Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Chateau de Landiras 2014, Graves, France

15 Friday Nov 2019

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Very dark bluish purple in the glass with very fine legs, indicative of the 12.5% alcohol.  On the nose it is purple fruit, blackberry, damson and cinnamon.  The palate is surprisingly fresh, I was expecting a more traditional attack.  This one pops with plums, black cherry and lithe tannins.  The mid palate gives me cola, black cherry and some strawberry jam.  Strange, I know.  The finale is really a nice, smooth, fruity affair with really well tamed tannins holding the blackberry and cola flavors on for a good 30 seconds.  There is a trace of acidic bite, but it is appropriate and balances the nice tannins.  This is a tasty, decent wine that gets 91 points from me.  I would drink right away until 2024 with lighter meat dishes, perhaps beer-can chicken or even roast duck breast.  Strangely enough the Decanter score of 95 was opposite to the mid 80’s score given by others.  I think this is a steal at $20 and it gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Washington, USA

18 Friday Oct 2019

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This winery is one of the most consistent mass producers out there.  I have never had a bad bottle and the QPR (Quality Price Ratio) is always tops.  So, when I saw this at my local Costco- no brainer.

We start off with a slightly cloudy medium hued purple.  It’s opaque AF though.  The nose is lovely- leather, plums, cassis…. I am excited.  The palate lives up to my expectations, lovely pure fruit flavors of plums, black currants and very well integrated oak.  The mid palate is scrumptious.  More dark fruits, some leather and a touch of wood.  I will say:  There is a very fine grained tannic component that is barely perceptible making this wine delicious and easy to drink now but does not bode well for extended cellaring.  The acidity is feint and nicely balanced.  The finish is relatively short but tasty, black fruits galore and that touch of dryness.  This is a real treat to pop and pour if you can find it (just go to Costco!).  It will pair well with many a mid-week meal yet hold it’s own against a leg of lamb on a Sunday roast.  I’m really thinking Lasagna is the perfect match.  Either way, enjoy this 91 point gem and drink till 2023.  5 stars for sure as you can pick it up all day long for under $15.  Salut….

McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, South Eastern Australia

18 Friday Oct 2019

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Decent shade of color, medium opacity.  On the nose I get purple fruit and charcoal. With a bit of swirling it morphs into raspberry.  The initial palate has some nice black cherry and oaky char with a certain warmness to it.  Fine grained tannins immediately show up and carry me to the mid palate which turns the fruit back to that plummy, purple note I caught on the nose.  The finish is medium length, tannic and features more fruit and a dry black tea.  Overall I’m enjoying this wine for what it is- a weekday quaffer that won’t break the bank.  I would pair it with spaghetti, moussaka or even ratatouille.  87 points and 4 stars for this $8 offering, drink till 2021.  Salut….

Montes Alpha M 2015, Colchagua, Chile

26 Thursday Sep 2019

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Following on from yesterday’s tasting of the Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Cab- this bottling is their top offering in the varietal.  Super rich, dark purple hues in the glass with very thin, long legs.  On the nose there’s a deep blackberry reduction with coconut and graphite.  On the palate this wine is very silky: black fruits over a bed of  smooth oak and very integrated tannins.  The wine is very balanced with some midpalate acidity that mingles with black cherry, blackberry and more iodine.  The finish is not overly dry- the tannins very gradually fading over a good 60 second period.  The fruit lingers almost as long with a touch of spice, cinnamon?  This wine is young but drinkable, maturing till 2035 I think.  93 points for this very tasty, rich offering that I paid $62 for.  5 stars.  Salut….

Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Central Valley, Chile

25 Wednesday Sep 2019

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I walked into a wine shop in Hong Kong and was pushed aside by a woman on a mission.  Five minutes later she checking out with three First Growth Bordeaux- Lafite, Latour and Mouton.  My measly purchase paled in comparison to the thousands she spent.  I digress…  I have always been a fan of Chilean Cabernet.  So, this is the first of two that I bought.  It banged a whopping 94 points from one pro, it says so on the label.  Let’s see how we get on.

