|
|
Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Tasting Notes
|
2006 Main Street 54% Lake County, 24% Monterey County, 22% Santa Barbara County Cabernet Sauvignon $10 Score: 83.0 The dominant flavor of this light to medium-bodied Cab is black cherry, the oak is subtle, the tannins moderate, and there is a mineral edge to the finish. Pleasant enough, though the least varietally distinct of the Main Street line; it might be mistaken for a Merlot. |
|
2006 Sobon Estate, Amador County, Cabernet Sauvignon $15 Score: 93.0 This brilliant, classic-style California Cab has great balance and nuance, displaying light herbal tones that lend an air of complexity to dried cherry, cassis and subtle oak flavors. The tannins are soft, and it finishes with a blend of mineral and sour Bing cherry. Dirt cheap and world class. Drink now through 2015. |
|
2005 Stromberg Vineyards Dry Creek Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon: $55 Score: 88.0 My first impression was of a wine masked by unbearably bitter tannins. I recorked the bottle and the next day I decanted the wine to give it plenty of aeration and smooth out the tannins. Then the thoroughbred was released. The underlying wine is elegant, showing a concentrated core of blackberry fruit with nuances of basil, and lovely strawberry notes on the finish. To be sure, this is not a terribly complex wine at the moment, but it is a wine with enough structure and fruit to develop into something special over the next decade. As such, it earns 88 points for current drinking, and you can expect great improvement with additional bottle age. |
|
2005 Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: $23 Score: 93.0 This is self-assured winemaking. My 34 years in the wine business convinces me that this is the kind of wine that will develop beautifully. It'll run circles around most of the cult wines demanding three to five times the price. Don't fall for the cult hype -- buy the real thing. This 2005 starts with a core of blackberry and cassis, then builds upon it with subtle nutmeg, hazelnut, cocoa and soil notes, soft tannins, and a long nuanced finish. It's a spectacular wine now, but it's so perfectly proportioned that it will age gracefully for a decade or two. |
|
2006 Rutherford Ranch, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: $18 Score: 88.0 I don't know why this wine reminds me of a lollypop, but it does. It has a candied blackberry flavor, with some light toasty notes and nutmeg that runs through the mid-palate and into the finish. The tannin is soft and it's made for current drinking (ageing won't gain you anything, so enjoy now). |
|
2006 Redwood Creek, California, Cabernet Sauvignon: $8 Score: 83.0 At this price point it's an accomplishment if you can show some varietal character. The varietal character here is expressed as black fruits with an herbal layer that carries through the finish. The fruit and spice flavors are a bit muddled, but it's decent for the price. |
|
2005 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon: $35 Score: 89.0 Fans of full-flavored Amarone will also love this super ripe, extracted Cabernet, with its concentrated blackberry and chocolate flavors backed by oaky nuances, full body and soft tannins. The fruit morphs into raspberry as the finish lingers on the palate. My best guess, after several decades of ageing such wines, is that the fruit will hold as the background flavors evolve into mushroom and soy with about 15 years in the bottle. |
|
2005 Kenwood Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon: $18 Score: 87.0 Here's proof that you can find a superior Cabernet at a reasonable price and a reasonable alcohol. Kenwood's Sonoma County Cabernet shows blueberry, plum and licorice, as well as a faint herbal (I'd say oregano) character that emphatically states "Cabernet." It has soft tannins, yet firm structure, which makes it easy to drink now, yet it's capable of developing for another 5 to 7 years or more. |
|
2006 Round Hill California Cabernet Sauvignon: $9 Score: 84.0 A medium-light bodied wine with aromas and flavors of cherry and raspberry with a hint of black currant. It's all about the fruit, pure and simple. Showing velvety tannins and elegant structure, this is an easy quaffer you can enjoy without much thought to your wallet. P.S. -- only 13% alcohol |
|
2003 Martin Ray Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: $ Score: 91.0 This will remind you of a Rutherford cab -- cherry and cassis, a light mineral background, supple tannin, subtle oak tones. It's a beautiful expression of variety and place. |
|
2004 Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon: $20 Score: 87.0 A big, vibrant wine displaying dark flavors -- tar, bittersweet chocolate, licorice, black currant and dark roasted coffee beans. Full-bodied, with firm structure and soft tannins this wine is designed for current drinking, but should last a decade or more. Acceptable balance at the outer edge of our preferred alcohol limit of 14.5%. |
|
2005 Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $15 Score: 91.0 I'm very impressed with Gallo's bargain priced Sonoma Reserve Cabernet, which serves up rich black currant and blackberry fruit flavors, backed by subtle toast and vanilla from oak ageing. It has great balance and an extraordinarily long finish. |
| Next |