| Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Report |
We started our first wine tasting of the year off with a bang by tasting ten
different Cabernet Sauvignon’s from around the world. Two from Chile,
two from Australia, one from Bordeaux, France, one from Washington
State and four from California. We taste all of our wines “Blind”, (meaning
we don’t know what wines we are tasting until it’s all over) and I was really
proud of the staff when they were able to start picking out the differences
between the Cabs from Chile, France and California. That takes some
practice, but when you know the tale-tell signs to look for, i.e. bell pepper
flavors in the Chile wines, tobacco in the Bordeaux, etc… it begins to shed
some light on the regions for the wine taster.
There were some huge disappointments this time. The Chateau
Beychevelle 1998 from Bordeaux, France would be the biggest in that
category. I believe that it was not kept very well or that it was just in a
dumb stage in its life whereby we were doing it a disservice by drinking it
too young. Here’s a hint for you savvy wine shoppers, don’t ever buy the
“Manager’s Special” wine selections. In this case, I learned that it was a
manager’s special because it sat on the shelf too long and they couldn’t get
rid of it.
The next biggest disappointment was the Sterling 2000 and we were all
shocked by this! Now anyone that has been drinking wine for a while has
encountered a wine from Sterling before and this winery is responsible for
many solid and consistent quality wines for the finicky wine consumer.
Their 1999 Merlot is remarkable as well as their Sauvignon Blanc (White)
and some of their top flight Cabernet Sauvignons. The only way I could
explain why we did not like the Sterling is that the “2000” vintage (see my
“Vintage” wine tips page) was a real clunker for California Cabernet
Sauvignon wines. I would love to sample the 2001 or 1999 and see if we
have the same results.
As a whole, most of the wines were very palatable and/or pleasing,
however, there were two Cabs that stood out “head and shoulders” above
all the rest. The Cab that scored the highest among our discerning wine
staff was no surprise at all. It was the Raymond Estates Cabernet
Sauvignon Reserve 1999. If you know your California Cabs then you know
that Raymond makes some of the best Cabernets and Merlots in the state
of California and this Cab was no exception as it was nothing short of
delicious. The second place Cab however, was quite a shocker indeed.
Hidden among the all of the $15.00 to $40.00 Cabs was an $8.00 non-
vintage Californian Cab with a crazy label and an even crazier name. Rex
Goliath “Free Range” – Giant 47-Pound Rooster. Hey, I’m not lying, I
couldn’t make up a name like that! This wine was brought by Shawn and
was highly recommended to him by his friend at Mr. G’s wine store. Well
done!
The wines from Chile, Australia, Washington State and the one remaining
California all settled for the middle of the pack with a Chilean wine coming
in third and a Washington State wine surprising us all by coming in fourth.
Well…enough of my yakking! Here are the results:
different Cabernet Sauvignon’s from around the world. Two from Chile,
two from Australia, one from Bordeaux, France, one from Washington
State and four from California. We taste all of our wines “Blind”, (meaning
we don’t know what wines we are tasting until it’s all over) and I was really
proud of the staff when they were able to start picking out the differences
between the Cabs from Chile, France and California. That takes some
practice, but when you know the tale-tell signs to look for, i.e. bell pepper
flavors in the Chile wines, tobacco in the Bordeaux, etc… it begins to shed
some light on the regions for the wine taster.
There were some huge disappointments this time. The Chateau
Beychevelle 1998 from Bordeaux, France would be the biggest in that
category. I believe that it was not kept very well or that it was just in a
dumb stage in its life whereby we were doing it a disservice by drinking it
too young. Here’s a hint for you savvy wine shoppers, don’t ever buy the
“Manager’s Special” wine selections. In this case, I learned that it was a
manager’s special because it sat on the shelf too long and they couldn’t get
rid of it.
The next biggest disappointment was the Sterling 2000 and we were all
shocked by this! Now anyone that has been drinking wine for a while has
encountered a wine from Sterling before and this winery is responsible for
many solid and consistent quality wines for the finicky wine consumer.
