Antica, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

 Since Antinori was the one who trumpeted using Cabernet in Tuscany, it’s only natural that he should make sensational wine from it in California (Antica is a contraction of “Antinori in California”).  It’s a full-bodied wine, but not the overripe and overdone style so commonly seen currently in California Cabernet.  Antinori’s combines black currant-like fruitiness with herbal and leafy elements.  The tannins are polished and lend support without being aggressive.  Lovely to drink now with a steak or lamb chops, it’s bound to gain complexity with a decade of bottle age given Antinori’s track record.