Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color, with slight browning.  The nose has cassis, leather, black cherries, slight tobacco and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has some complexity.  Nice cassis fruit with a bit of underlying tobacco.  Moderate finish.  This is past prime and should be consumed soon.  That said, it does have something to offer.  Better with food at this stage.  A nice wine with Brisket.  

The 2005 vintage was excellent in Bordeaux and most are open and drinking well right now.  This wine showed wonderfully.  Ruby in color with some browning.  The nose is classic with cassis, char, tobacco, leather and cherries.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with some spice and a bit of dry earthiness.  Some complexity.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This wine is just about at peak (or maybe a bit past).  Drink these sooner than later.  It will be better with food.  Beef stew with roasted root vegetables would be a nice match.  

A new wine for me.  This is an Antinori project in Chile.  A blend of 81% Cabernet sauvignon and 19% Carmenere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with plums, black cherries, herbal notes and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this drinks well.  Black cherry fruit with slight rosemary note.  A bit bitter and drying on the finish.  This should drink well for another five to eight years.  Good on its own, this will work well with heavier foods.  Lamb chops and mashed potatoes would be a nice match.  

Antica is the Antinori property in Napa.  It is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.  Ruby in color with purple swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice and char.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this was tight at first, but kept opening all night.  Cassis, black cherries and slight tobacco notes.

2017 was a challenging vintage between the heat, the rain and the fires, yet, many wineries were able to dodge those and make excellent wines especially in Sonoma.  This is one of the good ones.  It is also a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Syrah added which appears to make a bit more accessible but also give it some depth.  Inky purple in color, thing ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries, clay, spice and slight cedar notes.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is a high energy wine with a lot going on.  Cassis, chocolate and slight underlyi

Another great value from this estate in Argentina.  Purple in color, magenta at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, dust and a slight Tootsie Roll™ note.  Lovely, chewy texture.  On the palate, cassis with some chocolate.  Light tannins.  Long finish with a slight mint note.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another five to eight years.  A nice wine to sit and drink on its own, but this will also work with food off the grill.  

This is another inexpensive wine from the producer of Organic vegan wines.  13% Abv.  Purple/ruby in color with some blue hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, plums, slight cherries, with a bit of vanilla milkshake.  Nice texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cassis and cherry fruit.  A bit of black licorice on the finish which has a little bit of warmth.  This is easy drinking and a great mid-week wine with dinner.  Nice value.  

This is made from purchased grapes in northeastern Ohio.  For $30, this is certainly competitive or better than most similarly priced Napa Cabernets on our grocery store shelves.  Very impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  The nose has cassis, plums, baking spices and slight forest floor.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this opens with about 30 minutes of air.

This is the basic Cab from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown's home winery.  At $75, it is expensive but at the same time, a great value  in high end Napa Cabs.  Purple in color with a thin ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, chocolate, char, slight graphite and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is young but delicious.  Cassis and slight black cherries with underlying char and slight spice.  Long finish.  This could use another five years in the cellar but drinking well now with some air.  This has twenty years of great drinking left and the score sh

These are some of the slowest to come around wines in Napa.  They act very similar to a Frist Growth Bordeaux.  It was with some trepidation that we opened this at age 9.  95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is classic.  Cassis, pencil lead, spice, chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great texture.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to open and unwind, then it was stunning.  Cassis, some chocolate and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but may still earn that 100 point moniker.  Eighte