Montes - 2006 Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère

I've been drinking wines from Montes in Chile for many years now. They have many different tiers of wines.  I've personally gone back to those in the Alpha and Classic series most often. But I've found that there is value to be had in each of their categories.  In addition to the various tiers they also have properties in other countries, under their umbrella, that produce wine. Over the next couple of days I'll look at two wines from Montes in Chile and two from Kaiken their Argentine operation. First up is a blend. The 2006 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon/Carménère is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carménère. 70% of the wine was separately aged in American oak for 6 months. This wine, is one of three, in the Montes Limited Selection series Each of them has a suggested retail price of $17.

Cedar and blackberry notes are prominent in the nose of this wine. Throughout the palate red and black berry fruit notes star alongside, subtle but present, spice notes. Sweet dark chocolate leads the finish, followed by espresso, black pepper and earth notes. The finish is above average in length. This offering is well balanced with good acidity.

I found this wine to be fairly open and accessible from the word go. But it really opened up, and hit a new plateau of expressiveness, after about 45 minutes in the decanter. What I like best about this wine is how the 2 components in the blend work off of each other. The Cabernet provides structure and bright berry fruit. The Carménère softens things up and chips in a round, lush, slightly jammy mouth-feel. Combined together, they form a nice package. This offering should drink well for the next 4-5 years at minimum. While the retail price is $17, wine-searcher shows that it's often available for less than $15.  It pairs well with full flavored foods and drinks nicely on it's own. Taking everything into account, this is a pretty nice value.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Pedroncelli - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Pedroncelli Winery in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley has been around since 1927. In all that time they're still a family business. In today's world of corporate takeovers, the wine industry has not gone unaffected. Yet Pedroncelli keeps on keeping on generation after generation. Today I'll look at one of their Cabernet Sauvignon's.

The 2006 Pedroncelli Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from all Estate, Dry Creek fruit. This wine is composed of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot. This wine was aged in oak for 12 months. The suggested retail price is $15.

Blueberry and cherry along with undertones of cedar form the core of this Cabernet's nose. Subtle eucalyptus also creeps in and makes its presence known. Throughout the palate a rich core of berry and plum fruit notes are the stars. The finish shows black tea, mineral notes and close spice. The tannins are firm but approachable and this wine has fine acidity and balance. This wine will pair with a wider range of foods than the average Cabernet Sauvignon.

What I like best about this 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Pedroncelli is how smooth and accessible it is right now. Its lush mouth-feel makes it easy to drink. Meanwhile it still has a firm enough structure to hold onto and drink nicely for the next 3-4 years. This wine is a fine example of some of the offerings coming out of Dry Creek Valley.

Please Note:

Dry Creek Valley has been a amongst my favorite regions for many years. With that in mind, along with a business partner and friend, I've now launched Drink Dry Creek. That site will be dedicated exclusively to everything Dry Creek Valley. Please check it out. Gabe's View, will of course continue forward in the same manner it has in the past.

Del Carlo Winery - 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Having tasted and enjoyed the Del Carlo Zinfandel a few months ago I was looking forward to seeing how their Cabernet Sauvignon was. After Zinfandel, Cabernet is the varietal from Dry Creek Valley that first comes to mind. The better Cabernets from this region have unique characteristics which display a real sense of place. The 2005 Del Carlo Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal. This offering was aged in new French oak for 18 months. Just 240 cases of this wine were made and it sells for $45. This wine was just released last month.

Plum, cedar and vanilla notes dominate a fragrant nose. From the very first sip, red fruit, particularly cherry notes lead the palate. These are followed by tobacco, leather and dark, dusty baker's chocolate characteristics. Excellent mineral notes lead the finish which also has classic Dry Creek dust, bramble, earth and copious spice elements. This wine has good acidity and solid but approachable tannins. An hour in the decanter is recommended for this wine to drink to its potential right now. A marbled steak is also recommended as a classic match.

