McGrail Vineyards, Livermore Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

 Among the best wines I’ve tasted from Livermore Valley in recent years, this is big-time Cabernet that merits its price tag and will likely make those tasting “blind” wonder if something from Napa has landed in front of them.  Deeply colored and concentrated in feel, the dark-toned fruit is braced by ample oak, with the balance between these principal elements seeming just right.  Time will bring additional integration, but this is highly enjoyable as it stands today.  A Platinum Award winner at the 2022 San Diego International Wine and Spirits Challenge.