I met Nicol Duffy sitting at the counter of one of my favorite wine bars in Omaha, Corkscrew, on a cool autumn afternoon a few years back. We stuck up a conversation and what hit me first about her was her passion for and knowledge of good wine. What hit me later on was her humility; she and her husband, Mike, are producing some of the best wines coming out of California’s Sonoma Valley, yet she sat and spoke casually to an industry newcomer (me) for quite some time. I left with an education, and a new enthusiasm and appreciation for Optima wines.

The 2012 Optima Cab Sauv is, simply put, a beautiful wine. Dark and rich, it exemplifies what I’ve come to enjoy so much about Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. It’s complexity, beginning in the nose and leading onto the palate, cannot be mistaken. Aged in French oak, this Cab offers notes of forrest floor and dark fruits, cocoa and earthy hints. A long dry finish completes what words will not do justice. Your palate deserves a shot at this one.

All things considered, this is one of the best Cabs I’ve had in the range of $30-$35. 93 points on my scale, sure to age gracefully, and highly recommended.