Cabernet Sauvignon

This was from the crazy hot, 2003 vintage. Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, slight leather, damp earth and spice.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is ripe but certainly not over ripe.  No prunes or raisins.  A really amazing Bordeaux that is just getting to maturity.  Loads of cassis with some spice and a bit of Bordeaux funk.  Long finish.  This should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This went well with roasted root vegetables and rice.  

This is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust and slight dishwasher note (not pleasant).  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Much better on the palate.  Cassis with a fair amount of oak.  Moderate finish.  This drinks easy on its own and would be nice with a burger or plate of pasta.  Drink over the next few years.  

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, cedar, blueberries, and spice.  Full bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate cassis with underlying spice and some cedar.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for another seven to ten years.  A nice choice with a grilled burger.  

A lovely blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, and 15% Cabernet Franc, the grapes were grown in selected old vineyards from the Uco Valley. The 2017 offers black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry notes, with back notes of pomegranate, tea leaf and rhubarb. The expressive fruit is mitigated by mellow acidity and tannic structure. Aged in French oak for 20 months, this wine is a reminder of the value and quality that Argentina as a whole delivers. ORIGIN: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. ALCOHOL: 14%

This is made with grapes grown on the West Coast and shipped to Ohio.  Purple in color with garnet hues, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, and a slight herbal (chervil?) note.  Full bodied.  Gripping tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and cassis with some char and slight reductive (burnt rubber) notes.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This needs a few years of cellaring to integrate and then should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  It would work well with Lamb Stew or a Cassoulet. 

Apparently made from Washington state (Red Mountain) fruit that is then shipped to Ohio.  Packaged in a Burgundy shaped bottle.  This was very good and really made me take notice upon trying.  Garnet in color with purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose needs some air to get going, but then shows nice black cherries, figs, roasted vegetables, and slight coffee grounds.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry fruit along with a slight coffee and spice.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This could use a few more years in a good cellar to get where it is going bu

This is a nice solid Napa Cabernet that often shows up on restaurant lists.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee, slight chocolate and a slight herbal note.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of cassis, some chocolate and just a hint of spice.  Nice finish.  This drinks nicely on its own and will work great with a steak or burger.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

A nice, solid Napa Cabernet.  At 15.6%, this is not shy although the alcohol is not noticeable.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, cedar and spice.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this drinks smooth and easy.  Cassis notes with a touch of cedar.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and should continue for the next five to eight years.  A nice wine with a steak or burger.  

This is a relatively inexpensive Cabernet that is a nice choice for a party or a reception.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some cassis, slight cedar and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is tasty and easy to drink on its own.  It will work with grilled meats but also worked well with chocolate.  Drink over the next couple of years.

This winery specializes in unoaked wine.  As the label says, "Happy Wife, Happy Life" and Pam, the owner Roan's wife likes her wine unoaked.  This was the first time we tried the Cab.  An interesting take on Cab and a nice value at $16,  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, sour cherries and a slight pomegranate note.  Light to  medium bodied with very light tannins.  On the palate, sour cherries and some cassis.  This drinks easy and is refreshing.  More "light hearted" than a typical Cab Cab if that makes sense.  Nice on its own, this is very food friendly