title: Château Souverain 1996 Winemaker's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)
description: A solid effort from a dependable winery that used to be known for value, back before wine—especially Cabernet—prices exploded. It hits all the right notes, with black-currant aromas and flavors, herbal or bell-pepper notes and a fancy streak of mint, complexed with lots of new French oak. Dry and rich, it finishes with dusty tannins, suggesting aging possibilities. Best after 2003.
variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
designation: Winemaker's Reserve