20 September 2013 2003 Rudd Oakville Estate

2003 Rudd Oakville Estate

September 20, 2013 By

2003 Rudd EstateTasted this wine after it’d been decanted for a couple hours – wow. In the glass, it’s deep garnet and one sniff had me hooked. Aromas of mocha, tobacco, dark fruit and stone fruit. In the mouth it’s lush and round and offers great fruit flavors with caramel, leather and blackberry notes. Finish lasts forever.

Simply an elegant, well-structured wine. I feel fortunate this wine was shared with me.

Pairings: Beef, duck, cheese course

Style: Red wine

Grape Type(s): 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Around $90

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
22 June 2013 2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

June 22, 2013 By

2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonI had the California Cabernet Sauvignon at a recent wine pairing dinner and it was big and round and rich with stone fruit aromas and chocolate covered cherry flavors. It was paired with short ribs and côte de boeuf and it was simply decadent.

Pairings: Roasted or grilled meats, cheese course

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $65

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
10 May 2013 2000 Seavey Vineyard Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon

2000 Seavey Vineyard Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon

May 10, 2013 By

2000 Caravina Napa ValleyI uncorked this wine that had been in my cellar the other and simply loved it. This Bordeaux-style wine offers earthy and stone-fruit aromas and a well-balanced, plummy-in-the-mouth Cabernet Sauvignon with all the finesse and elegance a California Cab should have.

Pairings: Grilled meats, pasta with Bolognese sauce, mild blue cheese

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $65

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
25 March 2013 2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage

2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage

March 25, 2013 By

2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat MeritageI uncorked this Napa Valley Cabernet blend to pair with grilled steaks, garlic and Vermont cheddar mashed potatoes and peppercorn sauce and it was simply delicious.

I decanted half of the wine and actually enjoyed it both ways, although, predictably, it softened a bit after 30 minutes in the decanter.

In the glass, it’s inky red. I just knew I’d enjoy it by just looking at it in the glass and getting a sniff of the chocolaty, oaky, dark berry aromas. A good swirl showed legs wrapped around my glass. As far as taste goes, this California wine has delectable blackberry, stone fruit and mocha flavors. The finish is long and dry and I just loved it.

Aged in French oak barrel for over 20 months, this is a big, bold, almost jammy boy that’s right up my alley.

Pairings: Grilled beef, mac and cheese

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec

Region: Napa Valley, California, USA

Price: $50

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
21 September 2012 2008 7 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 7 & 8

2008 7 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 7 & 8

September 21, 2012 By

Viscous inky purple in the glass – just really pretty. Big, bold dark berry aromas jumping out of the glass. In the mouth, this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is jammy with intense blackberry / grape flavors and black licorice and mocha notes. Pleasant dry, tannic finish. Dinner in a glass.

94 Points – Robert Parker.

Pairings:  Beef. Cheese fondue.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $70

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, United States Tagged With: , , , , , ,
17 July 2012 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

July 17, 2012 By

I enjoy Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and when I was invited to go camping (yes, in a luxury RV, but camping nonetheless) I opted to bring the 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with the prime rib eye steaks I was contributing to the festivities.

In the glass, this Alexander Valley wine is deep crimson.  The nose is intensely of dark fruit, pumpkin pie spice, tobacco and black licorice.  In the mouth, it’s jammy, smooth and velvety with ripe berry, vanilla and toasted oak notes.  The finish is medium in length with some pleasing tannins.

A wine to treat yourself to when you buy the very best steaks for the grill.

Pairings:  Grilled prime beef.  Cheese course.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Alexander Valley, California, USA

Around $60

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States Tagged With: , , , , , ,
8 February 2012 2008 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

2008 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

February 8, 2012 By

Beautifully-made Napa Cabernet.  Deep purple in the glass, this wine displays a deep berry, very fragrant nose in the glass.  In the mouth, it’s rich and well-balanced with plummy qualities and traces of coffee and cocoa.

Wish I could put a couple cases in my cellar to drink in 10 years.

Pairings:  Grilled beef. Cheese course.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $60

 

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
31 October 2011 2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

October 31, 2011 By

I had the pleasure to sampling this wine at a recent tasting and much like the other Cabernet Sauvignon is Cakebread’s repertoire, I thought it was outstanding.

In the glass, this Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and onctuous.  Just beautiful.  The nose on the 2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is intense with mashed ripe cherries and dark raspberries.  There are notes of pumpkin pie spices and mocha.  On the palate, it’s bold yet smooth.  There’s dark chocolate, pine needles, juicy stone fruits and loads of ripe fruit.  A complex, rich, opulent wine with rounded tannins that last through a long finish.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $100

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
18 October 2011 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

October 18, 2011 By

Had the opportunity to taste this wine last week at a tasting and it was wonderful.  The 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia is inky in the glass.  On the nose, this wine is exactly where I want California Cab to be: dark berries, mocha and chocolate.  In the mouth, it’s silky and smooth even this early in its life.  There are spicy notes, black licorice and lots of ripe fruit.  The finish is slightly tannic and medium in length.

Just a gorgeous wine that will be amazing with some cellaring.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $159

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
26 July 2011 2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

July 26, 2011 By

Enjoyed this wine with grilled steaks dusted with sea salt and it was super.  It was perhaps even better than the cult California cab I picked as our lead wine, which was more than double its price.

In the glass, the 2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815 is dark purple and very handsome.  In the mouth, it’s juicy ripe berries, vanilla and dark chocolate.  The finish is sweet and long with some tannins that made me crave another sip.

Around $17.

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
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