With summer grilling season in full swing, my red wine favorite is California Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s the perfect pairing with everything beefy on your barbecue menu. This Sonoma County Cab is an expression of Dry Creek and Alexander Valley grapes. The Prati name means “meadow” in Italian and nods to the old-world roots of the Louis Martini family. This particular wine is 85% Cabernet and 6% Petite Sirah with small amounts of other varietals. It’s ripe in style, light in body structure, and has velvety tannins. Rich, smooth, and packed with plummy fruit flavors of cherry and boysenberry. Oak barrel aging gives it some sweet toast and caramel on the finish. This Cabernet is easy to like and ideal for everybody’s picnic – well-balanced with solid acidic structure that features lots of fruit notes. Louis Martini goes way back to the early days of California winemaking with over 90 years of Italian mastery of Cabernet Sauvignon production. Great tradition and delicious taste… all at a great sale price during the Surdyk’s Summer Sale! -Wine Constulant, Bill McCleary