Their 1999 Merlot is remarkable as well as their Sauvignon Blanc (White)
and some of their top flight Cabernet Sauvignons. The only way I could
explain why we did not like the Sterling is that the “2000” vintage (see my
“Vintage” wine tips page) was a real clunker for California Cabernet
Sauvignon wines. I would love to sample the 2001 or 1999 and see if we
have the same results.
As a whole, most of the wines were very palatable and/or pleasing,
however, there were two Cabs that stood out “head and shoulders” above
all the rest. The Cab that scored the highest among our discerning wine
staff was no surprise at all. It was the Raymond Estates Cabernet
Sauvignon Reserve 1999. If you know your California Cabs then you know
that Raymond makes some of the best Cabernets and Merlots in the state
of California and this Cab was no exception as it was nothing short of
delicious. The second place Cab however, was quite a shocker indeed.
Hidden among the all of the $15.00 to $40.00 Cabs was an $8.00 non-
vintage Californian Cab with a crazy label and an even crazier name. Rex
Goliath “Free Range” – Giant 47-Pound Rooster. Hey, I’m not lying, I
couldn’t make up a name like that! This wine was brought by Shawn and
was highly recommended to him by his friend at Mr. G’s wine store. Well
done!
The wines from Chile, Australia, Washington State and the one remaining
California all settled for the middle of the pack with a Chilean wine coming
in third and a Washington State wine surprising us all by coming in fourth.
Well…enough of my yakking! Here are the results:
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| Raymond Estates 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Napa Valley, California |
Nose: Lavish new oak and vanilla
interlaced with majestic cherries and
candied raspberries.
Taste: With great complexity, arrogance
and sophistication, this powerhouse of a
wine bowls you over with rich chocolate
and vanilla, young, rough tannins that fade
into a seductive lush red fruit frame and a
finish that lasts a lifetime.
If $35.00 is a lot of money for you to spend
on a wine, you really should buy this wine
anyway and save it for a special occasion.
This was clearly the class of our tasting
and would effortlessly reward anyone's
patience with an additional three to five
years of aging. Drink it with a heartier
dish on our Cabernet Sauvignon Food
Pairing Page or a dreamy box of Godiva
chocolates. Or better yet...drink it without
any food at all!
interlaced with majestic cherries and
candied raspberries.
Taste: With great complexity, arrogance
and sophistication, this powerhouse of a
wine bowls you over with rich chocolate
and vanilla, young, rough tannins that fade
into a seductive lush red fruit frame and a
finish that lasts a lifetime.
If $35.00 is a lot of money for you to spend
on a wine, you really should buy this wine
anyway and save it for a special occasion.
This was clearly the class of our tasting
and would effortlessly reward anyone's
patience with an additional three to five
years of aging. Drink it with a heartier
dish on our Cabernet Sauvignon Food
Pairing Page or a dreamy box of Godiva
chocolates. Or better yet...drink it without
any food at all!
| Between $35.00 and $38.00 |
| Score A |
| HRM Rex-Goliath Free Range - Giant 47pd Rooster Non-Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon - Central Coast, California |
Nose: Spicy cloves, black pepper, cassis
and raspberries.
Taste: Rich and smooth with a long finish
and all along the way there are exotic
spices to become enchanted with like
cloves and a sea of black pepper. Cherry,
raspberry and black currant also find their
way into your palate. A real steal at $8.00.
This was quite a pleasant surprise. No'one
was expecting anything from this wine. It
is quite food friendly and I wouldn't shy
away from pairing this wine with anything
on the Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing
Page. Drink and enjoy!
and raspberries.
Taste: Rich and smooth with a long finish
and all along the way there are exotic
spices to become enchanted with like
cloves and a sea of black pepper. Cherry,
raspberry and black currant also find their
way into your palate. A real steal at $8.00.
This was quite a pleasant surprise. No'one
was expecting anything from this wine. It
is quite food friendly and I wouldn't shy
away from pairing this wine with anything
on the Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing
Page. Drink and enjoy!
| Around $8.00 |
| Score A- |
| Concha y Toro-Marques de Casa Concha 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - D. O. Puente Alto, Chile |
Nose: Lush blueberries with eucalyptus
accents.
