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Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Barons Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Columbia Valley, Washington

01 Monday Aug 2022

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$40, 4 stars, 90 points, cabernet sauvignon, columbia valley, washington


A Washington state Cabernet that is nearly opaque with a deep ruby color and thick legs (14.8% ABV).  The nose has rich aromas of vanilla bean, ripe black plum, blackberry, black cherry, green pepper and boysenberry.  The palate is dry with medium (+) tannins and medium acidity.  Medium to full bodied, I get flavors of dark fruit, lots of oak influence and that green pepper note.  I lose the vanilla somewhat but gain charred wood instead.  The finish is a dry affair and medium in length.  This wine drinks nicely now- if you like them a bit dry and tannic.  Cellaring potential till 2028, I would serve this with hearty red meat dishes, rich pasta and stews.  90 points and for $40 it gets 4 stars.  Salut….

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F. Stephen Millier Angels Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Lodi, California

29 Friday Jul 2022

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$10, 5 stars, 89 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Lodi, Naked Wines


Deep purple/ruby colored with a watery sheen in the glass (13.5% ABV).  The nose has black cherry, dark plums, eucalyptus, purple licorice, green pepper and a medicinal note (from oak?).  The palate is ‘dry’ yet I sense a touch of RS.  Medium acidity and medium (+) tannins with flavors of black fruit, that medicinal note, bell pepper and eucalyptus come through the medium body.  The tannins soften but linger through the medium length finish.  This is night two for this bottle, it’s really opened up and is drinking nicely.  I would go with 89 points on this $10 bottle that gets 5 stars from me.    Drink till 2025.  Salut….

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Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estates Selection 2017, Napa Valley, California

15 Friday Jul 2022

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$70, 5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa


Very deep purple colored, like ink.  The nose has pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coconut, bilberry, cedar, sassafras, dust, baking spice, green peppers and a yeasty component.  The palate is dry with beautiful fine-grained tannins that caress the gums.  Acidity is medium (-) and the wine has a full body.  Flavors of black fruit, sassafras, baking spice and green pepper carry on to a long finish.  This is delicious-  pure Napa sunshine and ripe fruit with enough oak treatment without overdoing it.  Fantastic stuff to pair with steaks till 2032.  The structure is great and it’s open for business now.  94 points from me for this $70 stunner makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

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Chateau Kefraya 2016, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

26 Sunday Jun 2022

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, bekaa valley, cabernet sauvignon, lebanon


If you read my previous post about the Basque white we enjoyed at dinner, this is the follow up wine we ordered to accompany the Crescent Duck Breast, Young Broccoli, Rhubarb and Black Barley dish.  Spectacular is what I remember as there were no notes taken.  At 6 years of age this bottle looked a bit beat up but tasted great.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Cab Franc, Syrah and Cinsault thrown in for good measure it combines red fruit aromas/flavors with nicely integrated oak, supple tannins and spice box nuance alongside some tertiary notes of leather and tobacco. Really great mouthfeel and a decent length finish. If tasted properly I would score this 91 points and give it a drink till 2028 window to pair with red meat, Duck (obviously!) or even a hearty Ragout.  Yummy stuff to be had for under $20 that gets 5 stars from me. Salut….

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Cakebread Cellars Benchland Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Napa Valley, California

04 Saturday Jun 2022

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$120, 5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa


Second tasting of this wine- it has either evolved quickly or there is some bottle variation going on.  Opaque, like nearly black in the glass.  This Napa Cab has a pronounced nose of blackberry, menthol, eucalyptus, tart blackcurrant, black plum and French oak nuance of spices and chocolate.  On the palate it is very smooth and dry with fine-grained tannins and medium acidity.  Balanced to a tee- it’s delicious stuff.  I get the dark fruit notes and oak integration, waiting for more tertiary development.  This wine is drinking beautifully now but will develop over the next 5-10 years.  94 points for this full bodied gem that runs $120 and gets 5 stars from me.  I would drink this sans food, it is so silky and delicious all by itself.  Salut….