What stood out to me most about this wine is the solid core of berry fruit that shines throughout the palate. Once the wine opens up the fruit is rich and bright but never over the top and bombastic. This Cabernet Sauvignon is both another solid effort from Del Carlo Winery as well as a fine example of Dry Creek. I for one plan to keep my eye on their future releases and I recommend that you do too.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog. 

Don Valentin Bianchi Lacrado 2005

Over the last year I've revisited the wines of Valentin Bianchi on several occasions. There are a couple of reasons for that. For one, Argentine wines are of particular interest to me.  Additionally I have found the Valentin Bianchi wines to be well made and good values across different tiers and price levels. Today I'll look at one of their blends. The 2005 Don Valentin Bianchi Lacrado is a composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Malbec (33%), and Merlot (33%). This offering sees no wood and is aged completely in stainless steel, then filtered and bottled. The suggested retail price for this wine is $11.99.

I found the nose of this wine to be exceedingly fragrant. Plum, anise and subtle lavender notes amomgst the most prominent characteristics. While this wine is slightly tight out of the bottle, it opens up quickly. 30 minutes in the decanter really does the trick.  The palate of this blend mixes in an impressive smoothness for it's price range with some rustic charm that brings to mind old world field blends. Berry characteristics abound along with some light coffee notes on the finish as well as  earth and pepper spice. It's a rich, mouth-filling wine, offering plenty of drinking pleasure. This will match nicely with grilled meats. Chorizo comes to mind as a perfect accompaniment. Aged, better, Parmesan cheese would work nicely as well.

This is a wine made to drink in it's youth. It's priced to be affordable everyday. Another solid value from Valentin Bianchi.

Imported by Quintessential Wines

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Ravenswood - 3 Sonoma County Wines

Intent is something that I always consider when tasting wine. What was the producer looking to do when they created the offerings in question? All wines are certainly not created equally and they should be looked at through the lens of their purpose. With that said today I'm looking at three releases from Ravensood in Sonoma. They're best known for Zinfandel of course. The bevy of selections they offer in that category ranges from single vineyard offerings to selections made from fruit sourced state wide. The selections I'm covering today are part of their County series. First up is the 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay. This wine is 97% Chardonnay and 3% Muscat. It was aged for 12 months in French oak, 40% of it was new. 25,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

The nose of this Chardonnay is quite expressive, showing pineapple, vanilla, hazelnut and hints of spice.The palate is loaded with apple and pear notes along with an underlying touch of citrus peel. The finish features apple pie crust notes, lots of nutmeg, clove, allspice and a touch of creamy butter and toast. This is a clean, crisp wine with good acidity and nice balance. It shows fine varietal character and is well proportioned.

The 2006 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is 95% varietal, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. This offering spent 22 months in French oak, 30% of it new. 14,000 cases of this Cabernet were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

A touch of eucalyptus and cassis underscore a nose filled with rich berry fruit aromas. The palate is filled with a solid core of many of those same berry fruit elements. Black and red cherry notes dominate and are accompanied by vanilla spice notes. Copious black tea, earth, bramble, allspice, and star anise emerge and star in the finish which is more than lengthy enough for the price range of this wine. This wine has firm but approachable tannins and good acidity.

The last wine today is the 2005 Sonoma County Syrah. This wine is 87% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 5% Carignane, and 3% Viognier. The wine spent between 20 and 24 months in French oak, 30% of it new. 11,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.

Plum and boysenberry notes dominate the nose of this Syrah along with lighter but present cedar and vanilla notes. Berry fruit is accompanied by black tea, white pepper  and dusty baker's chocolate throughout the palate. Bramble, continued berry fruit along with earth and spice notes make up a lingering finish. This wine has more in common style-wise with the of world Syrah than most new world Syrah.