In the glass it is a nice rich deep purple with just a hint of legs showing.  On the nose it is very minty  and chock full of black fruits, iodine and charcoal.  It’s actually not my favorite profile.  On the palate it is rich and flavorful.  The kind of richness that covers your whole mouth.  Lovely plums, blackberry and flint.  There is a touch of mint as well as black olive.  It’s quite complex and well made.  The mid palate shows some very integrated tannins and black fruit compote.  The finish is long, dry and very fruit driven.  There is an ample amount of tannins but they are not obnoxious, merely present and persistent.  The finish is medium length and finishes very dry.  This wine is a touch young, but will do well in an aerator or decanter.  Drink till 2030 at least.  I think it gets a legit 93 points and for the price of $23 it gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2017, Stellenbosch, South Africa

28 Sunday Jul 2019

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It’s summer, which means Rose’.  I have recently started to enjoy and understand a bit more about this style of wine so when I saw one made from Cabernet Sauvignon- I had to try.  It is a much deeper shade of reddish pink than most Rose’ wines, probably a longer maceration with the skins to give it the color.  On the nose it is quite fresh with strawberry, citrus, almond and pear coming through.  On the palate this chilled wine is delicious.  Lemon, blood orange and strawberry are my initial tastes.  It has a touch of acidity that refreshes the palate beautifully.  The reddish fruit (Strawberry and blood orange) carry through the mid palate.  The transition to the finish is seamless with the addition of some pear and more lemon zest.  It leaves the gums pleasantly tingling with some acidity and that lingering blood orange tinge.  A really yummy summer quaffer that will refresh while preparing dinner or go great with Salmon, salad or grilled garlic chicken.  Drink till 2022.  89 points and 5 stars for this $12 effort.  PS. I’m a fan of Mulderbosch wines and this one did not disappoint.  Salut….

Proemio Red Blend 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

26 Friday Jul 2019

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Really dark in the glass.  On the nose I get Ribena, blueberry pie and hot stone.  On the palate it’s ginger, blackberry, cedar and evergreen.  There is a really nice tannic backbone, unobtrusive yet I sense some astringent components from them.  The mid palate is all blackberry jam.  The finish is really nice, smooth and very balanced between black fruits, a hint of acidity and those delightful tannins.  It’s quite long to boot.  This is a really nice weekday drinker that gets 90 points from me and 5 stars as it’s under $10.  Drink till 2023 with pizza, burgers, sirloin or pasta.  Blend of Malbec, Cabernet Petit Verdot.  Salut….

Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2012, Pauillac, France

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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Nearly black and opaque in the glass.  On the nose I get gorgeous blackberries and fruitcake with a touch of mint.  On the palate it is fresh, young, fruity and chock full of black fruits, cedar, scrumptious tannins and a slight hint of cassis.  Tobacco and leather are evident on the mid palate which totally excites me and hints at long term evolution in line with traditional Bordeaux.  The tannic structure is amazing, very lithe at the beginning with a steady rise to a crescendo of black tea dryness.  92 points and 4 stars for this $50 Fifth Growth.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Chateau Giscours 2014, Margaux, France

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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Dark purple with nice legs.  On the nose it’s quite bland.  Black currants, blueberry pie and rubber mat finally come out of the glass.  On the palate I’m getting a subdued dose of blueberry pie, cedar, breakfast tea and warm blackberry cobbler.  The tannins are of medium intensity and the finish has some dark fruits and tannins.  I think this wine is closed right now but it has potential.  I’m gonna go with 90 points for now.  The pro’s ranged greatly- from 91 to 95 points.  I’m not seeing it at this point in time, hopefully it will awaken from slumber as a real powerhouse 3rd Growth Margaux.  Drink from 2022/2030.  Available for around $50, making it a 3 star wine.  Salut….

 

Chapel Hill Parson Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia

09 Tuesday Jul 2019

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Very dark purple, nearly black in the glass.  On the nose I get fresh blackberries, cedar, vanilla and coffee bean.  On the palate this wine is delicious- chock full of black fruits, a beautiful oak integration, medium grained tannins that caress at the right time and some very gentle acidity.  Aussie wines can sometimes get too jammy, especially with Shiraz- but this Cab Sav has ripeness and body without going over the edge.  The mid palate just continues the black fruit theme and the finish is long, dry and adds cinnamon and licorice to the back end.  Delightful.  91 points and 5 stars for this $20 bottle.  Drink till 2028 with steaks.  Salut….