Varietal:  59% Cabernet Sauvignon; 19% Cabernet Franc; 11% Malbec; 6% Merlot; 5% Petit Verdot
Region:  Napa, California – USA
Cost:  $40 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Rich garnet color goes perfectly with the holiday season and it’s aromas of toasted hazelnut and winter spices make this wine the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

My Review:  Another of the bottles that I received just before the end of the year, and on an unseasonable warm day on Sunday (pushing 70 in Virginia? Really?) my wife and I decided to throw a couple of steaks on the grill and a bottle of red wine sounded like the perfect pairing.

While there are some violet streaks going through the wine, it was a nice deep red in the glass and I picked up aromas of spice and dark berry. In the mouth there was a ton of fruit, but it was by no means a “fruit bomb”. By that I mean there was plenty of body and depth to the wine that allowed the wine to present nuanced fruit flavors and have a bit of complexity and a medium-smooth finish.

Paired with some steaks, baked potatoes, and asparagus it was great. The body of the wine held up to the steak and the fruit flavors managed to go well with the veggies (potatoes are a vegetable dammit). What I really liked about the wine is that even with the body to hold up to the steak, the fruit flavors were dominant enough to make the wine enjoyable all by itself.

If the wine isn’t available near you and you want to give it a try, you can follow this link and have it shipped directly to you.

Related posts:

1. Veritas Vineyards Claret 2008
2. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Rubric 2007
3. Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Varietal:  88% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Syrah; 3% Merlot; 2% Petit Verdot; 1% Malbec; 1% Cabernet Franc
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $11 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:   The wine has a smooth texture and sweet, red fruit character that distinguishes California’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons, along with smoky oak, vanilla, and roasted nut accents to invigorate the palate and provide a lengthy finish. Enjoy with standing rib roasts, grilled steak, roast duck, spareribs, lasagna, or flavorful hard cheeses.

My Review:  An evening where my wife was out and I was home alone with the dog to fend for myself on dinner usually only means one thing – steak, a baked potato, and a bottle of red wine to be enjoyed. There are worse ways to spend an evening. I’d been sitting on this sample until I could get around to cooking up a steak, and as tends to be the case, I’m glad I did.

There’s a line where a line goes from having good fruit to being a fruit bomb. Don’t ask me exactly where that line is, because I think that it’s different for every wine, but the 2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon did a good job of walking the line between fruity and fruit bomb.

On the nose I got dark fruit notes with a touch of roundness to it. In the mouth I got plenty of nice tart fruit, with raspberry and some blueberry being the most prevalent to me. The finish on the wine was surprisingly smooth, though with the extra varietals blended in that should come as less of a surprise than it was.

Paired with a ribeye I picked up at the local store it was a nice simple wine that didn’t try and do too much, but was more than adequate before, during, and after the meal. As value wines go, particularly for a California Cabernet, this is a good choice if you’re looking for something that’s easy to drink, and will make a good choice as a red wine option during the holiday party season thanks to the price.

Related posts:

1. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2010
2. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010
3. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2010

Varietal:  50% Petite Sirah; 25% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Syrah; 10% Zinfandel
Region:  Livermore Valley – California – USA
Cost:  $15 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  The 2009 Crimson & Clover Conservancy is a velvety blend of signature Livermore varietal. Aromas of currant, clove, and vanilla lead into bright fruit flavors of blackberry on the palate. The spicy finish is soft and long with hints of leather and tobacco. Pairs well with black pepper-crusted filet mignon with goat cheese or grilled artichoke with tarragon aioli.

My Review:  Given as how during my upcoming trip to San Francisco (we leave tomorrow and this day can’t end quick enough) I plan to visit Concannon Vineyards, I wanted to try the 2009 Crimson & Clover before heading out to avoid any awkward silences in regards to the bottle of wine sitting lonely at my home back in Virginia.

With Labor Day weekend upon us my wife and I knew we would be grilling, so in between getting laundry done and bags packed for our vacation, we threw a couple of steaks and lobster tails on the grill. Well, rather, we tried to, but then the grill ran out of gas and so we had to finish them inside using the oven. It all still worked out, especially when paired with the wine.

In the glass the 2009 Crimson & Clover was dark, though not so dark as to not let light through. On the nose I got a bit of dark fruit and a hint of spice. In the mouth there was an explosion of berry flavor, with juicy blackberry jumping right to the front.