What I like about these three wines from Ravenswood is that they each provide good varietal character as well as balance and proportion. They're well made wines that sell for a reasonable price. While the suggested retail price for each of these is $15, they are often available for closer to $11. For that price these are fine for everyday drinking. The Cabernet Sauvignon seems to have the legs for some aging. It should improve in the short term and drink well for at least 5 or 6 years after that. A pretty good achievement for an everyday, widely available wine.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

Faust - 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

For more than ten vintages Quintessa in Napa Valley has been producing a Bordeaux style blend that does an excellent job of showing off its Rutherford lineage. A few years back they also started producing Faust. Faust is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine with a Napa Valley appellation. The 2005 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon is 77% varietal. 18% is Merlot and the balance is Cabernet Franc. Fruit was sourced in Rutherford and a vineyard south of Atlas Peak that will be called Tulocay in the future. The wine was aged in French oak for 18 months. 30% of it was new and the balance was one year old. The suggested retail price for this wine is $55.

Cherry, cedar and vanilla notes are prominent in the nose. From the very first sip and throughout the palate, there is a ton of berry fruit underscored by lighter vanilla notes. Earth, bramble, spice and mineral notes emerge in the mid-palate and continue through the finish which is long, lingering and incredibly smooth in nature. Throw in good tannic structure plus solid acidity and you have a classic example of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This offering is a textbook wine to pair with Prime Rib.

What I like best about this wine is that it's bigger, firmer and more structured than the average 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet. Many of the 2005's I've tasted are on the softer side. The Faust is certainly approachable now, especially after an hour in the decanter, but it's got the structure for mid-term aging too. I tasted this wine a second time after it had been open for 24 hours. It held up quite well.

This wine isn't inexpensive. However there are many Napa Cabernet's in this price range that aren't as tasty or well made as the 2005 Faust. So if you're inclined to spend the bucks on a 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet, here's a fine example.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

Owl Ridge Wines - 2005 Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

The fourth wine I'm looking at that was made by winemaker Joe Otos is another Cabernet Sauvignon from Owl Ridge Wines. This time the fruit is from Dry Creek Valley. While Zinfandel is the first thing most people think of when it comes to this appellation, there are actually more acres of Cabernet Sauvignon under vine. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced at the T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard. The wine was aged in all French oak, 40% of it new. 773 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.

Cassis, plum and blackberry fill the nose of this Cabernet. I was hit with a touch of Eucalyptus on the first sip followed by a ton of rich, mouth-filling berry fruit. In the mid-palate a hint of chicory comes put accompanied by tobacco and dust that is so typical of Dry Creek. Black tea notes emerge as a lead in to the finish which is filled with crushed cherries, white pepper and vanilla. Sweet chocolate notes slither in and out of the palate making their presence known from time to time. This wine has approachable tannins and good acidity.

My favorite component of this wine is the rich berry fruit that really comes to the forefront throughout the palate. Time in the decanter allowed this wine to express itself fully. Once it opened up a good bit of earthiness exposed itself that had previously been hidden. As with the other wines I've looked at made by Joe Otos this is lovely expression of the varietal. I look forward to keeping up with his wine-making in the future.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

Owl Ridge Wines - 2005 Brigden Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

A couple of weeks back I looked at some Pinot Noir's from Willowbrook Cellars. Joe Otos is the winemaker for those wines. He's also the person who makes the two Cabernet Sauvignons I'm looking at today and tomorrow. These two Cabernet's are from Owl Ridge Wines. Their focus is to produce Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County fruit. The Owl Ridge Wines 2005 Cabernet was produced from fruit sourced at Brigden Vineyard. That vineyard is located in the hills between Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley's Spring Mountain. This wine was aged for almost two years in French oak, 40% of it new. 256 cases of this Cabernet Sauvignon were produced and the suggested retail price is $48.

This Cabernet opens with a big, fragrant nose full of violets. Blueberry and blackberry fruit dominate the palate, underscored by dark, dusty baker's chocolate. Around the mid-palate cherry notes emerge and stay in play through the finish. Speaking of which, the finish is impressively long, lingering and memorable, featuring earth, spice (most notably white pepper), and mocha notes. This wine has firm but approachable tannins and good acidity. This is a very well built wine that lets the fruit shine on through. A steak would be an excellent match for this Cabernet.

