Overview To Sampling Wine
The fundamentals of tasting red wine are reasonably straightforward to find out. As soon as the basics are understood, the nuances and details can be enhanced over a lifetime. Like any kind of various other skill, More »
Red Wine Types
Red wine has a lot of different types, among which, the most popular include Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Moreover, More »
Category Archives: Cabernet Sauvignon
A Wine Lover’s Weekly Review of $10 Wines – A Red Sicilian Blend
Please let me apologize. Usually I place these weekly reviews on my website Sunday night or Monday night. This one went up on Tuesday; last night was President Obama’s first prime time news conference. I’m not going to talk about the press conference here, except to repeat that this wine column is our attempt to deal with the present economic problems. We feel that in these very difficult times it’s important to keep your chin up, and to find a way to enjoy life without spending too much money. What can be better than the right $ 10 bottle of wine? We help you find the right ones.
Italy produces many fine wines. We have reviewed about two dozen fine Italian wines, coming from eighteen and soon nineteen of the twenty regions of Italy. Sicily is the number one Italian wine region both in terms of acreage devoted to the wine grape, a whopping third of a million acres, and total production, over two hundred million gallons. In fact, if Sicily were an independent country it would rank seventh in the world for wine production. Now quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality. The wine reviewed is a blend of the indigenous Nero d’Avola and the international Cabernet Sauvignon, both red grapes. Nero d’Avola wines usually aren’t very expensive but I was quickly able to locate a $ 80 bottle on the web. Cabernet Sauvignon produces some very expensive wines such as the California Opus One costing hundreds of dollars, depending on the vintage. Enough of that; let’s see if this bottle is a good choice for dealing with these hard times.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Montalto Nero d’Avola Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 14% alcohol about $ 8
Let’s start with the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Deep red violet color; dark fruit and spice aromas and flavors; dry, medium to full bodied, long, smooth finish. Serving Suggestion: Roast lamb or beef, meat pastas, and grilled meats. And now for my review.
At first tasting the wine was thin but long with moderate acidity and a touch of oak. The initial meal involved homemade shepherd’s pie. There was dark fruit. The red blend washed the food down pleasantly. It was robust. Simple food, simple wine. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. I added some Turkish Harissa, a hot pepper sauce and the wine followed, picking up some spiciness.
The second meal was a combination of meat balls and recooked steak, slow cooked with potatoes. The Nero d’Avola/Cabernet Sauvignon was now powerful; it definitely packed a punch. I could taste the oak. The length was good.
The final meal was a middle-eastern specialty, kube, also called kibbe, ground meat in jackets made from ground bulgar, in a spicy tomato sauce. It was strange, at the first sip the wine was thin, almost watered. But as I drank more the power built. There was some oak and dark fruit with moderate acidity.
I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first cheese was a provolone. The wine was balanced with good tannins and moderate acidity. But it was short. A marbled cheddar cheese flattened the wine somewhat. After the cheese the fruit came back.
Final verdict. If you feel like washing down simple meals with a simple wine this is an option. But I think I will keep looking.
Find More Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Articles
Fall 2010 Wine Tasting Guide To The Best Of Bc – Wines 12 To 22
Welcome to part two of the 2010 wine tasting guide to the Best of BC wines. This article will discuss the remaining 11 wines on the list.
12) NKMip Qwam Qwmt Syrah 2007
This full bodied Syrah was aged in French and American oak barrels for 18 months, resulting in a flavour of red berry and plum, along with hints of cedar box and cracked pepper that ends with a smooth vanilla finish.
Price – $ 34.99
13) Osoyoos Larose Grand Vin 2007
Osoyoos Larose’s blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot was aged in 60% new French oak and 40% one-year-old barrels. There is a strong tannin flavour with just a hint of oak. The Grand Vin 2007 will cellar well until 2015.
Price – $ 45.00
14) Painted Rock Red Icon 2007
Painted Rock’s Red Icon is a blend of 33% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petite Verdot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 15 % Malbec that was aged 18 months in new French oak barrels. One can detect ripe fruit, flecked with dried herbs and a meaty leathery note. This red can be cellared until 2013.
Price – $ 54.94
15) Painted Rock Merlot 2007
Painted Rock’s red varietal consists of 97% Merlot and 3% Malbec that was aged 18 months in new French oak, resulting in a red with hints of honey, chocolate and a distinct, yet not overbearing, barrel note.
Price – $ 39.92
17) Poplar Grove Syrah 2007
Poplar Grove’s full-bodied Syrah has noticeable hints of ripe cherry, raspberry with leather and black pepper notes.
Price – $ 29.90
18) Quails Gate Old Vine Foch 2008
Made from vines planted 45 years ago and aged in American oak barrels for 18 months, Quails Gate’s Old Vine Foch has noticeable hints of cinnamon spice, candied cherry, bitter chocolate and tobacco. This wine will cellar well until 2015.
Price – $ 24.99
19) Sandhill Small Lots Barbera 2007
Sandhill Small Lots Barbera is comprised of 91%, Barbera and 9% Sangiovese, resulting in a red with hints of black fruits and plums dusted with spice. Only 270 cases of this were produced, so get them while you can.
