ZD Wines, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

 This is an eye-poppingly good wine, which is a good thing, as the price is likely to make one’s eyes pop as well.  Of course, when quality is in proportion to price, that equals value, and this would be a great choice for a special occasion.  The very dark color and glass-staining thickness of the wine shows what is in store even before it is experienced directly, and the promise of the wine’s appearance is more than fulfilled once it is sniffed and tasted.  Aromatic topnotes of toast, spices and light smoke indicate that this was treated to very fancy cooperage, and the wine clearly had that coming, as the dense but charming fruit shines through the wood notes.  Very concentrated and clearly capable of years of positive development, this is already remarkably delicious, with a very long finish that remains perfectly proportional, with ripe fruit flavors cushioning the wood and tannins.  A Platinum Award winner at the 2018 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.