For the past few years, so called “big, cocktail-style wines” have been the rage among the hoity-toity wine crowd. But things might be changing willy nilly, especially when it comes to California wines. Which means goodbye and good riddance to overpowering Cabernets boasting alcohol levels of 16% and hello to acidity and symmetry.The reason for the change is California’s mild summer weather. Northern California, where all those exquisite vines are located – places like Napa and Sonoma – is experiencing dampness, cool morning fog, and afternoon temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. A few growers have been overheard wondering aloud if the strange weather pattern is somehow connected to global warming. What they’re really saying is that the cooler weather is inconvenient.