Cabernet Sauvignon

This is an excellent value in Napa Cabernet.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice and char.  Full bodied with a powerful texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of cassis with some underlying char.  Nice depth.  This is still very young and needs another five to seven years to approach maturity.  It should be good for twelve to fifteen after that.  Drinks well on its own and will work well with braised meats.  

Expectations and hopes.  Its hard not to have them but they do affect ones enjoyment of wine.  This was an excellent wine but for whatever reason, vintage, cork, etc., was not up to expectations.  A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, spice and some cherries.  On the palate, this is amazingly integrated and smooth.  Cassis with some underlying spice.  Not as deep nor complex as this wine can get in other vintages.  That said, it drinks so easily, the bottle is drained quickly.  I

A friend brought this back a couple years ago from a trip he took with his wife to China.  Chateau Changyu AFIP Global Beijing is a joint venture of China, America, Italy, Portugal and other countries.   The chateau's purpose is apparently divided into winemaking, tourism, training and leisure.

Kagor is a fortified dessert wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes.  It  originated as a sacramental wine for use in the Russian Orthodox Church.  Peter the Great had developed a taste for Cahors wines and started importing them in bulk. The Russian clergy was so impressed with its blood-red color (reminiscent of Christ's blood) that the Holy Synod adopted Cahors as a preferred wine for sacraments in 1733. Kagor is a modern type of "Cahors" developed for Prince Lev Golitsyn in the late 19th century.

A more elegant side of a Napa blends but outstanding.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, slight cigar, black cherries and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, moderate tannins.  Great texture.  This is young-ish but delicious and showing some complexity.  cassis and black cherry fruit that is concentrated and unwinds in the glass.  Long finish.  Give this another five years and it should be nearing in on maturity.  It should last another twenty after that.  Still some upside on this wine.  Great on its own or with food.  A steak or brisket would be a nice match.  

Still young but drinking nicely.  Inky purple, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, char, and spice.  A slight horsey note.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Lush, velvety texture.  Lots of cassis with some spice and smoke.  Long finish.  Firm tannins.  This needs another five to seven more years to maturity and should drink well for fifteen to  twenty after that.  

This is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot from Washington state.  It is a nice value in Cabernet.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cassis and an ash quality that is interesting.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice cassis fruit.  Medium tannins.  Nice finish.  This is a solid, easy drinking wine that will work well with steaks, roasted chicken or all but the lightest foods.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

At a recent tasting of United Ink Wines, this was the runaway crowd favorite.  It is a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Syrah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington state.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, chocolate and slight black raspberry.  Mice mouthfeel.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, nice black raspberry and black cherries fruit with some chocolate.  Firm tannins on the finish.  This is delicious.  It drinks (easy).  Great on its own, this would be great with a burger or other foods off the grill.  Drink over the next five year

This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Shiraz, Feteasca Neagra from Romania.  It is quite a nice wine and good value for a serious red wine.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, sour cherries, spices and some dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, cherries, chocolate with good acidity.  This is complex, deep with some layering that unwind in the glass.  It may still benefit from a few more years of cellaring but should drink well for another ten years.  This drinks well on i