The finish is what most impressed me about this wine. It goes on for quite a long time. While this Cabernet is drinking well now, especially after a solid hour in the decanter, it should improve for some time. My bet is that it shows positive evolution over the next 3-5 years and drinks well for 5 or so after that. The Brigden Vineyard Cabernet from Owl Ridge Wines is an excellent effort well worth the price. This is the sort of wine to consider for your holiday meal.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Rosenblum - 2006 Vintner's Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon

Rosenblum Cellars makes a wide array of wines. Some are vineyard designated, some are region specific. Most people probably know them best for their Vintner's Cuvee Zinfandel which is widely available, and has been a positive value vintage after vintage for many years now. They've recently expanded that series and I'm looking at a couple of those wines, The 2006 Vintner's Cuvee from Rosenblum Cellars was made from fruit sourced from throughout California. The suggested retail price for this wine is $12. As with the Chardonnay it can often be found for $10 or less.

Black cherry, hints of cigar and emerging jam fruit elements make up the nose of this wine. Throughout the palate blackberry, cassis and white pepper are prominent. The finish has continued hints of each along with emerging dust and earth. This wine has light tannins and fair acidity. It'll match with lighter meats, pasta or a slice of pizza.

What I like best about this wine is how smooth it is for its price category. The elements of fruit sourced from throughout the state make themselves known in different aspects of this wine. For $12 or less this wine has enough varietal character and complexity to keep things interesting. Its wide availability makes it a safe bet to locate.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog

Gnarly Head - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Gnarly Head Cellars makes a handful of wines. I looked at their Zinfandels in the past and found them to serve the intent they seemed to be aimed at. So when their Cabernet Sauvignon found its way to my desk I was intrigued to see what it was all about. The 2006 Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced in Mendocino, Paso Robles, Monterey and Lodi. Small amounts of Petite Sirah and Malbec, both from Lodi, are blended in. 100,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $12.

Blackberries and dark plum, underscored by cedar highlight the nose of this Cabernet. The palate is diverse and layered featuring hints of jam as well as chicory and mocha notes. It has a fairly rich mid-palate which packs a ton of flavor into a modestly priced package. The tannins in this wine are firm but approachable. The finish is loaded with earth and spice notes, particularly black pepper which is abundant. While this wine will match well with a burger or other meats I found I liked it best with dark chocolate.

One of the standouts about this Cabernet is that it has none of the green vegetal notes that are sometimes associated with Cabernet Sauvignon in this price category.

When 100,000 cases of a wine are produced it's a clear sign that the intent is to be considered as an everyday drinker or house wine. With the holidays coming up, this is the sort of wine I keep a few bottles of around in gift bags. You never know when someone is going to stop by unexpectedly and drop off a little holiday cheer. It can be hard to know exactly how to reciprocate those Holiday gifts you never saw coming. Having a few bottles of wine in the cellar in gift bags makes it easy to give right back. If you go with the Gnarly Head Cabernet, I'd suggest slipping a bar of dark chocolate in that gift bag too. They go really well together and it'll seem like a well planned present. Since this wine is commonly available for around $10 it's an affordable gift idea too.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog

Rodney Strong - 2005 Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

One of the things I take into account when considering a wine is intent. What was the goal set out for that particular offering and was it achieved? Rodney Strong makes a wide range of wines in many price categories. Wines with a suggested retail price under $25 make up a substantial number of their offerings each year. Many of those in fact are under $20. So it's clear they're serving the everyday market with many of their wines. However the wine I'm looking at today is from their reserve line. The 2005 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was produced from Alexander Valley fruit. This selection is 100% varietal. It spent 24 months in a combination of French (93%) and American (7%) oak barrels. The suggested retail price for this Cabernet is $50.