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Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

27 Friday May 2022

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$45, 5 stars, 93 points, australia, cabernet sauvignon, mclaren vale


Deep garnet in color, this 11 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is getting paired with Wagyu Ribeye steaks for my son’s 25th birthday.  The nose is gorgeous- a mix of primary, secondary and tertiary notes that are quite pronounced.  Cassis, steeped black plum, mint, cedar, leather, tobacco, bramble, bilberry, vanilla and tar.  Wowza.  The palate is dry with firm tannins that grip, medium acidity, full body and a generous helping of the  aforementioned aromas that caress my tongue.  The finish is the only letdown here, it is quite short, albeit still bone dry from the tannins that are searing.  This wine has structure to cellar for another decade at least and will pair beautifully with our well marbled beef.  93 points for this $45 jewel makes it a 5 star wine to buy and hold/drink!  Salut….

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Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Paso Robles, California

26 Thursday May 2022

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$23, 5 stars, 92 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, paso robles


I would consider this as a deep purple colored wine that has some slow moving, thick legs in the glass.  The nose reeks of ripe, sun-drenched California Cabernet.  Blackberry, blueberry, black plum, coconut, vanilla, baking spices, eucalyptus, cassis and purple licorice.  The palate is dry with grippy tannins that I would call medium (+) in intensity.  Juicy acidity makes my jaw water and the full body on this wine coats my mouth with rich black fruit, spices and oak that is deftly worked in there.  This is a delicious wine folks.  It has an astringent yet short finish that may cost a point but this wine is very balanced overall and will pair beautifully with hearty game dishes, rich stews or a fatty cut of Ribeye on the grill.  I’m going with 92 points and would drink this $23 wine till 2030.  5 stars for this level of quality at that price.  Loving it.  Salut….

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Chateau Montelena ‘The Montelena Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley, California

15 Sunday May 2022

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$130, 5 stars, 93 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa


An iconic Napa Cabernet that we drank with monster Tomahawk steaks.  This inky colored wine is beautiful to look at and even better to drink.  Aromas and flavors of Iodine, black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, bramble), dust, menthol, eucalyptus.  Seriously complex and intriguing.  The palate is smooth- medium acidity, fine grained tannins that are fully integrated, full bodied with great mouthfeel and a long finish.  What a stunning wine that is en pointe and will continue to develop for several more years.  93 points for this $130 effort makes it 5 star worthy.  Salut….

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Bodegas Balbas Ardal Seleccion Especial Reserva 2012, Ribera del Duero, Spain

12 Thursday May 2022

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$40, 5 stars, 93 points, cabernet sauvignon, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


This blend of Tempranillo and Cab Sav is nearly opaque with a bright purple color.  On the nose I get rich black plum, dusty earth, blackberry, vanilla, baking spices, menthol, some farmyard funk and bramble.  The palate is dry, quite tannic and high in acidity.  I love Spanish Tempranillo- it has such an earthy, dusty, brambly component and they throw a good bit of oak at this level (Reserva) which adds dimension, complexity and flavors/aromas of vanilla, baking spices and toast.  The black fruit is ripe and juicy- the Cabernet adding richness and grip.  The body is full and the finish is medium to long in length.  Structurally- this wine is a baby and needs some cellaring unless you like them searingly dry and astringent.  There is plenty of fruit to last a while and the whole package should drink beautifully until 2032 at the least.  I am going with 93 points and for $40 this is a 5 star effort.  Salut….

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Frog’s Leap Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon 1990, Rutherford, California

06 Friday May 2022

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5 stars, 94 points, cabernet sauvignon, california, Napa


This 32 year old wine is a medium shade of garnet- to be expected.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of prunes, caramel, steeped blackberry, cola, vanilla bean, coffee, eucalyptus, baking chocolate, cassis, mint- I could go on.  This is a spectacularly complex and well-aged wine that still shows youth.  The palate is super smooth and balanced with extremely fine grained tannins balancing out the medium acidity.  Flavors of baked and steeped black fruits galore- tertiary notes are evident and oak influence is deft yet precise.  This wine is stunning.  Medium bodied it shows power yet finesse that leads to a long finish.  This is the epitome of Napa Cabernets.  Delicious in youth yet built for the long run and lasting over three decades.  I would not call this wine fragile, but it has a delicacy that requires a deft choice in pairings, if any.  I am sipping it without fare.  In its day this would have been a 94 point wine.  No idea on price, suffice to say it would be a 5 star effort.  Drink soon.  Salut….

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