Understanding alcohol level in wines: It's all about grape ripeness

Does the alcohol level in your wine play a role in your decision whether or not to buy it? I was asked by a Gazette reader why the same grape, cabernet sauvignon in this instance, can be as low as 12.5 per cent in some instances and more than 14 per cent in others. Is one better than the other?
The reader wanted wines that have less alcohol, and for her it was an important factor in her decision what to drink. But lower alcohol is not necessarily better. It comes down to what you like in your wi