Casis, cedar, vanilla and leather notes fill the nose of the Alexander Valley designated Cabernet along with subtle tobacco. Taking the first sip it's apparent this wine is a bit on the young side right now and thus a little tight out of the bottle. A solid 60-90 minutes in the decanter alleviates that and allows the wine to express it charms. Black cherry and dark plum are prominent throughout a rich mouth-filling palate. The finish which is lengthy brings out white pepper, mocha notes and an emerging earthiness.

This offering has excellent structure, firm but approachable tannins and good acidity. While it's delicious now, especially after decanting, it'll improve for the next couple of years and drink well for at least 6 or 7 after that. This is a fine example of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

It seems Rodney Strong has set out to make a reserve Cabernet appropriate for special occasions and mid-term aging with more complexity, nuances and elegance than their entry level Alexander Valley Cabernet. By this measure they have succeeded. This will stand up to scrutiny against similarly priced Alexander valley Cabernet's.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog

Opolo Vineyards - 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles is probably best known for their Zinfandels. That's no surprise as they make several Zins in a range of styles and designations. However, Opolo also makes a host of other wines. Some of their Bordeaux varietals and blends are particularly compelling. Today I'm looking at their current Cabernet Sauvignon release. The 2005 Opolo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal and all Paso Robles fruit. This wine spent 18 months in a combination of 40% new French oak and the balance in American oak. 1,035 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.

Rich ripe casis fills and dominates the nose which is underpinned by eucalyptus, cedar, nutmeg and dark plum notes in a supporting role. The Opolo Cabernet is opulent and ripe throughout the palate offering a mouth filling experience. Dark, lavish berry fruit fills the mid-palate along with some dark bakers chocolate notes that carry on towards the finish, which lingers. That finish brings out a load of bing cherry notes and additional chocolate characteristics. This wine is fun to drink on its own but will also pair well with substantial food. A Steak would be perfect.

What I like best about this Cabernet Sauvignon is how smooth it is right now. It drinks incredibly easily for a young Cabernet and that's its intent. This is a big, bright, hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon built to drink now. It'll certainly hold for a couple of years, but this one is not for long term aging. Drink it while it's young, bold and brash.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog

Artesa Winery -2005 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Today's selection is the second Cabernet Sauvigon I'm looking at from Artesa Winery. They makes several others in addition to this and the one I looked at earlier. While the one I looked at previously blended Napa & Sonoma fruit, this one is entirely from Napa Valley. Fruit was handpicked from estate vineyards based on the winemakers selections for this reserve wine. The 2005 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 60% new French oak for 21 months. Small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Malbec were added to the final blend. Just under 9,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $40.

This wine from Artesa has explosive, chocolate covered black cherry notes in the nose. I found this wine to be, not surprisingly, tight out of the bottle. If you plan to drink this now I'd recommend decanting it for an hour at minimum, two would be better. Once it opens up the nose also reveals some subtle earth notes. Dark berry fruits, spice notes, earth and mocha pack the palate of this wine with flavor. This is a layered wine with tremendous complexity. Earth and spice linger in an above average finish. The Artesa Reserve Cabernet is a full bodied, full flavored wine befitting it's Napa Valley pedigree.

This wine is well balanced and has an excellent tannic structure. I'd expect it to improve over the next 7-8 years and drink well for another 3-5 after that. I went back to this wine after it had been open for a full 24 hours, it was even more impressive. Excellent effort here from Artesa Winery.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Artesa Winery - 2005 Napa County/Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

This week I'll be looking at an array of releases from Artesa Winery in Carneros. They make a combination of widely available releases in various designations combined with a number of smaller productions that balance things out lineup wise. In total I'll be looking at six offerings split between their classic and reserve tiers. No surprisingly for a winery in Carneros Pinot Noir and Chardonnay merit several distinct releases each in the Artesa portfolio. The 2005 Napa/Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from a vineyard above Oakville in the Atlas Peak appellation and a Sonoma property within The Alexander Valley. More than 15,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25. Check out wine-searcher though as it can often be found in the mid to upper teens.

