There are so many factors that go into making wine. One bottle requires the labor of many, many people, from the wine maker right down to the people picking the grapes. But it’s more than labor – it’s also weather, the main thing people are referring to when discussing a vintage.

If you’re a California wine lover, this is a wonderful time to be drinking their wine, because the last few years have been excellent growing seasons. The 2015 vintage featured a hot and dry summer with almost no rain, an early harvest which began in August and ended in September, with lower yields but especially concentrated fruit. What that means in layman’s terms: you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a good wine from 2015.

Case in point, the 2015 Josh Cellars North Coast Cabernet Reserve. Berries for this wine are called Reserve because they were harvested from higher elevation vineyards in Red Hills, Lake County and Mendocino, with slightly longer oak maturation than other Josh Cellars wines. The result is a delicious wine that smells a bit like cherry pie when you open it, with smooth cherry and blackberry flavors, and spicy notes of clove and nutmeg. James Suckling gave this wine 92 points – and you can find it everywhere for around $16 a bottle.

On my five-cork scale based on taste and value the Josh Cellars North Coast Cabernet Reserve gets 3.75 corks! It’s a solid, affordable wine that you can enjoy with or without food. It’s a great wine for the price.

If you’d like to try interesting wines like this, please join me at our next private wine party at Matt the Miller’s Tavern! I host a wine dinner there every month, and we feature several interesting wines, each paired with a delicious course. There are always cool prizes to win, too, so listen Wednesday at 4:15 to win your spot on the guest list, or click here for a chance to win!