Cabernet Sauvignon

Finding a value wine is not an easy task and a solid Cabernet in particular is even more risky. But this Cabernet offers light blueberry, huckleberry, Rainer cherry, plum, raspberry, pink peppercorn, a wisp of mocha and light vanilla touches. The tannins and acidity are mild, making this very drinkable from the start. Hardy is a name well known in Australia, having over 150 years of winemaking behind them, and their Tintara vineyard. This relatively new introduction to the U.S. offers an enjoyable Cabernet from a trusted producer at a reasonable price. ORIGIN: McLaren Vale, Australia.

Offering a lighter style of Cabernet, this 2019 Dough is definitely a solid value. Black cherry, blueberry, blackberry, light plum, pomegranate, rhubarb, green tea leaf and black cherry, announce themselves and it offers moderate acidity and decent tannins. The wine was aged 16 months in both American and French oak barrels.

This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 2% Petite Verdot from Washington state.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char and slight dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Silky tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, slight chocolate and a bit of spice.  Some minty and bitter cherry notes on the finish.  There is some depth here and it may improve a bit with short term cellaring.  It is nice on its own, but seemed better with food.  Of course, a burger would do, but it worked great with Felafel.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

The idea of a Super Tuscan wine has been around for decades, but they tend to be a higher price point. So in 1993 Carpineto launch they value version, Dogajolo. This wine offers good tannic structure and acidity. This leads to notes of blackberry, black cherry, light blueberry with soft strawberry, pomegranate and huckleberry. These fruits are muted though, not overt and jammy - the fruit is balanced with the oak, acids and tannins so the wine is ideal for food.

This is an unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina.  It provides excellent value.  Screw capped.  Ruby/purple in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, and sandalwood.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with slight minty note especially on the finish.  This wine delivers a lighter, but present, style of Cab that would be great for Cookouts or other parties.  Drink over the next three to five years.  A good wine to pair with Burgers off the grill.  

This was a fun wine to try.  19.1% abv.  Bottled in 1998.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries and some alcohol note.  Viscous texture.  Tannins all resolved.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Lots of black cherry fruit.  Warm on the finish but otherwise very  smooth.  Tasty and a nice way to end an evening.  It does have many Cab qualities but also some Port notes, too.  It appears they used to produce this every vintage, but only once since 2004. 

Always great to try one of these!  Still one of the better Cabs coming out of Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this has cassis with slight cedar notes and underlying spice and char.  It is still tight and young but already drinking well.  Ideally, it could us another five to  ten years in the cellar, but otherwise give it plenty of air.  It has a nice complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Great on its own, this would be classic with a steak, but would be great as well with a bowl of hearty c

Pop and pour, this wine is in a great place right now.  Purple in color with slight ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with spice, cassis, earthy and some  hay notes.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Complex.  On the palate, cassis, and black cherries with some char.  Long finish.  At age 15, this seems at peak.  I don't think it will improve but it should still drink well for seven to ten more years.  Great on its own, this will work well at the dinner table.  It went great with a pasta dish and a lentil salad.  

This is in a very nice place right now.  It needs a bit of air to open and then is drinking well.  2012 is an excellent if not flamboyant vintage.  Coupled with this very structured wine and it does need some coaxing.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is classic with graphite, cassis, spice and cedar.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is very concentrated.  Cassis, pencil lead and char.  Long finish.  Great balance.  It is drinking well today but not yet at peak.  This should easily go another twenty years.  Great on its own, this will be excellent with foo

This bottle had been opened at 9:00 am for serving around 7:00 pm.  It wasn't enough, so it got decanted around 6:30.  Still was quite tight so it was left to sit in the glass for another hour where it eventually opened up.  This bottle needs time.  A 24 hour decant might not be out of line at this point.  This 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, slight earthiness, graphite, chocolate and slight roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Lovely texture.  On the palat