Tag Archives: cabernet sauvignon

Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon ’10

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,


I have to be fair to this wine and tell you it was up against some big guns.  We started the tasting with two of my favorites, a ’96 Napa Cab and an ’04 Reserva from Rioja.  We followed them with the Trivento Malbec that a friend brought, and ended up with this offering from Chile.

Once you have stained your palate with exceptional, aged wines costing up to 8 times the price, it is hard to be partial- here goes.

Fruit, BIG-BOLD-BLUE-FRUIT.  Blueberries and blackberries were in abundance.  On the nose, very sweet hints of Blueberry.  On the palate, decent fruit coupled with subdued tannins and a good finish.  The winemakers state red fruit as the predominant flavor, with subtle blue fruit.  I disagree, and could not find the vanilla they talk about.  Perhaps my taste buds were skewed by the previous bottles.  Anyway, this is a decent bottle for most people, just not my style with the way it shouts “Fruit Forward”.  I prefer slightly more subdued styles and have had many Chilean Cabs that fit the bill.  Some people may love this wine for what it is, especially in a relaxed surrounding, perhaps a BBQ, with some grilled meats.  For the price, it is a definite buy if you are in the hunt for something that will please a crowd and not break the bank.  3 stars and perhaps an 86 point rating in my books.  Besides, what an awesome label!

I Balzini ‘White Label’ ’06

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,


Mixed emotions on this one as I have opened three bottles on different occasions before coming to a conclusion.  It was rated very highly when I bought a case of this 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I would not normally drink such a blend, but with a nice write-up, what the heck.  Firstly, this blend does not work for me, secondly- my initial bottle was tremendously disappointing.  Thin is the descriptor that comes to mind.  This wine had nothing going for it.  Sangiovese is well known in Chiantis and is regarded as a light grape.  When mixed with the powerhouse Cabernet, neither grape got a chance to shine, merely masking the power of the Cab, and totally drowning out the Sangio.  With 6 years of age, there could have been some secondary flavors starting to develop, but I sensed none.  The nose lacked any formal fruit, and the tannins were a little screwy.  Over a period of three hours, it did develop some Strawberry hints on the mid-palate, thanks to the Sangiovese, but nothing really powerful.  Bottle two was a bit better as there was a definite delineation between the two grapes.  I could make out some of the nuances of each but still had a hard time with the winemakers choice of blend.  Bottle three was by far the best and was actually pretty good.  I detected telltale fruit on the nose, the midpalate seemed right and the tannins were present but unobtrusive.  Overall this wine is a major letdown and a big pass.  2 Stars, and only because the third bottle came through for me.  As for a formal rating, I cannot even dream of what it deserves, perhaps an 80-88 depending on which bottle you get stuck with.  Wish me luck on the remaining 9……i balzin white label

Burgess ’96

17 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,


I once bought 6 bottles of this Napa Cabernet and was so blown away, I couldn’t wait to get more.  Alas, they were all out.  So, I moved on with my life and ended up buying several different vintages, pining for just one more bottle of this nectar.  Well, as luck would have it, I came across a deal and snapped up two cases.  Being the generous kinda guy I am,  one went to my neighbor, one to a friend, and we opened a few this past week.  Showing a slight ‘bricking’ in the glass tells me this wine is nearing it’s “sell-by” date.  The nose is amazing; tobacco, dark fruit and cassis.  Tasted blind, you would swear it was a Bordeaux.  With over 16 years on it, she’s still holding on, barely.  The secondary flavors are in full force, the tannins, receding.  The balance I remembered from previous bottles was slightly amiss.  Not sure what was happening there.  Instant gratification is all I can say when I open one of these.  A remarkable wine that I will say was one of the first Napa Cabs that really did it for me.  Must run, the other bottles are waiting for a decant- which I did not do for the first bottle.  Almost forgot- 5 Stars!  Perhaps a 93 pointer if you are into that kinda thing.

burgess cellars 1996

gritty wine

The need to decant

Top Hat ’08

30 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,


A Christmas gift from a co-worker, I wasn’t sure what to expect on this one.  I tried to search the web for it, nothing.  Very typical Cali Cab, bright fruit on the nose and palate, good tannins and a balanced finish.  I was really impressed with this bottle, but have no idea where to get it from or how much it costs.  I paired it with some Filets on the grill, worked a treat.  The tannic structure is perfect for this cut.  Not in-your-face, they are part and parcel, holding the wine together and showing no signs of letting up.  The fruit is still in primary mode, as would be expected from California.  Surprisingly, this wine is still very fresh yet shows some aging capability.  I would think it could last until 2018 at the least, and hopefully gain some secondary flavors without losing the its appealing fruit.  I reckon a 90 point rating and 4 stars are in order.

top hat cabernet

Columbia Crest ’07 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,


Number 2 in our little party, always a good choice from the value-priced section.  These guys can pump out a tremendous quantity of reliable, tasty wines, year after year.  2007 was no exception, with a pro rating hovering around 90 and a price point of $13 make this an easy choice for many a party host.  Good fruit, decent tannins and a longer than expected finish give this wine street cred.  For me however, it is a little boring- blame that on the fact that I have had this wine and many like it until I’m blue in the face.  Given that, I have to award it 5 stars for consistency, QPR and the ability to be a crowd-pleaser.  I would definitely recommend and buy it again.

Castle Rock ’09

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Wine reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,


A few of my colleagues gathered for a little Christmas cheer upon our arrival in Hong Kong and this was the first of many bottles to be opened.  Very primary in fruit with a decent nose and mid-palate it offered no sign of aging potential.  A decent way to start out as it was not heavy, complex or overpowering.  Very reasonably priced, this one is a sure winner for informal drinking or large parties.  From a pro standpoint, perhaps an 82 rating but I’m giving it 4 stars for being a good QPR player.