Price – $ 30.00
20) Sandhill Small Lots Cabernet Syrah 2007
This 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah was aged in American oak for 20 months. With hints of black fruits, chocolate, spice, black pepper, cedar, black licorice and cherry cordials, this red will go fast, as there were only 420 cases produced.
Price – $ 30.00
21) Sandhill Small Lots Sangiovese 2007
Another limited edition from Sandhill, with only 430 cases being produced, is their blend of 94% Sangiovese and 6% Barbera that was aged in one year old French oak for 20 months, resulting in a red that has hints of cedar, cherry, spice and leather.
Price – $ 30.00
22) Twisted Tree 6 Vines 2008
Twisted Tree is a newcomer into the BC wine community. Their blend of 30% Malbec, 25% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmnre and 5% Cabernet Franc has hints of cassis and liquorice. This is yet another wine that you will have to pick-up as soon as possible as there were only 916 cases produced.
Look for part one of the Wine Tasting Guide to the Best of BC article for more tasting information on wines 1 through 11.
Find More Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Articles
Fall 2010 Wine Tasting Guide To The Best Of Bc – First 11 Wines
The Fall 2010 Best of BC wine list is now out, and with 22 local wines from 13 wineries to choose from, it can be a difficult task for anyone, from the wine expert to novice wine collector. The following list will briefly describe the first 11 wines on the Best of BC list to help you make an informed decision on your purchases.
1) Burrowing Owl Meritage 2007
The 2007 Meritage is a blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. With the aroma of black currant this wine can cellar up to 2018.
Price – $ 44.90
2) Burrowing Owl Syrah 2007
Burrowing Owl’s red varietal, made from 100% Syrah, or Shiraz grapes, was aged in French, American and Russian oak barrels. The resulting vintage contains hints of blackberry, plums and spice and can cellar until 2015.
Price – $ 34.90
3) CedarCreek Platinum Merlot 2007
A red varietal containing 97.3% Merlot and only 2.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, CedarCreek’s Platinum Merlot was aged 20 months in 100% French oak barrels, resulting in a Merlot that has hints of raspberry, blueberry, chocolate, spice and oak. This red can cellar for the next 10 years.
Price – $ 34.90
4) CedarCreek Platinum Meritage 2007
CedarCreek’s 44% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot blend can cellar up to 15 years. With its hint of ripe black fruit like blackberries and plums this isn’t a wine to miss out on.
Price – $ 35.00
5) Inniskillin Okanagan Discovery Series Tempranillo 2007
Inniskillin’s red varietal uses 100% Tempranillo grapes and was aged in 100% French oak barrels. With this red you can detect hints of dark cherry, plum and oak.
Price – $ 29.99
6) Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Cabernet Shiraz Viognier 2007
Jackson-Triggs 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz blend was aged in 50% French and 50% American oak barrels for 18 months, resulting in an aromatic nose of ripe blackcurrant with undertones of spice.
Price – $ 29.99
7) Laughing Stock Portfolio 2007
Blending Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Laughing Stock’s 2007 Portfolio was aged in French oak barrels for 19 months and has hints of candied cherry, black berries and dark chocolate.
Price – $ 40.00
8) Mission Hill Compendium 2007
The 2007 Compendium is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. The nose of this wine includes of red currants, cedar, cinnamon and hints of mint, which gives way to notes of dried earth, sage, plum and sundried blackberries. This red is drinkable now and can cellar through to 2015-2017.
Price – $ 40.00
9) Mission Hill Quatrain 2007
The Mission Hill blend of 42% Merlot, 24% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in the Quatrain 2007 has hints of ripe fruit, pepper and oak.
Price – $ 45.00
10) NKMip Qwam Qwmt Meritage 2007
This 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc blend was aged in 80% French and 20% American oak barrels for 18 months. The fragrant nose of blueberry and ripe blackberry give way to a taste of rich cocoa, coffee bean and spice, with a smokey finish.
Price – $ 30.00
11) NKMip Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir 2008
As the name suggests, this red varietal is made from 100% pinot noir grapes and has an inviting nose that displays elements of black cherry and plum with a hint of rosemary spice. As for taste, one can detect a substantial berry and spice flavour with a smooth oak finish.
Price – $ 30.00
Remember to look for part two of this article for tasting information on the Best of BC wines, 12 through 22.
Wine Tours in the Napa Valley
Napa Valley, located in western California has a robust heritage of producing some of the world’s finest wine grapes since the 19th century – and as you might expect, this tradition remains true to this very day. While the area began to suffer in the prohibition era 1920’s, the end of World War II brought a new life to Napa Valley, but it wasn’t until 1976 when a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon rated better than numerous fine French wines in a blind taste. Dubbed “The Judgment of Paris”, it was this wine competition that really put Napa Valley on the map – and the region has seen enormous success ever since.
On average, nearly 5 million tourists visit on an annual basis – this makes it one of the most popular attractions in the entire state; second only to Disneyland. And if you’ve ever been to the area you already know that there are plenty of great reasons to visit the area, no matter the season.