Taste: Rich plums and fig abound followed
up by eucalyptus notes and gentle hints of
coffee and very subtle vanilla. Very well
balanced and a sure crowd pleaser!
You almost can't go wrong with a wine from
Concha y Toro. They are one of the best
wineries in Chile. This wine didn't
disappoint either! I would pair it with
anything on the Cabernet Sauvignon Food
Pairing Page with the utmost confidence.
accents.
Taste: Rich plums and fig abound followed
up by eucalyptus notes and gentle hints of
coffee and very subtle vanilla. Very well
balanced and a sure crowd pleaser!
You almost can't go wrong with a wine from
Concha y Toro. They are one of the best
wineries in Chile. This wine didn't
disappoint either! I would pair it with
anything on the Cabernet Sauvignon Food
Pairing Page with the utmost confidence.
| From $13.00 |
| Score B+ |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2000- Columbia Valley, Washington State |
Nose: Eucalyptus and sweet red fruits
with a touch of cinnamon spice.
Taste: This wine leans towards the sweet
side but pleasantly so. Packed with
cherries and other red fruits, it finishes in
style with mint and eucalyptus flavors.
This wine proves that Washington State
can hang with the big boys when it comes
to making wine. I have found that Cabs
from Washington State take on similar
characteristics shown by Chilean wines.
Perhaps this is due to the cool weather.
This wine would be a safe bet with the
lighter meat dishes on the Cabernet
Sauvignon Food Pairing page.
with a touch of cinnamon spice.
Taste: This wine leans towards the sweet
side but pleasantly so. Packed with
cherries and other red fruits, it finishes in
style with mint and eucalyptus flavors.
This wine proves that Washington State
can hang with the big boys when it comes
to making wine. I have found that Cabs
from Washington State take on similar
characteristics shown by Chilean wines.
Perhaps this is due to the cool weather.
This wine would be a safe bet with the
lighter meat dishes on the Cabernet
Sauvignon Food Pairing page.
| Around $15.00 |
| Score B |
| Pellegrini Family Vineyards Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 - Alexander Valley, California |
Nose: Herbal accents with green bell
pepper showing spicy red fruits.
Taste: Very well balanced on the palate
with nice ringing acidity. Loads of black
currant and cassis with a luscious black
cherry finish.
This is an extremely well made wine. It
was a bit unusual in that some of the
flavors found in the wine were not true to
the region it comes from. The 2000
vintage was not a particularly good year
for California Cabs and maybe that
influenced the way this wine tastes
greatly. All in all though, it was very well
rounded and a sure thing for your next
steak dinner.
pepper showing spicy red fruits.
Taste: Very well balanced on the palate
with nice ringing acidity. Loads of black
currant and cassis with a luscious black
cherry finish.
This is an extremely well made wine. It
was a bit unusual in that some of the
flavors found in the wine were not true to
the region it comes from. The 2000
vintage was not a particularly good year
for California Cabs and maybe that
influenced the way this wine tastes
greatly. All in all though, it was very well
rounded and a sure thing for your next
steak dinner.
| Between $18.00 and $20.00 |
| Score B |
| Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - Australia |
Nose: Musty wood aromas followed up
with decadent cherry blossoms.
Taste: This thin-bodied, rust colored cab
is dry with plenty of cherry flavors to
compliment it's spicy wood characteristics.
This wine is a good value for the money.
Serve it with dark meats that are not
prepared in heavy sauces or hard cheeses.
with decadent cherry blossoms.
Taste: This thin-bodied, rust colored cab
is dry with plenty of cherry flavors to
compliment it's spicy wood characteristics.
This wine is a good value for the money.
Serve it with dark meats that are not
prepared in heavy sauces or hard cheeses.
| From $8.00 to $11.00 |
| Score B |
| Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - Colchagua, Chile |
Nose: Large waves of herbal accents
and green leafy vegetables.
Taste: There are bell pepper flavors
upfront and center that are followed ever
so delicately by candied red fruits that
show off this light red Cabernet's
playfullness.
This winery is owned by the world
famous First Growth Bordeax family,
Lafite Rothschild and while not on par
with it's more famous cousin, this winery
shows a lot of promise. This wine is very
typical of the wines being produced in
Chile right now. I'd look for great
improvements to be made in the future
with their wines, but in the meantime,
enjoy this wine and it's very affordable
price while you still can! This is a big
red meat wine!
and green leafy vegetables.
