Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

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

Langmeil ‘Blacksmith’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

15 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


I’m not a huge fan of Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon, but wow! This is good wine, straight up. Rich blackberry on the nose translates to blueberry, plum and deft oak on the palate. Very complex, this wine is making me pucker up. The tannins are beautiful, rounded and powerful. This wine is just starting its crusade and should last until 2020 at the very least. Well balanced, it should take a steak in stride, but would absolutely marry a rack of lamb. Loving it with 4 stars and at least 91 points.

20130214-193833.jpg

Wolf Blass Presidents Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

24 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Stuff...., Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,


I have had this wine before, from the 2008 vintage. More fruity, the 2010 starts out as dark purple in the glass. A strong whiff of really blue berries leads to a full-on attack of the fruit when I took the first sip. This wine was delicious, almost too much so. The texture was strangely ‘thicker’. I can’t describe it very well, but this wine was almost (syrupy?). Not as tannic as the 2008 vintage, it still offers a balance and smoothness that are really good. I recall some pluminess and tobacco on the palate in addition to a long finish. A very nice wine, perhaps more suited for drinking than pairing with food. I see this as a 4 star wine that would get 88 points. In a pinch, this wine will please most people that is affordable and widely distributed.

IMG_1616

Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

24 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


New World nose of mushrooms and red fruit. Sharply acidic on the palate, it is also offers some raspberry and plum. Not obvious, there are some fine tannins in the background. This 2008 vintage is at peak now and offers a certain quality that is hard to pinpoint. My guess is that it started life as a 90 pointer and I would value it as a 3 star wine (for my palate versus its price).

20130123-205504.jpg

Lapis Luna ‘Moon Eyes’ 2007

02 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,


Wow! I am absolutely stunned by the nose of this wine. Unique, full force and unfamiliar. This wine is a different beast that has really peaked my interest. Hard core Cabernet on the nose, with black and blue fruits fighting for pole position.
Somooth….. Like buttah. I’m talking about mouth caressing tannins co-mingling with the over-abundant fruit in this hedonistic effort. Dark brooding fruit and balanced acidity on the palate hold out for a medium finish. I wonder if this wine will further improve….. Who cares, it’s so good you need to drink it now. A serious 5 star wine in my books, 91 points or higher if I were a pro taster….this is not a BBQ wine. It is fine by itself and would pair nicely with Filet.

20121201-200431.jpg