The first thing that's apparent about this wine is that it needs time to open up. If you drink it now I highly recommend that you decant it for at least an hour. Once it's had a chance to open up and express itself the nose bursts out with lots of sweet blueberry fruit underscored by vanilla and eucalyptus notes. From the first sip throughout the palate blueberry pie notes are prominent and accompanied by spice notes and subtle earth that lead into a lush, layered finish. The Cabernet is rich and mouth-filling. It's a pretty big wine but within the sub-group of Cabernet Sauvignon its medium bodied.

This effort is drinking pretty pretty nicely now, but time in the bottle will serve it well. A year or so should do wonders, helping the nuances and earthiness that are now subtle on the finish of this wine become far more prominent. There is unfortunately a large amount of bland, anonymous tasting Cabernet Sauvignon coming out of California in this price range. I'm happy to report this is not one of those. This is a fine Cab that over delivers in its price-point when compared to many of its counterparts. Nice effort from Artesa Winery.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Rodney Strong Vineyards - 2005 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The next wine I'm looking at from Rodney Strong is a Cabernet Sauvignon. As ubiquitous as Cabernet Sauvignon from California can be, it's amazing how many variations there are due to style and region. Amongst their vast offerings Rodney Strong Vineyards makes a host of Cabernets. Some are vineyard designates and some are regional. The one I'm looking at today is appellation specific. That appellation is the Alexander Valley. On the Sonoma side Alexander Valley is the area I personally feel makes the type of Cabernets that can compete with the best of Napa Valley. The 2005 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Rodney Strong Vineyards was sourced from estate fruit. The suggested retail price for this wine is $25 and it's generally available in the upper teens.

Dark plum, vanilla, nutmeg and gentle cinnamon notes absolutely light up the nose of this wine from the moment you pour it in the glass. The first thing that's apparent when I took an initial sip was that this Cabernet is smooth and accessible out of the bottle. Tons of light and dark cherry notes are prominent throughout the palate of this wine. Spice notes become prominent at the end of the mid-palate and carry through the finish which is slightly above average. A hint of trademark Alexander Valley smokiness also cones out in the finish and is amongst the components that help this wine stand out.

What impresses me most about this wine is its immediate accessibility and appeal from the moment it's poured. Decanting allows it to shine a little more, but this one is essentially ready from the word go. This is a well made Cabernet Sauvignon made to drink young. At a relatively modest price this is a good selection in serious Cabernet to drink over the next few years while the more expensive bottles in your cellar are aging.

Up Next: Rodney Strong Vineyards - 2006 Reserve Russian River Chardonnay

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Ladera Vineyards - 2004 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

The last wine I'm looking at from Ladera at this time is also a single vineyard offering. It's noteworthy that in addition to the Cabernets I've covered they make several other varietals. Considering the quality of these wines, the others are likely worth drinking as well. The 2004 Ladera Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% varietal and all from the same vineyard. 50% of the wine was aged in new French oak for 21 months. The remainder spent time in one, two or three year old French oak barrels. 3,000 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $70.

This is a wine with a tremendously dark hue to it. Of the 3 Ladera the Howell Mountain has the most floral nose. Violet notes lead the way, accompanied by berries and cedar. From the first taste, the Howell Mountain Cabernet is chock full of dark, brooding fruit. Throughout the wines palate chocolate notes abound. Again those notes are more prominent than in the other Cabernets from Ladera. Earthiness in the long, luxurious finish is subtle but emerges nicely as the wine opens up along with spice notes. This wine has terrific acidity and a big, tight tannic structure. More so than the other Ladera Cabernets this one really needs to breathe. Match it up with a big, bold meal if you're drinking it now.

The Ladera Howell Mountain Cabernet is a big, hefty, chewy wine. It's a delicious wine, but time in the bottle will serve it well. My recommendation would be to put a couple of these away and forget about them for 5 years or so and then enjoy for quite a few years after that. I liked each of the Ladrea wines I tasted a lot for different reasons. The Howell Mountain is likely the most age worthy. As with the other 2 it over delivers in it's price point.

