember Napa Cab’s only have to be 75% Cab to be labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon, but they are often blends, with some percentage being other grapes.  

• Napa Valley: If you see this on a label it typically means that the wines are made with fruit from multiple source around the valley, meaning you can typically rely on consistency through vintages.  
• Mountain districts (Mt. Veeder, Howell Mt., Diamond Mt., Spring Mt. and Atlas Peak):  Napa is home to a few Mountainous AVA’s (American Viticulture Area), expect these to have more earth tones and bigger tannin 
• Valley Fruit (South to North: Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Stags Leap District, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga): Expect more fruit from these wines. Typically more polished but some locations, like Rutherford, can be earthy and grippy! The areas get warmer the further north you go, so expect bigger wines and more fruit. 

Whether from Napa or Bordeaux stop in and pick up a bottle of your favorite Cab!