While I didn’t pick up a ton of spice on the finish, there were hints, and the finish definitely lingers on for a bit, something I enjoy in my red wines. Paired with the steaks and lobster it was a good, with the juicy fruit flavors complimenting the steaks that at least had a little grill flavor to them thanks to at least getting seared before the propane tank ran out.

I’ve yet to have a bad experience with the Concannon wines I’ve been sent, and part of what continues to attract me to them is that they are quality wines at a great price point. This is a good value wine to enjoy as we wrap up the summer and the grilling season, and is a nice tribute by John Concannon to his father Jim, the “Father of America’s First Petite Sirah”.

Related posts:

1. Concannon Conservancy Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
2. Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah 2008
3. Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay 2009

If you were paying attention during the 2011 North American Wine Bloggers Conference (and if you weren’t I’m deeply hurt), you’d have noticed that I did do a small tasting during one of the speed tastings of the CalNaturale Chardonnay. I was intrigued by it, especially being that it’s a boxed wine, so when they reached out to me after the conference and asked if I’d like full-sized samples I jumped at the opportunity.

First, a few things about the wines before I launch into my usual reviews. These wines are about as organic as you can get, with the grapes being grown organically and the tetra-packs used to ship them in reducing costs and being far more green than a bottle holding the same amount of juice. I know that “boxed wines” have this bad reputation, but I think both myself and a lot of other bloggers are starting to see the value in them, and the winemakers are starting to make really good, quality wines and packing them in non-traditional ways, so it’s good to see another non-bottled wine on the market.

Ok, now to the reviews.

CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal:  95% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Viognier
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:   The initial release of CalNaturale Caberenet Sauvignon shows very rich, ripe fruit with flavors of ripe plum, cherries, cassis, and a hint of toasty oak. This classic wine is full-bodied, yet very approachable, with solid structure and ample tannins.

My Review:  I’m always tentative going into a California Cabernet Sauvignon, just because I don’t know how much fruit to expect and at a certain point, enough is enough. The CalNaturale did have good ripe flavors of plum and cherry, and while I don’t know that I would call it full-bodied, it also wasn’t quite medium-bodied either. Husky-bodied maybe? My wife and I tried this wine with a few different things, including pasta (which is was a nice pairing for), just out on the deck one evening, and I even turned some into Sangria for my wife, which it actually performed admirably as.

There’s quickly becoming a preponderance of quality California Cabernet Sauvignon in boxes, and part of what I liked about the CalNaturale is that they offer 500ml and 1L instead of the usual 3L option, which is perfect for smaller groups or for travel. For the price it’s a great value, and I liked that it was a bit more versatile than I was expecting.

CalNaturale Chardonnay

Varietal:  95% Chardonnay; 5% Viognier
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:   This refreshing Chardonnay shows clear and vibrant fruit with a hint of vanilla from lightly toasted oak. It has medium acidity with good length and shows fruit to the very end. Ideal with or without food; well balanced with aromas and taste of ripe apples, pear, and a hint of citrus.

My Review:  I had gotten a brief taste of this at the conference, so I was very interested to spend more time with it as my notes seemed to indicate that I had enjoyed it (all blurs together at a certain point). I liked this one more than my wife, as there was too much oak on it for her taste, whereas I liked how there was some oak, but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy it without food.

Again, we paired this with several foods, including some fish and chicken, as well as just out on the deck one evening. I liked that the acid was there, but not overwhelming, and the nice apple and pear flavors blending into the soft oak finish with a touch of vanilla.

Of the two this was my favorite, in part because the warmer weather here in Virginia makes a good white wine a must have. It’s a great value and one I’d recommend checking out, especially if you’re looking to stay organic as much as possible.

Related posts:

1. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
2. Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
3. FlipFlop Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Varietal:  36% Cabernet Sauvignon; 33% Merlot; 14% Syrah; 11% Cabernet Franc; 6% Malbec
Region:  Washington – USA
Cost:  $25

Winemaker’s Notes:  Flagship wine of the estate, the HFE Red Mountain consistently displays dense color, firm tannins, and well-defined acidity. Always a majority blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine is suitable for drinking upon release, but will reward those with the patience to age it. This wine represents all vineyard blocks farmed within the Hedges Family Estate vineyard portfolio. A true chateau-production bottling, the HFE Red Mountain is the epitome of classic style, and one that represents the Terroir of the Red Mountain AVA in a pure and elegant form.

