A useful if small blind tasting of California cabs

Here’s a link to a small but illuminating blind tasting of popular California cabs by one of my (many) favorite wine writers/critics, Jamie Goode. There are clear winners and losers, and I applaud him because he’s not afraid to call it like he tastes it, a somewhat rare quality among experts. I read a lot of wine lists in my role as Swig Coach and I see these wines on lists all over the US, both in private clubs and in restaurants. In my own work I preach quality-nice to see someone with real credentials spell it out in so many words.

You may disagree with his assessments and at the end of the day your own personal taste is most important. But as his notes make clear, “some top sellers aren’t very nice.” Be careful out there.