effrey Patterson draws on a handful of vineyards—including the Mount Eden estate—to blend this delicious, rustic, well-priced mountain cabernet. The cool 2010 vintage grew a wine carried by juicy acidity as much as tannins, the flavors tending toward black trumpet mushrooms and tobacco instead of overt fruit. It’s sappy yet elegant, just the thing for a rich autumn dinner that starts with roasted bone marrow and a bowl of chestnut soup.

Distinct jalapeño aromas come alongside plum, boysenberry and star anise on this Cab from the team at historic Mount Eden. The green pepper fades to the background on the palate, where ripe plum and woody flavors meet with present but not overpowering tannins.