Cabernet Sauvignon

I haven't had this in a few years but it hasn't changed it seems.  This retails for around $25 and for people who like this style, this is a great price point.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black raspberries and cherries in a very perfumed liqueur package.  Also plenty of "toasty oak".   On the palate, this is warm but juicy.  Plenty of red berry pie filling.  Plenty of toast and spice.  Medium tannins.  Easily gulpable.  More of a love it or hate wine perhaps, but those who love it will drink bottles (and add 2 or 3 points to the score) and for those who don't, one glass will sti

39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot.  This is a Bordeaux styled wine from South Africa.  It sells for under $20 making it a very nice buy.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is very nice; dusty and complex with cassis, tobacco, some bell pepper.  On the palate, this has a chewy texture.  Nice complexity.  Cassis, dark cherries with enough acid.  Good finish.  Drinking well now and won't get better but should hold for another five years at least.  

This wine seems to be hitting a nice stride.  Certainly a long life left depending on how you like your Cabs.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, some spice, a little chocolate, and slight blueberries.  On the palate, this is dense and concentrated.  A little jammy.  Cassis, slight plums, blueberries and also a bit of dry earth and char.  Medium tannins.  Deep with some complexity as it unwinds in the glass.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  May improve a bit but it is outstanding right now.  

Purple in color.  The nose is nice with cassis and chocolate.  Slightly tart acidity.  Cassis.  Tannins are all resolved.  This certainly seems at peak or close to it.  Nice fruit.  Some complexity.  Drink up.  This is not a big fruity wine and likely never was.  More Bordeaux-esque in style.  Still it is very good if not for everyone.  

Groth is one of those wineries that used to get a lot of buzz.  Now, they are somewhat yesterday's news although the truth is, Groth is still making excellent California Cabernet and deserves to still be in the conversation.  This one was from Magnum.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with nice cassis fruit.  Some baking spice as well.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Probably not at peak yet.  Complex layers of cassis and spice with some dry earth.  Medium tannins.  There is a strong backbone of acidity here that is helped by fatty foods.  Nice finish.  At around

Ruby/purple in color.  This is a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot,Tannat, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah.  A sort of kitchen sink blend that costs around $15.  It's a nice wine for the money and easy to drink.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is a bit warm with alcohol but also some cherries, black raspberries and slight char.  On the palate, this is mostly cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  Warm but not hot.  There is some varietal complexity.  Fun label.  Good party wine.  

Back in November of 2007 I was putting together a wine tasting of wines from Andalusia.  It was the final region of Spain from a series of Spain; the Food and the Wines - Region by region.  It was almost impossible to find any table wines from this region (famous for Sherry and fortified wines).  I posted on the old Robert Parker web site's Mark Squire discussion Board looking for help.  In response, Nola Palomar said that she would be delighted to come and serve their wines.  I explained that first, we lived in Cleveland, Ohio and second, it was only ten or twelve of us.  Nola responded th

This is their basic Cabernet in addition to the single vineyard wines that they make.  It sells for around $65.  Purple in color.  The nose is very nice.  More black cherry, some cassis and with air some plum.  Also spice and slight cedar.  It sounds lighter perhaps from those descriptors, but that is certainly not the case.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Plenty of black cherry fruit along with some cassis.  Very intense and focused right now.  It opens nicely in the glass.  Nice finish.  This should improve a bit over the next few years as it matures and comes to

This is their basic wine (they also make some single vineyard releases).  it sells for around $65.  Purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis, cedar, some chocolate and slight pencil lead.  On the palate, this has a nice juicy acidity.  Firm tannins at this point.  Cassis, slight chocolate and spice.  Long finish.  Still quite young, this needs another three years to open and really won't peak for ten.  That said, it is delicious now with some air.  Certainly some upside improvement likely.  

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red currants and spice.  On the palate, this is easy drinking.  Some Red currant fruit.  Plenty of spice and lumber.  No tannins.  Light.  Probably should have been drunk earlier as the oak seems to have outlasted the fruit though there is some fruit left.