Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage 2008

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,


Another wine from this awesome winery in Mclaren Vale, Australia.  This bottle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot- the cornerstones of the Bordeaux blend.  I was really excited to try this as the blend is right up my alley.  Bold and beautiful in the glass it showed its power right away.  Plums and Black cherries with a rich and smoky oak  came blasting throughout the gripping tannins.  On the backend came a eucalyptus tinge that was very interesting.  The wine is very young and in need of cellaring, perhaps from 2014- 2020 is where I would think it’s peak is.  Great balance and structure make this $23 wine a bargain.  Think Roast Beef and this wine will sing.  91 points and 5 stars from me.  I think I need to get more for the dungeon. Salut….

IMG_0508

Aristos Baron d’A 2007

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


I bought this Chilean wine in Hong Kong for Thanksgiving day.  We opened it first because I could not wait and besides, never leave the good stuff till the end.  Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, it gets a touch of Syrah to soften it.  Dark purple in the glass it had a beautiful nose of blackberry and mint.  Eucalyptus was present in the taste as were black fruits and a figgy component.  Extremely well crafted tannins were evident but unobtrusive.  This is a multi layered wine that shows off class and depth.  The mouthfeel was silky smooth and the finish- long.  I must say I enjoyed this wine as we paired it with appetizers and caviar.  It was on sale for about $44, regularly priced at $54.  Im going with 91 points and 4 stars.  Salut….

 

20131129-152304.jpg

La Joya Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


The label says that this is made by the Bisquertt Family Vineyard in the Colchagua valley, Argentina.  It tastes so different from other Cabs in the region, almost bordeaux-like with a sense of terroir and the old world components like cassis, clove and blueberry.  I thoroughly enjoyed it’s difference and character with some grilled beef and veggies.  The nose of this one had blue fruits and some lavender components.  The structure was built for short term enjoyment with easy tannins and basic acidity.  The price?  $10.  A steal if you have a hankering for something different.  88 points and 4 stars for sure.  This will please with grilled meats or by itself on a windy, chilly evening.  Salut….

IMG_0441

Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


This is not the cheap $8 version from this winery, we ordered it off the wine list at an Argentinian Steak House.  Paying about $35, I figure it should be about a $15 bottle.  Anyway, it was so good that we ordered a second bottle after giving a Malbec a try.  We started drinking this with the appetizers and it was great.  Bluish fruits and a dark cherry component mixed with the oak and gentle acidity made it very pleasing.  The wine is not complex, nor is it basic but it is very drinkable and we all enjoyed it.  The second bottle came with the Filet Mignons and was a great match.  Filet is low in fat and is very tender making it a good match for a slightly less tannic wine that is not as complex.   Overall, a good choice as evidenced by the group’s vote for more of the same.  I would give this 88 points and reckon it is a 4 star effort if it truly were $15.  Salut….

IMG_0429

d’Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

24 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


If you read my previous post about the d’Arenberg winery you will know that I thoroughly enjoy their offerings and find them to be consistent and delicious.  This wine held true.  It was dark purple in the glass, always a good sign, and the nose showed off black fruits and cedar box.  A really delicious palate was made up of blackberry, blueberry, pepper and a hint of oak.  Well balanced and drinking en pointe with smooth tannins and good mouthfeel.  This is a sure fire winner and for $15 it gets 5 stars from me for its 91 point rating.  We drank it pre-dinner but it would hit every imaginable red wine combo.  Salut….

IMG_0416

Sycamore Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,


If you read my post on the Santa Ana disaster, it leads into this wine.  My buddy bought two bottles of the nasty stuff and returned one the next day.  They offered him this bottle as a replacement so I don’t know the value of it.  A lighter shade of red in the glass and some hints of raspberry on the nose.  On the palate I got red cherry and strawberry with some earth.  Not my favorite profile for a Cab Sav but I was willing to roll with it.  Nice mouthfeel yet not very complex.  I don’t think this is a serious/expensive wine yet it was intriguing.  Suffering from jet lag and hunger we polished it off and headed out for dinner.  If this was a $10 bottle I would give it 3 stars.  I reckon it is an 85 point wine and think you may enjoy it as an aperitif.  I can’t quite pick a pairing because of the somewhat strange flavors for the varietal, best to be drunk by itself I reckon.  Salut….

