Cabernet Sauvignon

Wow.  This was excellent.  This is why you let the better California Cabernet's age.  Sure, they are delicious young.  Juicy and full of fruit and energy.  But at age 9, this has all of that still but also starting to show some development.  This wine could easily go another two decades though it will undoubtedly lose fruit and sunshine.  For those lucky enough to have a bunch, it will be fun to watch this.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight dust and saddle leather.  With air, some black cherries come out.  On the palate, this took about an hour or two to really start to

Always nice to try this flagship wine of Chile.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, roasted herbs, and slight roasted meat.  On the palate, this is black cherries with underlying graphite.  The wine had been decanted for a few hours and needed every bit of it.  Medium tannins at that point.  It is deep and powerful but nicely balanced.  Long finish.  Went great with roasted eggplant and other veggies.  There may still be some upside but even if not, this is terrific now and should be at this level for at least another  decade.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with slight aquarium notes.  Also some cherries and black cherries.  On the palate, there is a lot of heat and it seems disjointed.  Tart cherries but brown sugar.  Alcohol on the finish.  Again, this appears to be a poorly stored bottled, but how to know for sure or where the issue is.  Drinkable for sure, but doesn't work with food at this point.  Hopefully, this bottle was not representative.  

The fill was low shoulder.  On touching the cork dropped a few millimeters.  A Durand was used and the cork came out in one, if crumbly, piece.  The wine was decanted for sediment and allowed to breathe for a few minutes.  Purple in color, not showing a lot of age.  The nose is initially dominated by volatile acidity, but that partially blows off leaving dust and cassis.  Much better on the palate.  This still has thick tannins.  A pristine bottle of this would likely be just hitting its stride.  This bottle is advanced but still with plenty of cassis fruit.  OK finish.  An impressive wine

Old bottle are always fun.  Sometimes they work out, other times, not so much.  This bottle had a very low fill.  Below the shoulders and near the top of the label.  The cork was removed using a Durand.  It virtually exploded as it escaped the bottle.  very little integrity.  The bottle was decanted for sediment and pieces of cork, checked right away, but allowed to breathe for a while.  It turned out the wine continued to improve in the decanter for at least 30 minutes as it blew off the bottle stink and gained some strength.  Ruby/brown in color.  The nose has some mushrooms, some fresh m

70% Malbec, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Syrah, 5% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot.  From the family that owns Leoville Poyferre in Bordeaux.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is warm and slightly musty (not in an off way).  Also has some cassis and plums.  On the palate, this drinks like a Bordeaux; fruit, tobacco and earth.  Black raspberries and plums.  Slight tannins.  It has a nice depth and seems to be closing in on maturity.  A bit soft but within reason.  Would work with roasted or grilled meats quite well.  No hurry, but won't get better and probably should be drunk in the next five years.  

This is a wine that many people will like.  It retails for around $15 and is ripe sweet fruit.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis and fresh cut lumber.  On the palate, this is sweet ripe jammy fruit.  Some oak.  It is all about providing an easy to drink, jammy wine.  If that is what one likes, than this is a nice value.  A cocktail wine.  

Glass "cork" is very cool.  Purple in color.  This is a pretty classic Washington Cabernet.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, tobacco and slight bell pepper.  On the palate, this is in a good place if still a bit young.  Cassis layered with tobacco and earth.  Some tannins.  Slightly bitter in a good way.  Nice finish.  This works well with food.  Probably will continue to mature and layer, but not really get better, just different.  Very nice wine right now.  

There are a lot of people who would love this wine for $20.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has sweet cassis with slight coffee.  On the palate, the sweet cassis continues.  Slight tannins.  To some, this wine will be delicious, slightly sweet and great on the back deck.  For others, this will be goopy and cloying and not a wine made for cellaring.  Both sides are probably correct.  

This had some odd label and I am not sure if we ever properly unwrapped it.  In any event, this is one of the best 2011's from Sonoma and indeed, California that I have had.  Deep magenta in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, cedar, and graphite.  There are firm tannins still.  A supple texture.  14.1% alcohol.  Cassis and very concentrated on the palate.  Delicious and no ripeness issues.  Long finish.  Worked well with eharty foods and some pungent cheeses.  There are always new wineries emerging on the scene but this is one to watch.