My Review:  Oh big red wines, how I enjoy you. A couple of weeks ago the folks over at Hedges Family Estates sent me a sampling of their portfolio to check out, and included in that was two bottles of the 2008 Red Mountain. On my wife’s recent trip to South Carolina with her parents to visit her brother and his wife I sent one of those bottles with her to share with her brother. Her early report was that it was a steak wine, so the other night we grilled up some steak and lobster tails and popped open the other bottle.

I was immediately struck by how dark the wine was. Holding it up to light let pretty much none of it through and the only way I was able to really pick out any streaks of purple were from the small bubbles that resulted from the pouring.

On the nose I got dark fruit which carried through to the palate with just a hint of tobacco/smoke on the finish as well. The finish on this wine was silky smooth, like far smoother than I was expecting and maybe the smoothest finish I’ve had on a red in a long time. with the dinner of steak, lobster tails, and baked potatoes it was great. The big, bold dark fruits held up great against the grilled steak, but the smooth finish was perfect for the more delicate lobster.

I really enjoyed this wine, and it’s a great value for such a big wine that will make any steak lover happy. If you want to try it and can’t find it in your local store, you can either order it directly from Hedges Family Estates, or you can follow this link and order it.

Related posts:

1. Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc 2009
2. Home Grown Farms Family Harvest Red 2008
3. Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Varietal: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Grenache
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: A dark reddish purple in the glass with aromas of black currants and mocha that lead into dark berries and fresh plums on the palate. Pairs well with short ribs, filet mignon, lamb chops, spaghetti Bolognese, and dark chocolate tort.

My Review: When I first got this sample I was admittedly surprised that it was labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon as in my experience Big House wines tended to be a bit more…experimental. My surprise was quickly assuaged and replaced with interest as I saw in the tasting notes that the wine was 10% Grenache, a grape that I’ve been a fan of for some time, especially when blended with other red grapes.

On the nose I got the currants and a hint of what I almost thought was some cassis, though it was subtle so I could have been imagining it, while my wife picked up some of the mocha. On the palate I was impressed as the wine had a decently high to medium alcohol content (13.5%/vol), but I didn’t get any of it in the mouth (or really on the nose for that matter). I did, however, get flavors of dark fruit and a juicy, jammyness that I very much enjoyed, which went into a nice smooth finish which I imagine can be pinned on the Grenache smoothing out the finish.

Paired with our dinner of wheat pasta with red sauce and ground Italian sausage it was a nice pairing, but I can imagine this wine being a great pairing for some burgers or ribs off the grill, especially with some good, tangy BBQ sauce. For the price this is a great value as a summer grilling wine and one I’d recommend checking out, especially if you’ve enjoyed other Big House wines in the past. If you can’t find the wine at your local shop, you can follow this link and order it online to have it shipped to you.

Related posts:

1. Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
2. Big House Red 2008
3. Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

White Hall Vineyards

We started out our tasting at White Hall, partly because of the area we were looking to go tasting in, they were the first one open, but also because I we hadn’t actually been out to the tasting room in many years. On the Saturday morning we stopped in they were pouring 9 different wines and my wife and I were happy to sample them all.

We started out with two Chardonnays, the 2008 Chardonnay ($15) and the 2008 Chardonnay Reserve ($24). The stainless steel Chardonnay featured all the usual citrus and pear notes I would have expected, but had a smoother finish than I anticipated, though certainly not “oaky”. The 2008 Reserve featured a bit of oaky nuttiness on the nose and while it had the “oaked” finish I would expect, it was subtle and even my wife, who doesn’t usually care for oaked Chardonnay, preferred it to the stainless steel.

Next up was the 2009 Viognier ($17) which offered a good floral nose with rose and honeysuckle in the mouth with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. This is a great summer wine and my wife and I did actually bring a bottle of it home with us. Following the Viognier was the 2008 Pinot Gris ($17) which didn’t have much nose to it but was a nice dry wine with a good minerality on the finish. Our final white was the 2008 Petit Manseng ($16) which like the Viognier had a floral nose with tropical notes in the mouth. The best way to describe this wine is as a less floral and more sweet Viognier. A good dessert wine though.

