Bordeaux Blend

Nice to try this from a "lesser" vintage but with some nice age on it.  It is in a very good place right now.  It is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and a slight herbal notes.  Also a but of spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis with underlying char.  Lots of depth.  Nice finish.  This won't get better but it is drinking very nicely and should continue for another eight to twelve years.  It works on its own but worked great with mushroom ravioli.  A great example of great

This is a Merlot dominant Napa Red proprietary blend from Oak Knoll.  Really an impressive wine.  Inky purple in color with a thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight (it is young) but with some air, black cherries, cherries, and milk chocolate emerge.  With a bit more air, there is also cedar, cassis and slight sandalwood and dust.  It took a few hours to full open up without any decanting.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, plums, over a char and slight tobacco.  Long finish.  This is delicious and has a nice complexity.  If drinking soon, giv

Sitting in a wine bar in Charlotte, NC, I got up to peruse the shelves and found a single bottle of this for $80.  Despite it's youth, the opportunity could not be passed up.  It is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seemed very clean with black cherries, cassis, slight char and vanilla.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying spice and slight cho

Trilogy is one of the more famous blends made in Napa and this represents the 35th vintage!  This vintage is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Malbec.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, char, and slight milk chocolate and spices.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium plus tannins.  Tingly acidity.  On the palate, raspberries, cassis and some underlying char.  Long finish with some chocolate notes.  This is still young but should be good drinking over the next fifteen to twenty years.  Nice on its own,

Great to try a mature Dominus, one of the great Napa Cabs made in a more Bordeaux style.   A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis and slight cigar box notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis with some depth and underlying tobacco.  This seems fully mature with a nice complexity.  Very nice finish.  This will work better food than on its own.  Lamb stew would be a great choice.  Drink over the next five years or so.  

This is a blend of 49% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, slight floral/perfume note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has nice black cherry and cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks well with lighter tannins.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  It will also work with food.  Grilled ribs or burgers would be a nice choice.  

This is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Malbec from a single vineyard in Washington.  Purple in color, a bit flat and opaque.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spice, tobacco and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries, cherries with underlying spice.  Long finish.  A bitter cherry note on the finish.  This still seems to need some time or air; maybe a few more years.  It should improve and then drink well for another seven to ten after that.  It drinks well on its own and would work well

This is a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 48% merlot and 2% malbec.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries and an herbal note that a friend called pickle juice.  I found it more like sage.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has some cassis and some cherries.  Moderate depth.  Shorter finish.  It's a nice wine if not profound.  It probably would be better with some food.  Roasted chicken or duck would work well.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is mostly Merlot with  18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc.  This is a very accessible and easy to drink wine that has nice ripeness to it.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, chocolate and a slight char.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Easy to drink.  Moderate depth. Nice texture.  Cassis and black cherries.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own and would work well with foods with a tangy/sweet BBQ sauce.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 12% Cabernet Franc.  Medium deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, cherries, spice, slight tobacco and slight milk chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cassis with some black cherries with underlying spice and slight char.  This drinks nicely on its own but will work better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next five to seven  years.