IMG_0373

Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1996

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,


I took a bottle of 2001 Calon Segur to my friend’s house for dinner last night.  After we had finished the Piper Heidsieck with the appetizers, we drank the decanted Bordeaux.  When that was done, he showed me his tiny refrigerated ‘cave’ where he stored some real gems going back to the ’50s.  He pulled the pristine ’96 Napa cab out and proceeded to open it.  I had no presumptions about this wine, but it shocked me.  For a 17 year old bottle of Cabernet, it was fresh and lively yet mature and brooding.  It had cassis, black fruit, leather, earth, plums and eucalyptus on the palate with ample tannins and vibrant acidity.  It rolled in at 13.5 % and was a delight.  Still dark purple in the glass, this wine has some years to go and can be found for roughly $75.  I have always been a lover of French Claret, eschewing Napa Valley as overpriced and under-delivering.  It’s wines like this that make me realize how narrow my focus used to be and I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my palate.  If you need a very special treat, this is sure-fire.  92 points and 5 stars, albeit quite pricey it’s worth the coin.  Salut….

IMG_0130

Chilcas Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , ,


Brought by a fellow wino, this was a full liter of delicious Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon.  What it lacked in depth, it made up for in charm.  Purple ink in the glass, it showed off primal hints of blueberry and mint on the nose.  Very easy to drink, it gave pleasure with the blue fruitiness mixed up with some spices (eucalyptus??).  A very subtle tannin structure was enjoyable as was the acidity.  A bargain wine that plays like a middle weight!  Some slight oak was evident, but unobtrusive.  Bang for the buck this is a 5 star wine, and technically speaking 88 points.  I’m thinking you need a few laying around in case a block party erupts.  This wine will please anyone, with or without food.  Salut….

IMG_2387

Concha Y Toro ‘Marques De Casa Concha’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

05 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


There once was a time that this wine was my go-to Cabernet.  Back in the day, it was a 90 pointer for about $13- amazing value for amazing quality.  It now prices at $19, and still hammers out a consistent 90 point rating.  You cannot go wrong with this wine.  It is mass produced in Chile under the Concha Y Toro brand.  I liken it to their second best offering.  Dark purple in the glass, it smell of Black Currants and some mint.  Eucalyptus is another trademark of Chilean Cabernet, it shows up on the mid palate along with some plum and blueberry dipped in chocolate.  It really is amazing what depths this wine can pull for such an affordable price.  Not overly tannic, it has a structure that will help it mellow out for a few more years, with good acidity to balance.  Are you salivating yet?  I completely agree with the pro’s, 90 points all day long, and for the price- a 4 star wine.  Stashing a case of this in the cellar is an insurance policy should all your friends descend on you uninvited.  They will drink well!  Salut……

IMG_1875

Penfolds “Rawson’s Retreat” Shiraz Cabernet 2011

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


The local wine shop here is running a special on the Rawson’s Retreat series, so I picked up two of the offerings to try.  Not impressed.  Very basic in architecture, with straightforward red fruits on the nose and palate.  Little tannin and no complexity.  However, it does drink smoothly and will get big kudos from most people because it is built to satisfy the elementary drinker.  I wouldn’t call it a bad wine, plonk is more appropriate.  Serve with the most basic of dishes or alone.  The blend did mellow out the Cabernet Sauvignon somewhat, and I was surprised that the Shiraz was not the typical jam from downunda. I have to say I would probably buy it again if the promotion pricing is in effect, but at $13- a pass.  3 stars since it was $24 for three bottles, but only 84 points.

IMG_1732