Taste: There are bell pepper flavors
upfront and center that are followed ever
so delicately by candied red fruits that
show off this light red Cabernet's
playfullness.
This winery is owned by the world
famous First Growth Bordeax family,
Lafite Rothschild and while not on par
with it's more famous cousin, this winery
shows a lot of promise. This wine is very
typical of the wines being produced in
Chile right now. I'd look for great
improvements to be made in the future
with their wines, but in the meantime,
enjoy this wine and it's very affordable
price while you still can! This is a big
red meat wine!
| Around $9.00 |
| Score B |
| Wolf Blass President's Selection 2000 - Australia |
Nose: Dominating young oak and
sawdust that overpowers the senses.
Taste: This wine is brimming with
acidity from the tart cherry flavors that
keep this wine off balance. Very sharp
and penetrating.
At around twice the price as the Wolf
Blass Yellow Label, I could not justify
the price difference between the wines.
Pair this wine with the meat items in our
Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing Page
that are prepared in heavy or heartier
sauces.
sawdust that overpowers the senses.
Taste: This wine is brimming with
acidity from the tart cherry flavors that
keep this wine off balance. Very sharp
and penetrating.
At around twice the price as the Wolf
Blass Yellow Label, I could not justify
the price difference between the wines.
Pair this wine with the meat items in our
Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing Page
that are prepared in heavy or heartier
sauces.
| Between $18.00 and $20.00 |
| Score B- |
| Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 - Napa Valley, California |
Nose: Sweet figs with endless oak and
vanilla aromas.
Taste: With flavors that are
unconventional for a Cabernet
Sauvignon, like strawberry licorace,
figs and raspberry, this sweet and fruity
wine lacks the acidic backbone it takes
to become a great wine.
Don't give up on Sterling, they are too
good of a winery to forget entirely.
Instead, try a better vintage, say a
1999 or 2001. Those vintages should
show the brilliance that many Sterling
wines have.
vanilla aromas.
Taste: With flavors that are
unconventional for a Cabernet
Sauvignon, like strawberry licorace,
figs and raspberry, this sweet and fruity
wine lacks the acidic backbone it takes
to become a great wine.
Don't give up on Sterling, they are too
good of a winery to forget entirely.
Instead, try a better vintage, say a
1999 or 2001. Those vintages should
show the brilliance that many Sterling
wines have.
| From $20.00 to $25.00 |
| Score B- |
| Chateau Beychevelle 1998 - A.O.C. Saint Julien, Bordeaux, France |
Nose: Cigar box with heavy tobacco
accents and nuances of black currants,
cassis, mushrooms and truffles.
Taste: Somewhat watery and diluted.
This wine is very green and earthy with
teeth staining tobacco and leather. The
more it breathes, the better it gets.
Most of the flavor, ironically enough, is
in the finish. Tons of rustic tannins that
scream, "You opened me too early!".
This wine was not ready to drink yet.
It also took a tremendous amount of
time to open up. At first, it throws off a
horrible odor, but as it breathes and
settles down, it really has quite an
interesting nose and some complex
tastes. Alas, I do believe that this
fourth growth Bordeaux has made
better vintages than this though. This
wine would be great with strong
flavored cheeses and hearty steaks.
accents and nuances of black currants,
cassis, mushrooms and truffles.
Taste: Somewhat watery and diluted.
This wine is very green and earthy with
teeth staining tobacco and leather. The
more it breathes, the better it gets.
Most of the flavor, ironically enough, is
in the finish. Tons of rustic tannins that
scream, "You opened me too early!".
This wine was not ready to drink yet.
It also took a tremendous amount of
time to open up. At first, it throws off a
horrible odor, but as it breathes and
settles down, it really has quite an
interesting nose and some complex
tastes. Alas, I do believe that this
fourth growth Bordeaux has made
better vintages than this though. This
wine would be great with strong
flavored cheeses and hearty steaks.
| Between $37.00 and $55.00 |
| Score C+ |