Recently, we were watching an episode of In Wine Country that reported that an increasing number of new wineries have set up shop in Oakland, California – rather than in the more usual, but pricier, wine producing areas like Napa or Sonoma – in hopes of keeping costs (and prices) down.  These wineries typically source (i.e., purchase) their grapes from vineyards across California and then produce and bottle their wines inside the city limits.   

Cannonball Wine Company, which also sources its grapes, may not be making its wine in a large city, but it has clearly managed to keep its costs low enough to offer a quality Cab for sale at $13.  We found Cannonball’s 2005 Cab to be delightfully juicy all the way through from sip to swallow, with aromas and flavors of dark cherry and the sweet tobaccoey smell of a newly opened pack of cigarettes.  The balance was quite good, even if it tended a little bit toward sweet – but seriously, for $13, good luck finding a better California Cab.  In fact, ditto for even $20!

Where to get it: We bought our bottle over at K&L Wines in San Francisco.  Of course, we tell you this only for your convenience – as you would expect, we don’t see a single cent from sales of any wines we review!