Moving on to the reds. We started with the 2008 Merlot ($15) which had a smoky nose but was lighter in the palate with raspberry flavors. I really enjoyed this one and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home. Following that was the 2009 Touriga ($18) with a jammy nose and soft tannins. The 2008 Petit Verdot ($20) was a stand-out for me. It was a dark reddish-purple in the glass with smoke and pepper on the nose that carried through to the palate to mix with raspberry and a nice soft tannic finish. This was arguably my favorite wine of the tasting and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home.

We finished up the tasting with the 2007 Soliterre ($17), a dessert wine with floral and apricot notes on the nose and candied fruit on the palate. With 6% residual sugar you had better make sure to pair it with something, but I will say that had I not known how much residual sugar was in the wine I might have guessed less as it certainly wasn’t syrupy.

Our tasting complete and some wines purchased we moved on to our next stop.

Mountfair Vineyards

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that Mountfair was a big reason we headed out to do some wine tasting. Everybody in Virginia that’s been there has nothing but good things to say about it, and what’s not to love about a vineyard that specializes in small-batch red wines?

We started off our tasting with a few sparkling wines from Thibaut-Janisson, the Blanc de Chardonnay and the Virginia FIZZ. Mountfair sells these wines for them as they don’t have their own tasting room. They were both enjoyable, one a champagne style and the other a prosecco style.

As for the actual Mountfair wines, we started off with the 2009 Merlot ($20) which is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. With a peppery nose I expected more of it in the palate, but the Merlot does a good job of smoothing it out and makes this a great wine for just sipping on. We grabbed a bottle of this as well, bringing our Merlot total up to 2 in as many vineyards. Next was the other of their single varietals, the 2009 Cabernet Franc ($20) which is the opposite of the Merlot at 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. The wine was heavier in the mouth than I expected with a subtle pepper and smoke finish with good cherry notes leading the way in. We didn’t buy this one, but mostly because it lost the coin toss against the Merlot.

Next was the 2008 Indigenous ($25) a blend of 50/50 Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc with a velvety pepper nose and a tart finish that I attributed to the Cabernet Franc. Finally we sampled the 2009 Engagement ($25) a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a great wine for grilled food with a lot of the Cabernet Franc notes coming through, but with more body thanks to the Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

I really enjoyed Mountfair and before we left my wife and I even signed up for their wine club so that we’ll get shipments of their wine as their released. If you visit Mountfair or have at least tasted their wines I certainly recommend it as it’s a great value and a good way to get their signature wine, the Wooloomooloo, which pretty much sells out as soon as it’s released.

Pollak Vineyards

My wife and I had visited Pollak a few years back just after they opened their new tasting room (which is beautiful and has a patio and deck area perfect for a picnic lunch), but wanted to head back now that the new vintages were out, especially since I enjoyed what of them I was able to taste back in February at the Virginia Wine Expo. We started out with the 2009 Chardonnay ($19) which had a creamy nose with citrus and vanilla notes on the palate and a soft, light oak hint on the finish.

Next was the 2010 Viognier ($20) with a nose of honey and peach and floral notes on the palate. This was a light wine that will be good on a hot day. Next was the 2010 Pinot Gris ($18) which was so light in the glass as to be nearly clear. This was a medium dry wine and the only thing I can really say about it is that it was so-so, and nothing to get too excited about. Next was the 2009 Durant White ($16) a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Viognier, and 10% Pinot Gris. With a subtle floral nose and good tropical flavors this was easily my favorite white of the tasting and the only reason I didn’t grab a bottle to bring home is that I already have one.

Moving on to the reds we started with the 2009 Durant Red ($12) which is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Light red in the glass with pepper and a “meaty”, smoky aroma and a tart finish this is a good value wine, especially for those big cookouts that come up this time of year. Our next wine was the 2008 Cabernet Franc ($20) with a nose of pepper and generic red fruit with cherry on the palate.

Next was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) with a nose full of dark fruit and a juicy palate with soft tannins on the finish. This wine is just begging for a grilled steak and I bought a bottle to take home for just that reason. Our final sample was the 2008 Meritage ($25) a blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 13% Petit Verdot that has a lot of dark fruit on both the nose and the palate with a nice smooth finish. It’s very “petit verdot-y” (according to my notes) and another great steak wine that we only didn’t buy because we decided to go with the Cab Sauv.

