Novice with questions on what to store

[wondersofwine]

Winoweenie is our resident expert on Cabernet Sauvignon and he usually ages them for 8-10 years before opening them (currently drinking 1996 wines) and goes in for the higher end but not cult wines (Robert Mondavi, Beaulieu Vineyards Georges de la Tour Private Reserve, Markham, Etude, Caymus Special Selection, the Hess Collection, etc. Most of these cost more than your target but Markham C.S. costs as little as $25 at some wine retailers and was one of my favorites at an offline tasting Winoweenie put on. The Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is $40 from the winery. I also generally like Simi Cabernet Sauvignon (from Sonoma County) which is not that expensive for the regular wine. (The reserve gets pricy). And I like Sequoia Grove which is a Napa winery. You are correct that usually the "reserve" denotes a wine which will hold up to more aging although in the USA reserve labeling does not have any real requirements so can be arbitrarily placed on a product that is aged with more time in oak barrels, etc. Simi winemaker told me they are managing the tannins in the wine to make the wine approachable with food at a younger age so that may be a brand to enjoy now rather than cellaring for a decade.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 11-26-2005).]