Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, California

04 Monday Jan 2021

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I love my neighbors Arty and Keef…. you see, they have a nice collection of Napa Cabs in their cellar and I get the chance to taste alongside quite often. When this text arrived, I made sure to head over tout suite.

Wow- black beauty.  Opaque AF and showing long legs in the glass.  The nose is magnificent.  A dusty take on blackberry jam, cassis, toasty oak and a hint of eucalyptus.  On the palate this wine is super focused with very defined blueberries, blackberries alongside some Lapsang Souchong tea notes.  Very integrated tannins and really lithe acidity help bring out the California sunshine in this wine- it’s definitely fruit forward and open for business.  Delicious- 93 points and 5 stars for this $100 stunner. Drink till 2025 with Filet or other less fatty meals. Salut….

Chateau Cos D’Estournel 2001, Bordeaux, France

26 Saturday Dec 2020

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It would not be Christmas without an aged Claret. This 19 year old took the honors and I am sure glad I picked it. Wow, what a stunner. I did not take notes but recall the wine looked a dark shade in the glass with no signs of bricking. The nose was astounding- tobacco, leather, earth, steeped plums and cassis. On the palate this wine is at plateau. I cannot even describe the beauty of liquid elixir. It was layered with the tertiary flavors I had smelled plus a surprising dose of dark currants, cassis and cedar. The tannins are fully resolved at this stage of the maturity, sublime being a good descriptor of the mouthfeel. The finish was super long and gratifying. This wine was a home run and has rewarded my patience. I think it still has a few years of life, but like I said- it’s at peak now. I have 6 more bottles in the cellar, lucky me! You could pair this wine with an array of foods, but simply enjoying it on its own would be amazing. I have written about the ’01 Cos before, once in 2012 and then in 2013. I am upping my score to 95 for this $150 beauty and sticking with 5 stars. Salut….

Matt Parish Cabernet Sauvignon Tino 2018, Napa Valley, California

21 Monday Dec 2020

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This Cabernet Sauvignon is very dark purple and opaque. The legs I see on the side of the glass bely the 14.5% alcohol I’m about to hit. On the nose I can smell the heat, but I also get lashings of blackberry, plum torte and some eucalyptus. The palate is very lush with Cali sunshine- black fruit melange, very integrated oak and a nice minerality. The tannins start to grip right away but there is a juicy acidity to balance it. The mid palate has a singed alder note to it with black berry reduction. The finish is quite dry but the medium dash of acidity make for a nice mouthfeel. It lasts a good 20+ seconds as I enjoy the black fruit and oak influence. Nicely done wine that will last till 2027. I am reconstituting Sunday night Rib Roast into Au Jus steak sandwiches and adding an eggplant parmesan to the fold. Should pair beautifully. 91 points from me for this lush, layered wine that will set you back $25. For that it gets 5 stars. Salut….

Longitude 120 West Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington

19 Saturday Dec 2020

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Very rich purple and about 80% opaque. This Washington state Cab Sav has notes of black cherry, black berries and oak nuances on the nose. The palate it is very interesting- sweet black fruit salad with iodine and Kirsch. The tannins are very much present but not obtrusive. The mid palate carries on the black fruit theme, primarily black berry but there is something else…. fruitcake? The finish is quite tasty with baking spices, black cherry and loads of tannins. The acidity is present but the wine is very dry at this stage of it’s youth. I like it and am looking forward to the Flank Steak and roasted asparagus that will pair tonight. 91 points from me and 5 stars for this $29 charmer. Drink till 2026. Salut….

 

 

F. Stephen Millier Angels Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Lodi, California

12 Saturday Dec 2020

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This Cab is bright purple and semi opaque. On the nose I get red fruits- raspberry, currants and clove. The palate is quite rich right off the bat with licorice, red fruit melange and cedar. The licorice note is quite pronounced on the mid palate where I also get plum and black cherry. The wine has a nice, balanced mouthfeel, easygoing without too much tannin or acidity. The finish is quite long and tasty with wood notes, more plum and that lingering licorice note, albeit subdued. Yummy stuff that should drink till 2024. I like it and at $16 it gets 4 stars cause it’s an 88 point wine in my books. I’m pairing it with grilled Tri-tip and mashed taters. Salut….

Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’ 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

06 Sunday Dec 2020

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The finale to our Virtual Wine Tasting was this stunner. I saved the best for last. It’s a 72/28 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon that is inky in the glass. On the nose we got black cherry, Damson plum, leather, fruitcake, hay, raisins, smoke and molasses. On the palate it was immediately evident that this wine is powerful, yet subtle. Very smooth with super fine grained tannins that are barely perceptible make for a gorgeous mouthfeel. Plums, fruit cake, black berry cassis and violet. The finish was a medium length affair that was simply delicious, not dry or acidic. A stunning wine that I gave 19 points out of 20. Technically speaking it is worthy of a massive 96 points from me which jibes with the pros. I would not bother pairing this beauty with anything- just drink it with a loved one and appreciate the depth of flavor, the complexity and the balance of this $70 treat. I have to go with 5 stars. Drink till 2025. Salut….

Devils Advocate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Semi opaque and a light shade of purple in the glass. The nose gives me rich plum, black cherry and fruit cake. On the palate it starts out with a rush of tannins. The fruit comes later- black in nature and laced with mocha, oak and a touch of acidity. The mid palate is very much a fruit salad of blackberry, black cherry and damson plum, it’s very tasty. The tannins take over the long finish, masking the fruit with gum coating astringency- ‘hairy’ is a descriptor Moxie likes to use. I am going to run some of this through the Vinturi and try to soften the grip a touch. Much better if you don’t like the bite. Personally, I enjoy a tannic wine with the right food, this one would pair beautifully with Beef stew, leg of Lamb or Lasagna. Drink till 2026. 90 points and for $17 it gets 5 stars. Salut….

Bodegas Ego ‘Infinito’ 2016, Jumilla, Spain

03 Thursday Dec 2020

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Dark purple and almost opaque in the glass with really long legs.  The nose is very fruity with ripe plum jam, purple licorice and cinnamon.  There’s a touch of charred oak and a hint of blueberry to boot.  On the palate it tastes of candy and black fruit salad with iodine.  Rich oak is well integrated as are the lithe tannins.  The mid palate has a pronounced dryness along with blackberries and that medicinal note.  The tannic grip hits on the long finish- it’s quite pronounced. That candy/grape bubble gum flavor is very present alongside the tannins.  There’s a modicum of acidity that may balance this wine out once the tannins mellow a bit.  For now it would pair nicely with a juicy steak.  It gets 91 points with good cellaring potential.  Drink till 2028.  A blend of Monastrell, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Cab Sav. that gets 5 stars cause you can pick it up for only $17. Salut….

Scott Peterson Rumpus Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, California

28 Saturday Nov 2020

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It’s a semi opaque pale purple wine in the glass. The nose has candied cherries, cinnamon stick, black currants and cedar. On the palate it is really rich and warm. Gobs of black fruits with toasty oak, spice and very lithe tannins all form the first wave. The mid palate has a nice acidic pop alongside the black fruit cocktail. The tannins are present but not obtrusive on the somewhat dry finish that has tons more fruit to offer including black cherry. Nice mouthfeel, it’s an easy Cab to drink right now and will cellar till 2025. I really like it and will be pairing it with Sous Vide Strip steaks. For $20 it’s a great deal ’cause it gets 90 points from me and 5 stars. Salut….

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2003, Pauillac, France

27 Friday Nov 2020

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It’s Thanksgiving today and I am opening some stunners tonight, this was the first red. Nearly black in the glass and opaque AF.  This wine is blowing me away on the nose- cassis, tobacco, leather and the umami of dried mushrooms.  On the palate this Bordeaux beauty is at peak.  The primal fruit has given way to the most amazing tertiary notes that we can only hope to taste in mature wine.  Earth, funk, leather, Maduro tobacco, rich cassis and a hint of tannins on the very back end.  It is stunning, graceful, developed and powerful in a staid manner.  I’m floored that this mediocre, hot vintage has held itself together for 17 years and rewarded my cellaring in such an amazing manner.  95 points for tonights bottle which is a massive step up from the last time I drank a Magnum of the stuff. You can read my original notes here. Not cheap, nor is it easy to find- at $150 for a regular size or close to $350 for the big boy. 5 stars with a drink now window. Yummm. Salut….