Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Cono Sur Bicicleta Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Chile

07 Monday Aug 2017

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I bought two bottles of the Cono Sur Cabernet Sauvignon but didn’t realize I had two vintages…. so here goes the 2015.

Very nice purple in the glass.  The nose is of ripe plums, bursting violets and a blackberry component.  On the palate I get blackberry, currants, cinnamon and some earthy notes.  The wine is easy to drink with slight tannins, moderate acidity and a good mouthfeel.  The midpalate has some very nice dark cherry notes with a touch of oak.  The tail end is shortish but nice; green olives and cherry come to mind.  Overall a very serviceable wine that gets 89 points from me and 5 stars for its $9 price tag.  Drink now for best results.  Salut….

cons sur bicicleta cabernet sauvignon

Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Columbia Valley, USA

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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As I was pouring this wine I couldn’t help but notice the rich purple color, mesmerizing.  On the nose I get gorgeous plum meets an oak shaving.  This wine smells amazing.  There is an intensity to the aroma that is really pure and focused.  This pureness continues on to the initial taste.  This is a great wine folks.  It tastes amazing, has very fine grained tannins, is balanced and has got me grabbing for more.  Plums continue to the mid palate and are joined with coffee beans, Ribena and a crescendo of tannins.  They really hit on the back end with a really nice dryness that hits my gums in the right way.  The wine finishes with cassis, espresso and a swath of tannins, delicious.  An extremely well crafted wine that gets 92 plus points from me.  I am a huge fan of Charles Smith, his winemaking is always on pointe.  In fact, I search out his wines-looking for absolute gems like this one.  I paid $13, and rate this as one of my all-time best buys.  5 Stars for sure and I am buying a case.  Drink it alone or pretty much with everything from now till 2022.  A steal, literally.  Salut….

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Napa Valley, USA

12 Wednesday Jul 2017

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I just rolled up to the Aloft hotel bar and ordered this Cabernet from their menu, taking a chance on it’s provenance and style.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Forget the color, it was nigh on impossible to tell in the current venue.  The nose has a warmth to it along with blackberry, slate and eucalyptus. On the palate I get a really smooth intro to the blackberry notes as well as graphite and black cherry.  The core flavors continue to the mid palate and beyond along with some very fine tannins that really pop on the finish.  The wine has a great mouthfeel with gentle acidity omnipresent but not obtrusive.  Atypical for this varietal from Napa, this wine is more on the subtle side, a refreshing change.  90 points, $19 and 4 stars from me.  Pair it with some steaks and mushroom sauce, or perhaps a Cornish Hen dressed up in a garlic rub.  Salut….

Hard to see the color in glass…

Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Cameron Hughes Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, USA

24 Saturday Jun 2017

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This wine was given to me for my birthday recently.  I was not sure what to expect from an American ‘Negociant’ wine, but I was willing to give it a try!

Very dark and thick in the glass, which is telltale for what I am expecting.  The nose is plums and mocha with some eucalyptus.  The initial taste is as predicted.  Full bodied, rich, creamy and delicious.  Tannins are at the forefront but not overwhelming.  Plums, blackberry and a touch of oak are all part of the package.  Mid palate wise, the acidity and tannic dryness roll in and take over from the fruit, not that this is a bad thing as I am enjoying the texture tremendously.  The finish is well defined, long and consists of more plums, spice box and the well framed tannins.  There is a cigar box component that I just noticed as well.  Delicious.  Overall, this is a well crafted wine that I am enjoying while Moxie cooks up some Sirloins in a peppercorn sauce.  91 points, drinking now till 2022.  Pricey at $51, until you realize you are drinking Napa Cabernet- well worth it and 4 stars from me.  Salut….

cameron hughes cabernet sauvignon

 

The Original Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, California, USA

30 Tuesday May 2017

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Dark, brooding purple in the glass.  The nose is- yuck.  Not my style at all.  Candy, oak and yuck.  The initial palate is candied plum, not much else.  I’m not going to bother much more with this 80 point wine, I suggest you move along too.  Save the $8 for something tastier.  Salut….

the dark horse cabernet sauvignon

Burgess Cellars Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Napa Valley

13 Saturday May 2017

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This wine is 15 years old, yet it pours like an infant- dark purple, no bricking and clear, if not see-through.  The nose is gorgeous, fruity yet nuanced with secondary flavors belying maturity.  Plums, coffee, tobacco and leather come to mind.  On the palate, rich plums, cassis and a touch of eucalyptus.  This wine is not even close to maturity.  Tannins are on pointe and there is a juiciness to the mid palate that I am enjoying thoroughly.  The finish leaves you with a clear dose of acidity, the tannins drying up at this stage.  There is still tons of primal fruit here and the wine already demonstrated its ability to pick up those long sought after nuances of aged Cabernet.  This is a top wine in my opinion, worthy of 92 points even at this stage of its development, which is funny considering it only got 83 points from WE back in 2006.  Drink now till 2021 at the least.  Pair with any beef dish, charcuterie or just by itself.  I found it online for $28.  5 Stars.  Salut….

Burgess Cellars Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Riglos Gran Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Tupungato, Argentina

13 Saturday May 2017

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Dark, brooding purple in the glass, no way to see through it. On the nose I get black currant, mint and vanilla. On the palate this wine is lush, full and tastes of black berries, vanilla bean and coffee. The mid palate is a seamless continuation with the introduction to some very fine grained tannins that leave the finish just a touch dry. This wine is really smooth, full bodied and delicious. Very well balanced if I might say so. A perfect match to any grilled meats, pasta. 91 points from me which is close to the 92 that the pro’s are going with.  I paid $25, but it normally retails for $35.  4 stars.  Yummy.  Salut….

Riglos Gran Cabernet Sauvignon, Tupungato, Argentina

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Coonawarra, Australia

17 Monday Apr 2017

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Beautiful purple color- nose of candied plums, oak and mint.  On the palate I get pepper, plums and a red component which is intriguing.  Tannins peek through in the second half of this intro and the acidity is very mild.  89 points and 4 stars for this $11 offering.  Salut….

Jacob's Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Edna Valley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Central Coast, USA

17 Monday Apr 2017

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Deep purple yet see-through.  Nice nose of plums, eucalyptus and blackberry.  On the palate I’m getting really nice black berry, super smooth tannins and a hint of black Cherry liquor.  The mid palate boasts more berries and a roundness that gives this wine a really nice mouthfeel.  The finish is smooth, with a nice drying feeling that coats the gums.  90 points form me although the pro’s were down at the 86 level with this one.  I disagree.  For $13, this is a 4 star wine that I will be buying again.  I would pair it with Roast Chicken, perhaps meatloaf and definitely with some charcuterie out on the patio now that the weather has turned.  Salut….

edna valley cabernet sauvignon

Nederburg The Winemasters Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paarl, South Africa

13 Thursday Apr 2017

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Dark purple in the glass.  Nose of black cherry and dark fruits.  The palate is somewhat muted, but notes of tar, black currants and cedar abound.  The wine possesses a certain level of acidity that balances the very mild tannins, which leave a drying sensation on the finish.  This wine is decent, but somewhat boring.  It does not transcend into anything different.  It is good, yet plain.  88 points is where I feel this wine sits and I would pair it with lamb chops, venison and perhaps roast Guinea fowl.  It can be found for about $12, which make it a 3 star wine in my books.  Salut….