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.
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Nice take on this Cab, George!