Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa, Red wine, Rutherford

Provenance Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Vera C.

Provenance Cab 2005A
Winemaker: Chris Cooney
Grape: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Verdot
Region: Rutherford, Napa, California

The majority of fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from 3 vineyards in Napa, Rutherford appellation. Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, located on the eastern side and Provenance and Hewitt estate vineyards on the west side. To complement this blend, the winemaker used a small percentage of selected grapes from vineyards in the Calistoga and Napa Valley.

Grapes were handpicked, gently de-stemmed and cold soaked for a few days prior to slow fermentation, which helped to develop opulent color and flavor. The wine was then pressed and transferred to small oak barrels. Provenance Cabernet aged for 18 months in French and American oak.

Tasting notes:
Dark ruby wine has the aroma of black and wild berries with slight notes of espresso. It opens on the palate with bright fruit layered with dark bitter chocolate and a typical, dusty cocoa sensation of the unique Rutherford terroire.

Big in body, yet very delicate Cabernet, just the way I like it:). Gentle tannins make it approachable and great for a food pairing. Balanced, complex, not overpowered with oak. Generous, with a long finish. Lovely wine for very reasonable price from premium Cabernet location!

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 40.00

Ideal food pairing:
Grilled steak, roast beef, roasted leg of lamb, Fillet Mignon or any robust dark meat meals

Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Great wines under $10, Red blends, Red wine, Syrah/Shiraz

Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Shiraz / Cabernet 2007

Vera C.


Chief Winemaker: Peter Gago
Grape: 75% Shiraz, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale

Penfolds was founded in 1844 by Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold, who emigrated to South Australia from England. He planted vine cuttings from the south of France and opened his medical practice. He always believed in medicinal value of the wine.

The demand for his wines soon outpaced his medical practice and Dr. Penfold focused on creating some finest wines in the world. Penfolds and the Australian wine industry changed dramatically in 1950, when Max Schubert arrived. He is the person behind mastering the famous Penfolds Grange and Bin wines. During his time Penfolds was established as Australia’s premier winery.

For years now they produce some of the best collectible wines that could last several decades – like Grange (about $250.00 a bottle), Bin 707, Bin 389 and more. One of my customers once said that “There is nothing special about expensive bottle of wine. If I spent $100 per bottle, it better taste good! What is real fun is to find is that one bottle of wine that cost $10 but taste like $30.”

The super-value Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet could be one of those wines. It is an extremely well crafted bottle of wine, retails about under $10.00 a bottle. This vintage received 88 points review from Wine Advocate and it has been consistent in high quality over the years.

2007 Shiraz Cabernet blend was aged in seasoned oak for 8 months.

Do not hesitate to try any of the Penfolds wines. You will be in for a treat.

Tasting notes:
Purple colored, it doesn’t seem to have a lot of body. You can smell a lot of ripe red fruit, plum and blueberry, with a light hint of spice. On the palate you taste baked red plum with intense ripe cherry and other red fruit flavors. Long finish with a dust of dark bitter chocolate. Incredible value!

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 10.00

Ideal food pairing:
spicy dishes, pork roast, barbecue, ribs, hamburgers and more

Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Paso Roble, Red wine

Edna Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Vera C.


Winemaker: Harry Hansen
Grapes: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot
Region: Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California

A majority of grapes came from small, family-run vineyards in Paso Robles. Situated on rolling hillsides, where the soils are rocky and well drained, these vineyards have ideal conditions for rich, flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, yet smooth is the nickname for Edna Valley Cabernet.

“Inside a lot of winemakers, there’s a yearning to do something artistic,” says Harry, the winemaker of Edna Valley wines.”I can’t sketch or do sculpture, but I can get the same response from a glass of wine as an artist gets from a beautiful painting. This is the perfect creative outlet for those us who are analytical, left-brain types.”

The 2007 vintage with a moderate temperatures allowed the wines enough time to ripen and gain an additional intensity. Grapes were well developed, with small berries and concentrated flavor. The wine aged for 12 to 14 months in American and French oak barrels.

Tasting notes:
Full flavor of dark fruits and cocoa, with a hint of vanilla oak. Lovely and smooth tannins perfectly balanced with oak to add complexity to the whole composition. Not at all robust, but very, very impressive.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 15.00

Ideal food pairing:
Beef or lamb burger, Fillet Mignon with creamy mushroom sauce or herb butter, Gordon blue, aged cheeses

Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Paso Roble, Red wine

Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Vera C.

Winemaker: Jason Clark Diefenderfer
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Roble, California

This is another example how purchased fruit from can result in a great value, high quality red wine. Treana Vinery works closely with over 50 small family farmers that grow superior quality grapes.

Paso Roble region is known for its ripe fruit flavors and supple tannins. Treana produce their signature wines Treana Red and White. Buying fruit allows them to offer high quality Cabernet Sauvignon from the same region, but more affordable to the consumer.

Although very hot and dry season (2nd year in the row), wine developed a good acidity thanks to cold nights which is the most important element for well balanced flavors. The wine is barreled down by individual vineyard lots in French and American oak, and blended three months before bottling.

Tasting notes:
Aroma of red fruit right up front followed by silky tannins and berry taste with a hint of chocolate notes. Rich yet not overwhelming, with just about right amount of oak to support the wine. The longer is the bottle open, the longer finish develops in your mouth.

Great example of Paso Roble region without the usual high price tag.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Retail price: under $ 15.00 !!

Ideal food pairing:
Pork chops with onions and peppers, grilled meats, soft, medium aged cheeses, Beef Bourguignon, Mexican Style Rice and Beans

Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa, Red wine

Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Vera C.

Winemaker: Dave Guffy Hess Veeder Cab bottle 002
Grape: 86 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 1% Merlot and Petite Verdot
Region: Napa, Mount Veeder

See other wines from this producer:
Hess Select Chardonnay
Hess Collection Chardonnay Su’skol

Wine Enthusiast: 92 points

Donald Hess, the founder of Hess Collection winery, was attracted to Mount Veeder for its elevation and unique mountain climate.

Such a combination would yield the best grapes to produce great wines, he believed. His philosophy “nurture the land, return what you take” resulted in the commitment that all Hess estate vineyards are sustainably farmed.

Mount Veeder truly is unique among Napa’s mountain districts for having the highest elevation, coolest growing season and geologically diverse soils. Hess Collection Mount Veeder wines are an expression of this special mountain climate they come from and are distinguished for their complexity, structure and elegance.

2006 vintage was aged in 50% new French oak for 18 months.

Tasting notes:
Rich aroma of dark berries is followed by black cherries, cedar and hint of vanilla from new oak barrels. Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon will give you a beautiful satisfaction for its complexity, perfect balance of tannins and softness, resulting in smooth, long finish.

I have tasted quite a few vintages of this wine and it never disappointed me. It is, without doubts, one of the best valued Napa (single vineyard) Cabernet of this quality. Although perfectly drinkable now, this Cab will age gracefully for at least another seven-ten years.

Dry – Off dry – Medium sweet – Sweet
Light – Medium – Full body
No oak – Aged in oak
Sustainable farmed
Collectible
Retail price: under $ 30.00

Ideal food pairing:
Steak, grilled barbeque meats, grilled beef, bitter chocolate, aged cheeses