Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasted blind with other wines including the 2013 Bard.  It was close and although I think this is the better wine, I found the 2013 a bit better on the evening.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Inky purple in color and shimmering bright.  Opaque.  The nose is big with cassis, graphite, slight earthiness and char.  A bit tight.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young and tight.  Very ripe, this needs time.  Flavors of cassis, blueberries, spice and cherries.  Long finish.  Hold for five years and drink for thirty after that.  Bett

Nice to revisit this wine in a blind setting.  It is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black olives, graphite, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins. Soft texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Tight layers of fruit and starting to show tertiary characteristics.  Cassis, earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and with a bit of air, will work with hearty meat dishes.  This should still improve.

What a fantastic showing for this wine (again)!  It is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is explosive with cassis, graphite, cedar and slight cigar box.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is a big wine with cassis, tobacco, spice and char.  At first, the finish was a bit harsh but that smoothed out with just a bit of air.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with roasted or grilled meats.  At age 11, it is still young and should have twenty years left ahead of it.  

Mending Wall offers some of the "more affordable" Cabernets that Thomas Rivers Brown makes (but prices seem to be rising).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, crushed gravel, slight cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, there is juicy cassis fruit with some underlying gravel, char and some spice.  Long finish.  Of course, this is very young.  Cellar for a few more years and then drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Great on its own, it will become more food friendly as it ages.  If drinking soon, go with bigger (and fatty) food

Another great Thomas Rivers Brown cabernet.  This is their basic Cabernet which has unfortunately gone up in price recently.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, with nice minerality.  Medium to firm tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated with cassis, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is still youthful but drinking well.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this is in a great place to take to a steak house.  

One of the best vintages yet for this wine and one of the more affordable reds in the Realm portfolio.  It is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, chocolate, graphite, and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis, blueberries, some dark cherries with spice and slight char.  Long finish.  This is young and would benefit from additional cellaring.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this would be great

Obviously young, this needs some time but will be great.  Inky purple in color, shimmering bright and opaque.  The nose has cassis, roasted herbs, graphite and slight chocolate.  Full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is concentrated and tight.  Cassis, char and slight chocolate.  Long finish.  This needs another three to five years and then should drink well for twenty after that.  No doubt its score will improve by a few points at least.  Better on its own at his point, but it would work with a grilled steak.  

This  may be my favorite vineyard that Rivers Marie utilizes.  A Wow wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, dark chocolate, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is young but complex and deep.  Also delicious.  Flavors of cassis, chocolate and spice with some leather and char.  Long finish.  This should continue to develop and maybe improve.  It should drink well for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this needs big food right now, but brisket or Rib Roast should work well.  

This is their basic Washington Cabernet Sauvignon.  It is a nice value and provides good quality for the money.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slight bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying char.  Good finish. This drinks great on its own and will work well with typical Cab matches.  A nice wine with a sausage Pizza.  Drink over the next ten years.  

There is an old saying that great wineries make great wine even in off vintages.  That is undoubtedly true and this is yet another example.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, graphite, slight leather, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is deep, complex and delicious.  Perhaps maturing a bit quicker than better vintages.  At age 13 it is nearing peak.  Loads of cassis with some tobacco and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work well with most non-seafood dishes.  It went great with a P