Winter is primarily the off-season, but in the spring the first sprouting of mustard flowers along with pink and white blossoms can be seen amongst the grapevines throughout the valley; and this is quite a sight for any visitor to the region. In summer the grapevines begin to develop their leaves, tiny grape clusters may even begin to develop on some types. The grape clusters are harvested in the fall, and as you might expect, this is the most popular time to plan a vacation to the area.
There are a number of wineries for you to visit while on your vacation. One of the earliest, the Robert Modavi Winery remains one of the largest and most popular wineries to date – but some of the smaller ones have a lot to offer in the way of great tasting wine, as well. This includes Bryant Family Vineyards, Diamond Creek Vineyards, Dominus Estate, Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards, just to name but a few.
But of course no vacation to the region would be complete with a wine tasting tour or two; and Napa Valley has plenty of them to offer that cater to all tastes and lifestyles. One of the area’s most popular tours is the Wine Train, a three-hour roundtrip train ride in and around some of the regions most prolific vineyards. Onboard you can sample anywhere from 30-40 local wines, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and much more.
For the tourist who would rather get outdoors and take on an exciting adventure while vacationing in the region, Adventure Tours may be just right for you. Here you’ll have guided tours of some of the area’s vineyards while hiking, rock climbing, while riding a mountain bike or even in a kayak. If you are feeling a little bit more adventurous, you can even have one of their experts put together a safe yet exciting self guided tour for you to relax and explore the trails of Napa Valley on your own. If you love the outdoors and outdoor activities, this may just end up being the vacation experience of a lifetime.
If you are looking to relax in a limousine with your own private chauffeur, there are plenty of wine tours in the area that offer the comfort of limo tours of the region, as well. Many have a variety of vehicles and options, allowing you to accommodate any size group and any level of luxury. If you desire the high class service that only a professional limousine service can offer, you’ll have more than enough choices here in Napa Valley.
As you can see, Napa Valley really makes every attempt possible to make sure all of our guests are entertained. And in your downtime, the hotels and resorts here will make sure you stay comfortable all night long.
A Wine Lover’s Weekly Guide to $10 Wines – An Australian Sauvignon Blanc
This is our second Australian wine, and our first Sauvignon Blanc. Australia is a major wine producer partly because Australians drink well over twice as much wine per capita as do Americans. The wine reviewed below comes from Victoria, Australia’s smallest mainland state, which is second in the country’s wine production.
Deakin Estate has been growing grapes since the late 1960s but started producing wine only in 1980. The company is named for Australia’s second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin. A University, a suburb of Australia’s capital, and an earthquake fault are also named for this guy. Let’s see if this wine also has a fault.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Deakin Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008 12.5 % alcohol about $ 10
Let’s start with the marketing materials. Tasting Note: Pale straw yellow; grassy, citrus, grapefruit and gooseberry nose; dry, light bodied, zesty on the palate with grapefruit nuances; clean finish. Serving Suggestion: Oysters; chevre; herbed chicken; salads; vegetable soup. And now for my review.
I started by sipping this wine alone. I remarked its lovely acidity and more than moderate length. The first meal started with sweet and sour barbecued turkey wings, and then an overcooked, dry barbecued chicken breast, accompanied by potatoes roasted in chicken fat, and a lime and garlic spicy tomato salsa served as a vegetable. With the turkey wings the gooseberry came forward with more than a touch of sweetness. In conjunction with the chicken the Sauvignon Blanc had a very pleasant lime taste but it was light. As expected, it was quite palate cleansing when dealing with the greasy potatoes. When paired with the salsa, the wine took on a bit of an ethereal quality and wasn’t at all overwhelmed by the medium level of spiciness.
The second meal was a Middle-Eastern specialty ground beef in crushed bulgur jackets cooked in a somewhat acidic sauce containing Swiss chard. This dish is known as Kube or Kibbe. The Sauvignon Blanc was finely acidic with a note of sugar and some citrus. Later I had some high-quality French style lemon pie with a very buttery crust. The wine picked up acidity but unfortunately didn’t display any citrus.
The final meal consisted of a simple omelet. The wine displayed refreshing acidity and tasted of grapefruit that could have been somewhat riper. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t harsh. It picked up strength and a note of sweetness with canned palm hearts and even more so with guacamole. The wine became somewhat unctuous with a note of lime. I finished the meal with cookies covered in dark chocolate (not the real stuff, but a good imitation) and the wine weakened.
I finished the tasting with two cheeses. When paired with a Provolone the wine displayed good acidity and a bit of lime. It was refreshing. Marbled Cheddar increased the Sauvignon Blanc’s acidity and I tasted grapefruit. I was sorry not to have any goat cheese (chevre) the classic pairing for Sauvignon Blanc. I cannot remember when I was sorry not to have a cheese pairing.
Final verdict. I would definitely buy this wine again. It is a bargain. I recently reviewed a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at twice the price that wasn’t nearly as good. I intend to review here other wines from this producer.
Related Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Articles