After staying at Pollak for a bit to eat some lunch on their deck area, it was on to our final stop.

Veritas Vineyards & Winery

Behind the Veritas tasting bar

I always have a soft spot in my heart for Veritas as my wife’s brother got married there and we had, quite frankly, one helluva time. Veritas lets you select either a white tasting or a red tasting, but since my wife and I were both there, we picked one of each and shared, starting off with the whites.

First was the Scintilla ($30) a French style brut sparkling wine with apple on the nose, big bubbles and a nice dry finish. Next was the 2010 “Saddleback” Chardonnay ($18) which is done in the Chablis style and has lots of tropical notes as well as some vanilla and apple. Following up that was the 2009 “Harlequin” Chardonnay ($25) which has spent 6 months in French oak. With a buttery/oak nose I was almost surprised at how much acid I found on the palate, though it certainly wasn’t a lot. That being said both my wife and I liked the “Harlequin” much better than the “Saddleback”.

Next we tasted the 2010 Viognier ($20). Floral and honeysuckle notes on the nose with peach on the palate and a slight hint of sweetness on the finish (.7% residual sugar) made this a very typical, but very enjoyable, Virginia Viognier. The 2009 Petit Manseng ($25) had kiwi on the nose and even with 10% residual sugar was sweet without being syrupy. The 2009 Kenmar ($35) is an ice wine style made from Traminette and offering rose aromas on the nose with honey and rose water on the palate. This is a very sweet wine, but a good dessert wine if paired correctly with something like pound cake.

Moving on to the reds, we sampled the Mousseux ($30) a sparkling wine using Merlot grapes with notes of strawberry and a tartness that I actually found rather refreshing. The 2010 Rose’ ($14) is made with 46% Cabernet Franc and 54% Merlot and features .5% residual sugar. A medium-light pink in color with a strawberry nose and a dry, slight pepper/spice note on the finish that makes this a good summer wine for pairing with something like grilled chicken.

The Red Star ($18) is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, and 26% Chambourcin. A nose of dark fruit and pepper and a palate of smoke and cherry make this a good wine to pair with burgers. The 2009 Claret ($18) is a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Petit Verdot. The petit verdot really came through on this wine, with a nice juiciness to the wine and aromas of smoke and pepper that will make this another great wine for drinking with some gourmet burgers off the grill – which is why my wife and I grabbed a bottle.

Finally, the 2009 Vintner’s Reserve ($25) a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in mostly new French oak barrels. A smoky aroma with tons of dark fruit notes on the palate a nice soft tannic finish makes this a great wine to pair with a steak.

My wife and I had a great time tasting all these wines, and everybody that we dealt with at the vineyards was incredibly pleasant, knowledgeable, and friendly. If you have the chance to visit any of these vineyards I highly recommend it, and I’m already looking forward to another trip out to Virginia Wine Country to visit some other vineyards and taste some more wines.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Country Day 2
2. Virginia Wine Country Day 1
3. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley

Varietal: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon; 6% Merlot; 4% Cabernet Franc; 1% Petit Verdot
Region: Napa Valley – California – USA
Cost: $20

Winemaker’s Notes: Rich, ripe, and focused with juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, cocoa and hints of mint all tied together with a creamy French vanilla middle and finish that in a word is…lingering.

My Review: So, full disclosure, I absolutely grabbed this bottle because the label design was interesting. As we all know, we eat with our eyes first, which is problematic when selecting a bottle of wine since we can’t use our nose, and in a bottle, reds in particular all sorta look alike. So, from time to time, I will narrow my selection down to two or three bottles and then pick the one with the most interesting label. Last Saturday was just such an occasion.

Since I was having a steak I knew I wanted either a Malbec or a Cabernet Sauvignon, and since the 2009 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon had a more interesting label it won out. In the glass the wine was dark, with hints of purple streaking throughout the red, giving it an almost inky quality that I find appealing in wines. On the nose I got a myriad of generic dark fruits – I couldn’t actually pick out one distinct note, but just got a general sense of dark fruits.

