Fly By Cabernet Sauvignon

Fly By Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from California's North Coast appellation, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This wine earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, landing at #70 on their Top 100 list — a notable achievement for a value-tier North Coast Cab that punches well above its weight class.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: North Coast, California  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Precision Wine Company

Production & Heritage

Fly By is produced by Precision Wine Company, a Napa Valley–based operation led by winemaker Trevor Sheehan. The label follows a négociant model inspired by the buying houses of Burgundy — rather than farming estate vineyards, Sheehan sources small lots of fruit and juice from highly regarded vineyards across California's North Coast. This approach gives the winemaking team flexibility to select parcels that meet a specific flavor and quality threshold each vintage, resulting in a blend that reflects the broader character of North Coast Cabernet rather than a single site. Oak aging contributes the vanilla and spice framework that underpins the wine's dark-fruit core.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet blue and black fruit — ripe blackberry and plum — before layering in vanilla, mocha, and a cedar-spice thread from oak aging. There is an inviting richness without being overly extracted.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is juicy and full-bodied, with dried cherry and black currant arriving first. The mid-palate expands into dried plum, black fig, and a darker tobacco-leaf character, supported by ample oak-driven vanilla and nutmeg. Tannins are lightly grainy, providing structure without harshness.

Finish: The finish is moderately long, with dried dark fruit and cedar lingering alongside a subtle warmth. A slight tannic grip on the close keeps things balanced and encourages another sip.

How to Drink Fly By Cab

This wine shows best at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, poured into a large-bowled glass that lets the dark-fruit aromatics open up. Decanting for 20–30 minutes softens the tannins and amplifies the mocha and spice notes. For wine-based drinks, the bold fruit profile makes it a strong base for a Classic Red Sangria, where the blackberry and plum notes harmonize with citrus and brandy. It also works in a Cabernet Reduction for steak pan sauces, where the concentrated fruit and oak carry through cooking. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) is an unconventional but effective warm-weather serve that plays off the wine's inherent sweetness and body.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners when you want something genuinely good without overthinking the selection
• Introducing someone to North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon at a friendly price point
• Backyard grilling sessions with burgers, ribs, or tri-tip
• Building a by-the-glass red wine lineup for a house party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fly By Cab taste like? Fly By Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, fruit-forward wine dominated by ripe blackberry, dried cherry, and dark plum, with vanilla, mocha, and cedar notes contributed by oak aging. It finishes with moderate tannins and a lingering dried-fruit character.

How does Fly By Cab compare to Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are value-priced North Coast California Cabernets, but Fly By leans riper and more full-bodied with pronounced dried-fruit and oak spice intensity. Josh Cellars tends toward a slightly softer, more approachable style with less tannic grip, making the two complementary rather than interchangeable.

Is Fly By Cab good for beginners? Yes — its ripe, fruit-forward profile and moderate tannins make it accessible to anyone comfortable with full-bodied red wine. The oak-driven vanilla sweetness also helps smooth the palate for those new to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Where is Fly By Cab made? Fly By Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Precision Wine Company, headquartered in Napa Valley, California. The grapes are sourced from vineyards throughout California's North Coast appellation under the direction of winemaker Trevor Sheehan.

What foods pair well with Fly By Cab? Grilled ribeye steak works exceptionally well, as the fat tempers the tannins while the wine's dark fruit stands up to charred meat. Braised short ribs complement the dried plum and fig character. Aged cheddar or Gouda echo the wine's vanilla-oak notes. Herb-crusted lamb chops mirror the cedar and spice elements. Dark chocolate desserts align with the mocha undertones on the nose and palate.

What sizes does Fly By Cab come in? Fly By Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Fly By Cab worth the price? Fly By positions as a value-tier North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, and with 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and a spot on their Top 100 list, it delivers quality that frequently outperforms its price bracket. For everyday drinking or casual entertaining, the quality-to-cost ratio is strong.

Why Fly By Cab?

The 90-point Wine Enthusiast score and Top 100 placement are the clearest signals that this is not an ordinary value Cabernet. Trevor Sheehan's négociant sourcing model — inspired by Burgundy's buying houses — allows Precision Wine Company to cherry-pick small lots from premier North Coast vineyards, assembling a blend that captures the region's depth without an estate-grown price tag. The result is a genuinely full-bodied, oak-influenced Cabernet with real complexity: dried dark fruit, tobacco, cedar, and mocha in a framework that holds together from first pour to final sip. In a crowded field of sub-premium California Cabs, Fly By earns its place by over-delivering on concentration and character.