Up Next: A couple of wines from Oregon's Adelsheim Vineyard.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Ladera- 2004 Lone Canyon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Ladera Vineyards makes two single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons in addition to the Napa Valley that I looked at already. Those three wines combined make up close to 90% of their total production. So clearly they're committed to Cabernet Sauvignon, which is often referred to as the King of Napa. The first of the two single vineyards I'm looking at is Lone Canyon Vineyard. This is a site of close to 500 acres, 75 of them under vine. Lone Canyon is a mountain location, which borders Mount Veeder. The Ladera 2004 Lone Canyon Vineyard Cabernet is 100% sourced from this single vineyard. The wine was aged for 22 months in 73% new French oak. 1,900 cases of this wine were produced and it has a suggested retail price of $65.

Dark berry and a hint of eucalyptus are the first notes that emerge from this wines nose. Even with a year more bottle age than the Napa Valley Cabernet this selection is a bit reticent at first. Decanting for at least an hour is highly recommended. Once it opens up nutmeg, mocha notes and an absolute avalanche of berry fruit flavors are the story of this wines palate through to the tremendous earthy finish. This Cabernet will surely stand up to your finest steak. However, it's also restrained and lovely enough to drink well on it's own.

For me, single vineyard wines epitomize the concept of capturing a sense of place. They can genuinely reflect what happened in that vineyard in a given year.

What I like most about this wine is the absolute purity of fruit and excellent spice component running through it from beginning to end. There is something particularly clean and natural tasting about this offering. This is an intense, persistent, multi-layered and impeccably balanced expression of Cabernet Sauvignon.

While this wine is drinking beautifully now, I'd expect it to age gracefully for the better part of a decade, at minimum. For $65 this isn't going to be a wine most people drink with Pizza on a Tuesday night. That said it's an excellent choice to tuck away for a special occasion. Furthermore it's important to note that this wine is an excellent value in its price point. There's no shortage of Napa Cabernets in this price range, too few of them are in the Lone Canyon's class.

Up Next: Ladera's Howell Mountain Cabernet.

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Ladera Vineyards - 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the varietals that can seem ubiquitous in California. Especially in Napa, it seems, everyone has at least one Cabernet Sauvignon on their tasting list when you visit a winery. Part of this is of course because Cabernet Sauvignon generally does very well in Napa Valley. But in some cases Wineries seem to produce Cabernet Sauvignon because they feel compelled to do so to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. More often though in Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon is the main focus of quite a few Wineries. Ladera Vineyards is one such winery. They're a family winery that pays careful attention to every step of the process. They make a couple of other varietals, but Cabernet is their focus. This week I'll look at three distinct Cabernet Sauvignons in their portfolio. The first one up is a blend of Cabernets from each of their Estate Vineyards. The Ladera Vineyards 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Estate fruit from Lone Canyon Vineyard and Howell Mountain. 4% Petit Verdot was blended in. The wine spent 17 months in 47% new French oak barrels with the balance in used French Oak. The suggested retail price for this wine is $39.

Berry, cedar and vanilla notes lead a tremendously inviting nose. The first sip brings out casis, blackberry and spice notes. Rich, deep mountain fruit is the hallmark of this wine and it shines throughout the palate. The mid-palate is full bodied, lush and mouth filling. This Cabernets finish has a distinct earthiness that will emerge more as the wine evolves and ages. Significant white pepper and nutmeg spice dance along the tongue and back of the throat as well. This is an elegant example of Napa Valley Cabernet.

What I liked best about this particular Cabernet Sauvignon is how inviting and open it was immediately out of the bottle. Of course decanting helps it open up and achieve an increased level of accessibility and charm, but it shines from the get go. This is a well-balanced wine that features bright fruit, good acidity and a firm tannic structure. It's drinking well now, should evolve for 5 or 6 years and drink nicely for another handful of years after that.

