Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Matt Parish Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, USA

09 Sunday Jun 2019

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Dark shades of purple in the glass.  The nose is overflowing with blackberries.  There’s a slight oak tint as well as blueberry torte once the blackberry subsided.  On the palate it is a touch astringent right up front but good fruit structure rolls in as well as some gripping tannins.  Black stone fruits are the main focus, with violets and cranberries- for their tartness- seem to coexist.  The tannins are relentless. Aerating would be key here unless you have a fatty, juicy steak.  Nice finish with blackberry and dry tea.  Astringent as heck but mouth watering and tasty.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 effort.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

Chateau Los Boldos Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Cachapoal Valley, Chile

28 Sunday Apr 2019

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I have previously drunk two or three bottles of this stuff without taking notes.  I figure it’s time as this is the last bottle I have.  It has a medium purple complexion and is mostly see-through.  On the nose I get black berries, Ribena and tar.  On the palate it is very straightforward Cabernet.  Dark fruits, good tannic backbone and some juicy acidity.  There is a plum tart component that hits me on the mid palate which is quite nice.  The tannins really grip on the back end and give me that dry gum sensation.  A decent drop for quaffing that is rather limited in dimension yet is approachable and drinkable right away with some cellaring potential.  Pair with burgers, steaks and pasta.  Not bad for $15.  88 points makes it a solid 3 star wine.  Salut….

Havens Wine Cellars ‘H Luxury Collection By Havens’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, California, USA

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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Beautiful dark, nearly black in the glass.  The nose gives off blackcurrants, loads of them, and with a good swirl I also get eucalyptus as well as pine needle.  On the palate it is slightly sweet with those blackcurrants really out front.  Very gentle tannins are evident from the onset, but they quickly disappear.  There is a hint of oak, barely perceptible that adds to this somewhat one-dimensional wine.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s very tasty and easy to drink.  It transitions to the finish on the same notes I got initially, without much acidity, which troubles me.  This is a nice everyday, easygoing quaffer that you could pop-n-pour every night of the week.  Party wine for sure.  At $13 it’s not a steep price to pay for this 87 point wine that gets 3 stars from me.  Drink now with most light fair.  Salut….

Chateau Musar 1996, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

21 Sunday Apr 2019

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For my birthday celebration, I pulled out two magnums, one of which was the ’96 Musar, I hand carried it from the winery many years ago.  I have two bottles of the ’98 waiting but in the meantime….Super pale red- see through, reminiscent of Pinot which it’s not with a touch of orange bricking.  On the nose it’s stupendous, like aged Bordeaux.  Leather, tobacco, plum and cassis- all my favorites.  On the palate it is so smooth, with hints of cassis, cedar box, more tobacco and forest floor.  There’s so much going on it’s amazing.  Towards the mid palate I get cherry, faint tannins and a perfectly balanced acidity.  The finish is awesome.  So sleek with cherry juice reduction and a slightly biting rhubarb component.  93 points and 4 stars for this $75 wine.  It’s not for everyone, the style is different but for this boy- it hits the right notes.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Margaux de Brane 2014, Margaux, France

18 Monday Mar 2019

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A slightly dull purple in the glass, gives me concern.  On the nose however- violets, black currants, a touch of oak.  On the palate it is much darker- blackberry, cherry extract, graphite and singed oak.  There is a leather component too, it just comes along later, towards the mid palate.  The wine transitions very nicely with good tannic structure that is not obtrusive and acidic enough to balance. This is the third wine of Brane Cantenac, a Second Growth Margaux.  They use the young plots for source fruit, giving us an approachable young wine that drinks very nicely with good mouthfeel and medium term cellaring potential.  90 points from me for this $29 effort that gets 3 stars.  Drink now till 2024.  Salut….

Familia Blanco Mairena Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Thursday Mar 2019

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Pretty purple in the glass, quite opaque.  On the nose it is all blackberry.  The initial palate is black cherry, an awkward greenness and tar.  The mid palate offers much the same, with more vegetal notes than I care for.  This wine rates well with the pros at 90+ but I don’t get it.  The finish is sour, green, the tannins are astringent.  Not my cup of tea at all.  There might be some of you who enjoy austere wines, this one might be up your alley.  I’m going 86 points.  For $18, it is a pass from me but you may want to give it a try- 2 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

Chapel Hill Parson’s Nose Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia

14 Thursday Mar 2019

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A deep purple wine with medium opacity.  On the nose it is lush, full of ripe plums, graced by a deft hand of oak and blackberries.  On the palate I get a more licorice and coffee initial attack.  The dark fruits appear on the mid palate.  There is not as much plum as I had been led to believe, but the juicy acidity makes me forget quickly.  The tannins are lithe, making this a drink-now wine.  The finish is more tart blueberry than blackberry.  Somewhat short in the backend.  A tasty wine that merits 88 points from me.  For $20 it gets 3 stars.  Drink till 2021 with some burgers, pizza or lasagna.  Salut….

Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley, USA

05 Tuesday Mar 2019

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Bright purple- almost sparkly in the glass.   The nose is full-on Napa cab.  Rich plums, blackberries and cedar.  The palate mirrors- and it’s super smooth with a gentle ramp up of tannins.  The mid palate continues the dark fruit theme but this is where the black tea, crunchy tannins and Maduro leaf appear.  The finish is very dry, long and filled with blackberry jam, more tea and a touch of oak.  Delicious and worth 91 points in my book.  The only thing holding it back is the slight greenness of the tannins.  I’m serving up Sunday roast with this beauty.  4 stars for this $40 Cabernet that can be cellared or drunk till 2028.  Salut….

Michael Pozzan Annabella Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Napa Valley, USA

04 Monday Mar 2019

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Cherry nose.  Iodine, plum and cigar box on the initial. Nice gentle tannins introduce themselves on the midpalate alongside bramble.  The plums are really juicy in this wine.  The finish gives me prune, black cherries and tobacco.  Really tasty and easy to drink.  Till 2024.  89 points and 3 stars for this $14 wine.  Salut….

Robert Mondavi Winery Private Selection Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Monterey County, USA

24 Monday Dec 2018

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Very bright purple in the glass.  The nose is very lively, with blackberry and plum notes alongside vanilla.  On the palate it is delicious- rich, with caramel, oak and black fruits galore.  Very lithe tannins and a touch of acidity make for a very easy drinking red with nice mouthfeel.  The mid palate turns a touch astringent, with lapsang souchong tea, blackberry and oak.  The finish is mid length with more dark fruit and black tea.  A nice drop that will do well with many dishes but is delicious all by itself.  90 Points and 5 starts for this $13 effort.  Drink till 2021.  Salut….