Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

2001 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, France

18 Monday Apr 2022

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Back in 2003 I bought 3 cases of this wine and have steadily been drinking it on occasions like birthdays and Christmas.  This week I will be opening two bottles, this one and then another with my wine class in celebration of another year on earth.

I’m shocked at the color of this 21 year old- medium ruby, with a touch of bricking.  I could call it garnet but it still shows youth in the glass.  The nose is stunningly mature yet still gives off aromas of some primary fruit.  Blackberry, cassis, leather, tobacco, mint, rose water, black plum, vanilla- the list could go on.  It is so complex and earthy.  The palate is dry with quite a tannic grip on the forefront.  Medium (+) acidity makes for a sour note on the initial attack.  As the wine warms on the tongue I get all the primary, secondary and tertiary flavors I picked out on the nose with a helping of sour cherry to keep it sharp.  The wine is medium (+) bodied and is a comfortable 13% ABV.  The finish is medium (+) in length and tapers to mainly tertiary flavors, the fruit running out of steam early.  The sourness and acidity make it a mouthwatering wine that begs to be drunk.  This is by far my favorite label.  I paid $60 back in the day for one bottle that now runs $200.  I would says it is at peak and has another 3-5 years left.  It deserves more than the 90 points it got originally.  I would say it is a 92 pointer and I have to go with 5 stars.  Pairings would include any manner of meat, cooked in pretty much any style.  Love this stuff.  Salut….

Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Sonoma County, California

15 Friday Apr 2022

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This one stumped me in a WSET blind tasting.  We were going to be discussing Spain and Portugal so I was convinced that the red wine had to be from the region but when I put this deep ruby colored wine up to my nose I was greeted by a very familiar set of smells.  Medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, red plum, cinnamon, blackberry, cedar and vanilla made me think this complex wine was a Tempranillo.  The palate was dry with medium (+) tannins, medium (+) acidity, high alcohol, medium (+) body and medium intensity flavors of the aforementioned, albeit slightly less intense on the palate.  This gave way to a medium length finish that had me grade this wine as very good, suitable to be drunk now or aged some more.  In reality, I had just predisposed myself to thinking I was drinking one varietal when in fact it was a Sonoma Cab I was sipping!  Looking back- this wine gets 91 points and for $55 it is a 4 star effort.  Salut….

Katnook Founder’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Coonawarra, Australia

13 Wednesday Apr 2022

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This was a wine we tasted at my WSET class.  I brought the dregs home for another look-see as the wine had some very powerful aromas and flavors that I wanted to get my head around.  Starting off it had some sediment in the bottle which is normal for an 8 year old bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.  In the glass it shows that age by way of a deep garnet hue.  The nose has pronounced aromas of eucalyptus, blackberry, coffee, black plum, blueberry compote, vanilla, mint, leather and tobacco.  It certainly is complex and showing some age as well as lingering youth.  The palate is dry with juicy acidity and a great tannic structure.  The rich fruit flavors are present coupled with oak nuance and tertiary notes but the coffee, mint and eucalyptus are the stars here.  Medium (+) bodied, this wine is very balanced and the mouthfeel is fabulous- a touch dry here and there with some juiciness to keep your palate alive.  The finish is quite a lengthy affair with black and blueberry fruit notes swirling with the tannin and acid- a nice way to end for this delightful wine.  I am impressed by this $25 effort that gets 92 points.  It needs to be drunk fairly soon- say by 2026 and gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….

Folk and Fable Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

08 Friday Apr 2022

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This medium purple colored wine has got a fruity, medium intensity nose.  I get aromas of black plum, blackberry, vanilla, blueberry jam and charcoal.  The palate has a sweetness from the Bourbon barrel- that delicious caramel, smoke, vanilla combo that melds nicely with the jammy black and blue fruit.  Medium tannins and medium acidity create a nice mouthfeel in this medium (+) bodied wine.  The finish has got loads of rich fruit and oak nuance and is short to medium in length.  This is not an overly complex wine, yet it adds a new dimension with the oak usage that makes it easy to enjoy and pair with many meat dishes, pasta, pizza and even burgers on the grill.  For $30 it is an elegant offering that gets 90 point from me and 4 stars.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Vignobles Andre Lurton Chateau Bonnet Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot 2018, Bordeaux, France

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

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Tasted blind, this Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cab Sav was a deep ruby color with thin legs.  Medium (-) intensity nose with aromas of red cherry, red raspberry, wet wool and purple grape- I found it to be very youthful and simple. (Plus disgusting).  The palate was dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and light bodied.  Medium (-) intensity flavors of the above led to a medium (-) finish.  I called this wine poor but was corrected to- acceptable; a point for balance was deserved(?).  This wine is to be drunk now, not suitable for aging.  I did not care for it and was surprised that I couldn’t even get the varietal right.  For me this $14 wine gets 84 points with a 1 star rating.  Salut….