When you get to the upper thirties in Napa Valley Cabernet you have quite a few choices. The Ladera Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon outclasses its price point. It easily outshines quite a few wines that have more famous names in this price range.

Up Next: Ladera Vineyards - Lone Canyon Vineyard Cabernet

Please take a quick moment to vote for my blog.

Locatelli Vineyards & Winery - 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

A 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is the second release I'm looking at from Locatelli Vineyards & Winery. Cabernet isn't one of the primary varietals I think of when Paso Robles comes to mind. But I'm always curious to see what a producer is up to with this much discussed grape.

The 2004 Locatelli Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in a combination of French and American oak for 3 ½ years. This wine sells for $20.

This Cabernet Sauvignon has a big nose full of casis, berry fruit, vanilla and cedar notes. Initial sips find this big, rich Cabernet to be a little tight and in need of some air. Decanting for an hour or so is heartily recommended to allow this wine to show it's best. Once this offering has opened up it shows big, ripe berry fruit, good acidity and firm tannins. There are loads of blackberry notes in the mid-palate underscored by a persistent mocha note. The finish features dark, dried fruit notes with underlying white pepper and spice notes. Pair this wine with a steak or other suitably big foods.

The bottom line is that there's nothing small, restrained or gentle about this Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a big, exuberant, full bodied and opulent Cabernet Sauvignon befitting its Paso Robles home. Along those lines if you like big, juicy, fruit forward wines that also have a good level of complexity, this is a wine to check out. If you're outside of California, contact the winery directly as many of their offerings are limited production.

Coming Up: Melodia, a blend from Locatelli Vineyards & Winery.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.

Kiamie Wine Cellars - 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

Regular readers of this blog have probably noted that Paso Robles is one of my favorite California Appellations. Numerous things about this area are appealing to me. One huge item though is how quickly new producers are coming on line. Rapid expansion often leads to wineries changing hands, new vines planted and all sorts of other permutations. All of that adds up to the excitement of new offerings to taste through. One of those new players in Paso Robles is Kiamie Wine Cellars. They have recently released their first three wines. I'll be looking at each of them over the next couple of days. Kiamie Wine Cellars focuses on blending the best grapes they can acquire from mountain vineyards on the Westside of Paso Robles. That they focus on blending is no surprise when you consider their winemaker is Steve Glossner. He was the winemaker at landmark Paso Robles winery Justin for a number of years. That time included the period during which they received some of their greatest accolades for the proprietary blend Isosceles.

The first wine I'm looking at is their Cabernet Sauvignon. With 75% of it being varietal, it just meets the requirement to be labeled as such. The other 25% of the blend is Cabernet Franc. Grapes for this wine were sourced at the Halter Ranch. 500 Cases of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon were produced and the suggested retail price is $32.00.

Without delay or hesitation the Cabernet Franc makes it's presence known in the nose. Dark plum pudding and gingerbread spice dominate. From the first sip this wine shows itself to be a rich, ripe and bold expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Significant amounts of dark berry fruit, nutmeg, black pepper and toasty notes define this wines mid-palate. The finish has continued berry and pepper notes with underlying mocha that comes out more prominently as the wine opens up. A wine this full bodied and expressive deserves to be paired with an equally big meal. Steak and Rack of  Lamb come to mind as obvious matches.

Decanting this wine is highly recommended. It's such an appealing wine out of the bottle with an nose so outstanding it'll be hard to resist waiting an hour or so after opening it. But that hour allows it to smooth out and become even more expressive than it is out of the bottle. You're patience will undoubtedly be rewarded.

The Kiamie Wine Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is very much a modern new world styled Cabernet Sauvignon. It does possess firm acidity and medium tannins suggesting you could lay it down for about 5 years. An impressive wine, particularly for a debut vintage. If you like your Cabernet big, bold and full of appealing fruit, snap this one up.

Up Next:Kiamie Wine Cellars Kiamie Kuvée.

Please take a second to vote for my blog.