Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a Bordeaux styled blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Carmenere, 11% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc from Chile.  It is also a very nice value for the quality.  Purple at the core with a ruby rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens up to cassis, coffee and spice.  Nothing green on the nose.  On the palate, black cherries, cassis, smoke and fresh tobacco.  Medium tannins.  Softer texture.  This is surprisingly open right from the start.  There is a nice complexity.  It drinks easily now and should continue for the next ten to twelve years.  A nice m

This is a great value wine from Chile.  The name Escudo Rojo is a literal Spanish translation of the Rothschild name.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, with slight wintergreen and rosemary.  Classic Chilean Cabernet notes.  Full bodied with big fruit.  On the palate, the cassis comes thru along with smoke and some black cherries.  Firm tannins.  Some depth.  This may improve a bit, it needs a few more years to develop to reach peak, and should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  Hard to find a better Cab for under $20.  

Certainly one of the more iconic names in Cabernet and in Napa.  And, 2018 was a stellar vintage in Napa.  This Cab proves you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a high quality Cab if you buy from good producers and in good vintages.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, spic and chocolate.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, black raspberries and oak.  This is young and the oak will integrate with time.  It is ripe but not overdone.  The bottle list 14.5% but some promotional information lists 15.1% abv.  Firm tannins.  Nice finish. 

This is a Bordeaux blend from Israel of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Petite Verdot.  It is one of the more expensive bottlings coming out of Israel.  It is a very nice wine but whether it is worth the money is another question.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is earthy with black cherries, some cassis, slight bell pepper and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru with a streak of bell pepper over and earthy/charred bed.  It drinks like classic Bordeaux.  Nice balance.  Light tannins.  Solid finish.  This seems to be at peak and should be

This bottle is drinking quite well at age 18 despite not being stored immaculately.  A friend brought this over and had been keeping since buying at the winery.  She does not have a wine cellar and has moved a couple of times, so our hopes were guarded.  It drank very well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, graphite, and a bit of chocolate.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Tannins are all resolved.  Layers of black cherry fruit with some dark chocolate and slight earthiness.  Good finish.  These probably should be consumed over the next

A dangerous vintage for this wine as they had winery wide issues with cork taint in the late 80's.  This bottle, however, showed very well.  Pop and pour, it took about 30 minutes to really get going.  After that it kept opening in stages for the next couple hours.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, leather, a slight horse note and with air, cigar box.  On the palate, this is fresh and drinking well.  Tannins are pretty much resolved.  Layers of fruit and earth unwind in the glass.  Good finish.  I would drink these sooner than later

Very nice showing for this wine.  Pop and pour, it took about 30 minutes to open up and then kept improving over the next couple of hours.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, cigar box, slight funk.  On the palate, this is full bodied.

This is a pretty classic Napa Cab more in the old school style.  The label lists 14.3% ABV.  Not the wine if you are looking for a big fruit bomb, it is much more restrained.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, minerality, slight herbal notes and coffee.  On the palate, this is medium to full bodied.  Cassis fruit over roasted herbs with slight char.  Nice finish.  This is young and might improve a bit with some ageing.  It should continue to mature for another five to seven years and be good for another five to seven more after that.  It will

This comes in a 3 liter box and before anyone scoffs, boxed wine is one of the best containers for drinking wine that doesn't need ageing.  It keeps an open "bottle' good for a long time.  This is a great value for the person who wants a glass of a hearty red and might drink the box over the course of a month.  The box doesn't carry a vintage designation but this is from the 2019 harvest.  Purple/ruby in color.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries and slight bitter boysenberry note.  On the palate, this isn't super ripe but there aren't any green flavors

This has held up quite well.  It is mature and drinking very well right now.  Deep ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose has black cherries, slight mint, spice and slight char.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Black cherries with underlying char.  Some complexity.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This should probably be consumed in the next five to seven years.  It will work well with roasted meats or veggies.