Cabernet Sauvignon

Great showing for this wine from the northwest.  It is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc from the Champoux vineyard in the Horse Haven Hills.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, dust, slight black olive, and slight bacon fat notes.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis with underlying char.  Depth and complexity.  Medium tannins.  Long finish with some heat on it.  This drinks great on its own and will work with bigger foods.  Hard to go wrong matching it with a filet.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  

I was skeptical about this being alive, but that is why you pull the cork.  At age 39, this has life and fruit left.  Ruby in color, lighter at the rim, mostly opaque and modestly bright.  The nose shows cassis, earthiness and slight bell pepper.  With air, a slight "twiggy" note comes out.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, black cherries.  Slightly sweet.  Some complexity.  While certainly past peak, an impressive showing nevertheless.  Still, this should be consumed sooner than later.  

There’s a belief I have that if you mess up any fruit from Howell Mountain there’s something wrong with you. Duckhorn has consistently produced an extraordinary Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2017 is no exception. Comprised of all Cabernet with 10% Merlot, this is a softer version than in years past, these tannins are a little more mild, the acidity a little brighter, and the fruit opulent and rich. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, and boysenberry, lead off and the fruit is a tad more expressive than in years past. It was aged 24 months, 18 of which were new French oak.

In Italy, the history of Carmignano winegrowing dates back to 1716 when Cosimo III de' Medici granted the area special legal protections. In the 1500’s the queen of France sent cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux to Carmignano. This wine is made from a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from certified organic vineyards, and fifth-generation winemaker Benedetta Contini Bonacossi crafts a wine that offers subdued fruit of stewed prunes, black cherry, boysenberry, and resin. There is solid acidity and tannic structure to make this workable with a variety of foods.

This is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Shiraz, and 1% Malbec from Australia (according to the label).  Garnet in color, purple at the  core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, spice and mint.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries, slight raisins and spice.  Medium tannins.  This is a pleasant, easy to drink Cabernet for a fair price.  It drinks well on its own and will work well with a burger.  Drink over the next five years.    

Much better than the 2020 vintage.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis and black cherries with some dust and tobacco.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black cherries and slight cassis.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  This drinks easy and pleasurably.  It works better with food.  It would be a nice burger wine.  Drink over the next five years.  

Served at Heuriger Hamböck in Krems, Austria.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries with slight bell pepper.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is an easy going Cab that works well with cheese and cold cuts.  Drink over the next few years.

Significantly better than the 2020 version.  Pink, with slight orange hues.  The nose is nice with watermelons and strawberries.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Solid acidity.  On the palate, more cherries with some cranberries.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own and worked well with light foods and  cheeses.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

Purple in color.  Dark.  This is sold as a Rosé, but looks like a red wine.  The nose, however, is strawberries.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous with moderate acidity.  The palate tastes ripe with strawberries and black cherries.  Over all, it seems disjointed.  Probably better on its own, it didn't seem to work well with traditional foods.  Drink now.   

Classic Napa Cab.  This is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc.  The nose has cassis, dust, graphite, and mocha.  Full bodied.  Complex.  Velvety texture.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying spice/sandalwood.  Firm tannins.  Long finish.  This is still young but drinking well.  It should drink well over the next twenty years.  A great wine to drink on its own or serve with braised lamb.