Cabernet sauvignon rules the roost and I thought that it could be interesting for you to try a few from the USA if you are celebrating the fourth of July — or even if you are not.

The Don & Sons (Sebastiani family) winery call their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon B Side, as their vineyards for this wine are tucked into the benchlands, slopes and hillsides of eastern Napa Valley near the scenic Silverado Trail.

Vines in these areas grow in thin volcanic soils, yielding small crops of deeply concentrated fruit with classic dark berry and cassis flavours. It could be said that the valley floor and the western side are more famous and so, for those of us that remember the music record days, the “B” side was opposite the big hit on the “A” side.

The beautifully crafted Don & Sons B Side Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is pure, rich and deep, featuring aromas of blackberry, sweet tobacco leaf and notes of warm caramel. This wine is marked by a distinctively complex and subtle mix of black currant, toasted almond and anise, with a supple core of cherry and dark chocolate flavours.

Wine Enthusiast magazine rated it 91/100 and said: “This wine over-delivers in quality for the price. It’s made from mostly cabernet sauvignon, with handfuls of merlot, malbec, petit verdot and cabernet franc blended in to good effect. The whole combines into layers of chocolate and graham cracker, dappled in vanilla and jam. Thick tannins suggest a swirl or two of the glass. The finish is all tobacco.” $36.65.

Although it is not easy to find Napa Valley cabernets priced in the $30 range, here is another excellent one for $34.45 and I refer to Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon 2013. This consists of 82 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 11 per cent petite sirah, 5 per cent petit verdot and 2 per cent merlot. I quote the winemaker: “Our 2013 Louis M Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a deep burgundy colour and complex aromas of dark fruit, smoky cedar and dried herbs. Rich and broad in the mouth, our Napa cabernet has an expansive mid-palate, silky tannins and sought-after balance. Finely etched flavours of black cherry and blackberry are framed by liquorice and toast on the long finish.” Wine Spectator rates it 91/100.

Our Simi Landslide Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is from Alexander Valley and the soils there, being somewhat similar to the best vineyards in Bordeaux, are excellent for growing cabernet sauvignon. Also in the fashion of Bordeaux, this is a blend consisting of 81 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 8 per cent malbec, 4 per cent merlot, 4 per cent petit verdot, 2 per cent cabernet franc and 1 per cent tannat. Actually, I do not recall tannat being used in Bordeaux as it hails from Madiran in France, but it is best known today in Uruguay. Canadian critic Natalie Maclean writes: “91/100. Dark, rich, deep and intensely flavoured Californian cabernet from a respected producer. Aromas of black fruit, toasty oak and some spice. Great balance with a long finish. Pair with roast beef.” $39.80.

When I think of the most talented winemakers that I have had the good fortune to meet, I most certainly must include Ed Sbragia. He retired from Beringer in 2008 after 32 years as he wanted to concentrate on his family winery located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Today, his son Adam is actively involved with his dad in creating top-notch wines. I am thinking of their Sbragia Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. Here are comments from Robert Parker: “92/100. Sbragia continues to purchase fruit from the Gallo family-owned Monte Rosso Vineyard, one of the most iconic sites in Sonoma. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso Vineyard is one of the stars of this irregular vintage. Its deep, inky/blue/purple colour is accompanied by scents of loamy soil, liquorice, roasted herbs, blackcurrants and blackberries. This beautiful, full-throttle 2011 eclipses the vintage’s reputation and overall quality.

Drink it over the next decade.” Maybe we will enjoy a bottle on July 4th while outdoor grilling and remember the time that we discussed winemaking with Ed on our porch at Bacchus Gallery. $66.35

• This column is an advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. E-mail mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn has stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St George’s (York Street, 297-0409). Visit www.wineonline.bm.