In the mouth the wine was jammy and juicy, and while I wasn’t surprised to learn that the wine wasn’t 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, part of me was almost expecting a little Zinfandel in there, though the combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot certainly aren’t anything to complain about. While I didn’t get the mint, I did get the blackberry, cherry, and cocoa on the front with a hint of the vanilla on what was a nice smooth finish – no hard tannic bite on this wine.

Paired with a steak off the grill it was great – the juiciness of the wine mixed perfectly with the juiciness of the steak to make my mouth feel awash in juicy goodness. Even without a meal, as I actually drank this wine over two days (a rarity for me I know), the smooth finish and good fruit flavors made it very easy to sip on while preparing another meal that I had no intention of pairing the wine with.

For $20 this wine is a great value, and the fact that they put some effort into designing their label (a design which carries over to their corks) is appreciated by myself, and especially by my wife, as she is a scientist and found the label to be great. The Cabernet Sauvignon made me want to try some of the other wines from the Educated Guess line and if you wan to try some as well, you can follow this link to have some shipped to you.

Related posts:

1. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
2. Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
3. Blenheim Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Varietal: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Merlot; 4% Cabernet Franc
Region: California – Napa Valley – USA
Cost: $26 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Aromas of cedary oak, currants, black cherries, and ripe plums are rich and concentrated on the palate. The firm tannins underlying the wine’s core provide balance, leading to a long, lingering finish.

My Review: After a few weekends of craziness involving visiting family and the Virginia Wine Expo, my wife and I were happy for a weekend to just relax at home. So, after a Saturday relaxing, I fired up the grill and threw on a steak for myself and some seasoned corn on the cob for the both of us (my wife cooked herself up some bacon wrapped scallops). To pair with said dinner, I opened up a bottle of 2006 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon that I’d been eying for just such a meal.

The wine was a deep red in the glass, with an even darker, almost inky color running through it. On the nose I got black cherries and plum, but the taste was what really grabbed me. Recently, the reds I’ve been tasting have been somewhat fruity – not in a bad way mind you, and many of them have had good body, but they were distinctly fruity. The 2006 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon was, for lack of a better term, dusty.

All the flavors were there, cherry, plum, currants, and a cedar note that I found very enjoyable, but through it all there was a sensation of dustiness. If this wine was a person I would say it had gravitas. It felt like the wine had seen things, and had gained wisdom from said things. All told, it made the wine very good, and a great pairing with a steak that was, if I may say so myself, perfectly seasoned and cooked.

I’ve had other Waterstone wines before, and with this Cabernet they continue to impress me with what they’re doing. If you can’t find the 2006 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon at your local store, you can follow this link and have it shipped to you.

Related posts:

1. Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
2. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
3. Waterstone Pinot Noir 2007

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (87% Cabernet Sauvignon; 7% Cabernet Franc; 4% Petit Verdot; 2% Malbec)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $20 (SRP)

Dark red in the glass with aromas of baking spices, toasted oak, and chocolate.  Flavors of cherry, plum, currant with soft tannins.  Pairs well with steak, duck, wild game, and mushroom dishes.

Recommendations: Any time I see a suggestion that reads “steak” I have a hard time declining the invitation, and so it was with the 2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  After a long week, a steak dinner sounded delicious, and I had just the wine at home to go with it.

While Blackstone labels this wine a Cabernet Sauvignon, it does have a few other grapes blended in (though still meeting the requirements to be listed as a single varietal), and these certainly added to the wine.  While I didn’t a lot of the nose listed in the tasting notes due to a lot of alcohol on the nose (14.5%/vol), I definitely got flavors of cherry and a nice smooth tannic finish that I attributed to the Petit Verdot in the blend.

When paired with what I think may be the most perfect steak I’ve ever cooked, the smooth finish and full-bodied flavors were a perfect match.  While I enjoyed the wine after I had finished dinner, this is very much a bottle that should at least be started with a meal.  The full-bodied flavors and structure lend to it being a good pairing for bolder meals like a steak with a mushroom topping.

For the price ($20 suggested retail price), it’s a good quality steak wine that won’t disappoint and one I would recommend giving a try to the next time you’re looking at a steak dinner.  If you can’t find the 2007 Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at your local store, you can get it by going to this website.

Related posts:

1. Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Rubric 2007
2. Concannon Conservancy Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
3. Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2006