Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a household favorite every vintage, but this one may be the best yet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is young but accessible.  Big fruit but not overblown.  Good energy.  Cassis, leather and spice.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great on its own, this would be nice with grilled Portobello Mushrooms.

This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the very good 1996 vintage in Bordeaux.  purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  There is some cassis but mostly dried fruits, tobacco, cigar box, dried leather and some spice.  Medium bodied with good acidity.  On the palate, this is complex and fully mature.  It doesn't seem much past though (depending on how you like older Bordeaux).  Black cherry fruit, dried cherries, forest floor, and slight spice.

Myriad's wines are starting to really get noticed which is great for them, but less so for people trying to afford them.  That said, there is no question they are on a par with the best wines in Napa, which is to day the world.  This one is inky purple, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful but classic with cassis, graphite, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Wonderful texture.  On the palate, this is deep with a tight complexity.  If opening soon, give it a long decant.  Flavors of cassis with cedar and spice and char.  Long finish.  This drinks well not w

This is the top wine from the historic Trefethen winery in Napa.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis with a touch of leather and smoke.  Long finish.  This is a pretty classic cab from good not great vintage.  It is drinking well now and should continue for another ten to twelve years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with Lamb chops.  

This wine is made in northeast, Ohio with purchased grapes from Red Mountain, WA.  It is a very good Cab and a nice value.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has a bit of a smoky quality but also cassis, slight cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis, slight black cherry and char.  Good finish.  This is not a robust Cab but it does have enough fruit to drink on its own and would work well with a burger.  Drink over the next five to seven years. 

This wine is half the price of Bevan's single vineyard wines and almost as good.  It is expensive but vis-a-vis the quality it is worth buying a bottle or two.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, cedar and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm but smooth tannins.  On the palate, juicy cassis with some cedar, tobacco and char.  Long finish.  Delicious if young.  This drinks well on its own and would be at home at a Steak House.  Drink over the next twenty years.  It will still improve with good cellaring.

An unusual blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Tannat, 13% Grenache and 3% Syrah from Paso Robles.  Inky purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has black raspberries, cassis, char, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep.  A bit chunky with cassis, black raspberries and black cherries with underlying  char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Delicious on its own, this would be a great wine with a steak.  It will need big food.  

This is the inaugural vintage of this wine from Russel and Heidi Bevan.  It is, of course, quite young, but delicious right now.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, blueberries, dark chocolate, baking spice and char.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is deep.  It really needs about ten years or more to really develop but it is juicy and delicious today.  Cassis and blueberries with some char and bit of leather.  Long finish.  No doubt its score get close to or at perfect eventually.  It is great on its own but will take big food right no

A First Growth in a top vintage?  Yes, please.  This is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color with some ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with cassis, leather, perfume, slight cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is tight and young but delicious.  Cassis, black cherries, spice and slight chocolate.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is drinking well but will get better with further cellaring (or air).  Drink over the next twenty to thirty years.  For now, it will be a t

In just a few short years of production the Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the de facto wines from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. Having reviewed this wine from multiple vintages, there is a clear consistency to its quality. Like most Cabernet you will find the requisite black cherry, blueberry, blackberry notes, but this adds huckleberry, boysenberry into the mix along with dusty tannins and a light mocha quality. But Red Mountain fruit also offers an earthiness and minerality with richer fruit.