Two Hands Wines Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, McLaren Vale, Australia

31 Thursday Mar 2022

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A deep ruby color, this 14.1% ABV wine has thin legs in the glass.  The nose has gorgeous aromas of rich blackberry jam, coconut, vanilla, ripe blueberry, black]k plum and a whiff of alcohol.  The palate is dry with fine-grained yet forceful tannins, high acidity and a full body.  The rich, jammy black fruit is interwoven with oak and some black licorice notes plus that persistent heat.  The back end is very fruit rich and dry from the tannic grip that has coated my gums.  This is a big wine with lots of structure and cellaring capacity.  The timing of the finish is medium and really delightful.  I like this $30 wine that is drinking nicely now but will develop in the coming years.  I am pairing with grilled Tri-Tip and roasted cauliflower.  91 points and 5 stars.  Salut….

Pine & Brown Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Napa Valley, California

24 Thursday Mar 2022

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This Napa Cabernet is a deep ruby color and nearly opaque.  The nose has wonderful aromas of blackcurrants, blackberry, black plum, anise, eucalyptus, cloves and vanilla. Very precise use of the oak BTW, it’s very subtle.  The palate is interesting- sweet, yet dry.  I think the Cali sunshine is throwing me here. I would hazard a guess that there is a touch of residual sugar, but I’m not sure.  Medium (+) tannins that are a touch gritty, medium (+) acidity and a full body which stems from the 14.8% ABV (which is pretty well masked).  The fruit flavors are medium (+) intense and I get the black fruit, oak nuance, eucalyptus and anise notes.  The wine is a bit disjointed by the tannins, but it is young.  The mouthfeel is good if you like an astringent wine.  I think it needs to flesh out a little.  The finish is medium in length.  I am pairing this wine with Beef Short Ribs, which have been braising all day.  The tannins should do the trick of balancing out the fatty meat.  92 points from me for this $90 wine that gets 4 stars.  Definitely a date-night wine.  Drink till 2033.  Salut…

Rust en Vrede Estate Red 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa

20 Sunday Mar 2022

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We wound up the 26th Virtual Wine tasting event with this Cabernet blend from Afrique de Sud.  Following the blockbuster Anwilka was no easy task but as soon as I smelled this deep ruby beaut I mentioned to the group that they were going to love it.  I was not wrong.

At 7 years of age this wine is starting to show tertiary aromas of funk, barnyard, leather, cigar box and cassis alongside the primal blackberry, licorice, mint and Sarsaparilla.  I thought it was a spectacular array of aromas- very complex.  On the palate this wine was super smooth with very well integrated tannins, medium acidity, medium body and a medium length finish.  The flavors were yummy- plum, blackberry, cassis, leather, milk chocolate, lavender and smoke.  A beautifully melded package of wine components that is drinking at peak now and needs to be consumed by 2025.  I awarded it 19/20 and will go with 93 points.  $50 gets you a taste of this 5 star effort. I would pair it with braised leg of lamb or a Moroccan Tagine.  Salut….

Beringer Vineyards Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Sonoma County, California

08 Tuesday Mar 2022

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A deep ruby, bordering on ink in the glass.  I get pronounced aromas of blackberry, cassis, black plum, eucalyptus, oak, coffee and ripe blueberry jam.  The palate is super smooth, rich, warm and delightful.  Dry and slightly tannic, this full bodied wine has great flavors of ripe black and blue fruits, excellent barrel integration with coffee, oak and vanilla notes to go with medium acidity.  The finish is medium (+) in length and quite dry from the persistent yet integrated tannins.  A very well balanced wine with great mouthfeel that will drink beautifully till 2030 with wild game, grilled meats, rich cheese platters or just all by itself.  94 points from me make this $42 stunner a 5 star effort.  Glad I got a case.  Salut….

Stags’ Leap 125th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Napa Valley, California

04 Friday Mar 2022

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Inky, opaque AF and a beautiful shade of deep purple.  The nose of this Napa Cabernet  is quite pronounced.  I get aromas of blackberry, cassis, eucalyptus, oak, black plum and ripe blueberry compote.  The palate is delicious, if a touch young.  Dry with medium (+) tannins that are a bit green and youthful.  Medium (+) acidity, full body and a caressing melange of black fruit, oak, the intriguing eucalyptus, licorice and that jammy blueberry note.  The fruit flavors are very distinct and primal, this wine will meld over time and develop tertiary notes.  The whole package of tannins, acidity and fruit are balanced but not in unison just yet.  I would drink this 91 point wine till 2030.  I am pairing it with grilled Hanger steak, roasted potatoes, asparagus spears and some Peruvian spiced veggies.  For $48, it gets 4 stars from me.  Salut….