Spoto 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $75:
This locally produced wine is a beautifully balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot. The grapes are from two of Napa’s prime appellations — Oakville and St. Helena — and were hand-picked at their optimal maturity. Emerging from French oak barrels after 26 months, this wine stimulates the palate with many layers of complexity. It displays deep, rich flavors of wild berry, black cherry and mocha-laced, sweet oak. Spoto Wines is a small production winery, and in 2005 it became the first bonded winery in a residential neighborhood in Sacramento County.
Where to find it:
Matteo’s Pizza & Bistro in Carmichael (pizzamatteo.com), Capitol Cellars in Roseville (capitolcellars.com) and The Waterboy (waterboyrestaurant.com) in midtown Sacramento.
What to eat with this wine:
Grilled prime rib meatloaf with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.