J. Lohr, Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

 If you can find a bottle of this iconic California Cabernet grab it (it’s still available from a few retailers).   If it has been well cared for in your own cellar it probably has a handful of good years left but I recommend opening it sooner rather than later.  With 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc blended into the Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is colored a dense purple-red and it is hauntingly fragrant.  Having been aged 18 months in French oak barrels the oakiness is now a subtle but integral part of the wine’s overall sensory pleasure.  The abundant warm weather of 2016 left its impression in the wine’s dense dark fruit flavors.  As one of the largest producers in the USA, J. Lohr turns out wines from multiple California AVAs.  This wine is delicious with traditional Cabernet-friendly fare such as streak or lamb chops, but I discovered that it can also be also a surprisingly felicitous partner for select spicy fare.  Try it with a chicken and vegetable chili-verde soup for example.