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Good California Cabernet does NOT have to come from the Napa. One underrated region is the Livermore Valley (located just southeast of the Napa Valley), and the folks at Nottingham Cellars are mainly focused on proving the area is very capable of producing world-class wine made from Bordeaux varieties. With their talented winemaker, Colin Cranor leading the charge, they’ve won over many fans (including our tasting panel), and if you pay them a visit, we bet you’ll be won over, too.
Nottingham Cellars 2011 “Micro-Lot” Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Price: 50-55
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of cherries, plums, and boysenberries mingle with traces of cola, sweet spice, and chocolate on the nose. Flavors of black cherry, plum, and bramble fruit combine with notes of mocha, clove, and earth on the palate. An elegant Cab with plush tannins, enjoy a bottle with your favorite portobello mushroom dish. 196 cases were made.
Rating: 91
Nottingham Cellars 2012 “Smith Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Price: 55-60
Tasting Notes:
Blackberry, cherry, and currant aromas meld with dark chocolate, floral earth, and oak on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of blackberries, cassis, and black cherries that flow into suggestions of chocolate and toasty oak. Rich and dark, with bountiful tannins, steak would make an excellent companion for it. 100 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Nottingham Cellars 2012 “Supremacy” Blend
Grape(s): 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, & 2% Cab Franc
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Price: 75-80
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate, and cinnamon rise up from a glass. Blackberry, cherry, and plum flavors emerge on the palate alongside whispers of mocha, sweet spice, and thyme. With supple tannins and opulent flavors, lamb chops would be a fine pairing. 350 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Nottingham Cellars 2014 “Fraser-Howard” Chardonnay
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Livermore Valley, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of apples, pears, clove, and citrus zest greets the senses. The palate showcases flavors of golden apple, crisp pear, and ripe peach, along with accents of citrus zest, clove, and buttery popcorn. A lush, mouth-filling wine with a friendly acidity, have a glass with crab cakes. 175 cases produced.
Rating: 89
