Fall is synonymous with a few things: Back to school, back to the exercise routine, back to sensible shoes and sweaters, and my personal favourite, harvest time which also co-incides with Southern Hemisphere releases. Yeah Fall!
More personally, it also marks the anniversary of the first meeting of the W!nos, our monthly wine tasting group, going strong after 5 years??
We are not an up tight, sophisticated set - at least I don't think so. "Meetings" are monthly, except in December, May, and August. December is when the formal wine tasting is replaced by a New Year's Eve party - decadent yes, memorable? Quite. But could any of us really tell you the nuances of the cabernet we just quaffed with the filet? Not on your life! May is all about getting the cottages, boats, and dance recitals taken care of, and August is well. . . time for other pursuits.
No, September is when we get back to it, back to the business of tasting and sitting around discussing who thinks what and if it is a value buy and if they like the label etc...
September got off to a late start - our first tasting was scheduled for October 3. This time it was a completely blind tasting. 5 wines, 5 W!nos, and a Saturday evening dedicated to an evening of swishing, swirling, sniffing, and tasting. So here it is:
My blind tasting notes :
Wine #1
Appearance - Almost opaque, dark red, but not black, garnet colour, clear
Nose - the aroma of cooking jasmine rice, butter, and salt (and no - there was no freshly popped popcorn in the house!)
Taste/Texture - honey, prune, sweet wheat, meaty, mid-high tannin, mid-heavy flavour, chewy, a bit bitter, mid-long finish
Conclusion - Not completely, balanced, but perhaps decanting or a couple more years would bring it out. Acceptable.
Wine #2
Appearance - Garnet, dark, but not opaque, slight brown around the rim, perhaps a slightly older wine, clear
Nose - Cement/Sidewalk, mineral, vague pine, smoke, tar, dark mature fruit, plum, berries
Taste/Texture - lighter tasting than on the nose, dark prune plums, white pepper, long finish
Conclusion - Balanced, long enjoyable finish. Perfectly acceptable. Drink now and before 3 years.
Two wines down. Not sure what they are yet. Not Shiraz/Syrah. Not Malbec, Not Pinot Noir. Not Valpolicella, Barbara, Barolo, Not Grenache or Merlot. Hmmm.
Wine #3
Appearance - Burgundy/purple mid-opaque, clear. Could be Welsh's grape juice
Nose - Welsh's grape juice, purple freezie, alcohol, sweet candy
Taste/Texture - hint of sweetness and grape juice, mid-acidity, slight bitter after taste, big to a mid finish
Conclusion - okay. Not committing to it.
Three wines down. Two were good. One was good enough to buy - if the price is right. I am thinking Eastern Europe or could it be Chile?
Wine #4
Appearance - Garnet, mid-dark/dense, clear (really if it isn't clear, it's going back, or perhaps we shouldn't have shaken it just before pouring??)
Nose - Mmm. Candied violets, earth, tar, dark plummy fruit
Taste/Texture - Light, plum, green pepper, lemony, mid-long finish
Conclusion - Balanced, good character, lively. Perfectly Acceptable.
Wine #5
Appearance - dark ruby-garnet, mid-opaque, clear
Nose - butter, salt, violet/pansy floral fragrance, slightly sweet
Taste/Texture - mid-acidity, slightly effervescent, smoke, vanilla, dark ripe berries, light, medium finish
Conclusion - Balanced. Perfectly acceptable.
My approval goes out to #2, 4, 5. My favourite of the bunch is definitely #4. Thanks go out to J for an excellent tasting - great picks!
The wines revealed:
Theme - 5 Cabernet Sauvignons from California all available at the LCBO.
1.
J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V)
VINTAGES 656561 750 mL bottle $20.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: J Lohr Winery
Release Date: Oct 10, 2009
J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V)
VINTAGES 656561 750 mL bottle $20.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: J Lohr Winery
Release Date: Oct 10, 2009
Description
Every time Vintages released this wine, it disappeared from store shelves at lightning speed! So we decided to make it an Essential to ensure that it's always available and you're never disappointed. Aged in oak for more than a year, this densely coloured red is packed with intense aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla, and spices. Full-bodied and sweet-centred, this Cabernet will beautifully complement braised beef with a mildly spicy sauce.
Every time Vintages released this wine, it disappeared from store shelves at lightning speed! So we decided to make it an Essential to ensure that it's always available and you're never disappointed. Aged in oak for more than a year, this densely coloured red is packed with intense aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla, and spices. Full-bodied and sweet-centred, this Cabernet will beautifully complement braised beef with a mildly spicy sauce.
2.
NAPA CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
VINTAGES 135145 750 mL bottle $21.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Sutter Home Winery
Release Date: Sep 26, 2009
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Sutter Home Winery
Release Date: Sep 26, 2009
Tasting Note When it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon the Napa Valley is as good as it gets and our wine of the week delivers all the luscious, intense dark fruit and complex flavors that is soooo Napa ... This wine is a full bodied showcase of blackberry and cassis tastiness with an underlying layer that's like a nip of dark chocolate. It's youthful, vibrant and drinkable - the perfect choice to pop open anytime you want to be transported to Napa ... Gotta love it ... (www.winexperience.com, July 31, 2009)
3.
ADELAIDA SCHOOLHOUSE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005
VINTAGES 128983 750 mL bottle $20.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.9% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Adelaida Cellars
Release Date: Aug 29, 2009
Description
'East meets West in this brightly fruited textbook 'Paso' Cabernet. Benefiting from an infusion of over 2/3 limestone-influenced Westside grapes (50% from our 1800 ft. Viking Estate Vineyard), this wine marries mountain grown aromatic purity to warm climate ripeness.' (www.adelaida.com) Try this mouth-watering wine with stir-fried beef dishes or meat-based pastas.
ADELAIDA SCHOOLHOUSE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005
VINTAGES 128983 750 mL bottle $20.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.9% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Adelaida Cellars
Release Date: Aug 29, 2009
Description
'East meets West in this brightly fruited textbook 'Paso' Cabernet. Benefiting from an infusion of over 2/3 limestone-influenced Westside grapes (50% from our 1800 ft. Viking Estate Vineyard), this wine marries mountain grown aromatic purity to warm climate ripeness.' (www.adelaida.com) Try this mouth-watering wine with stir-fried beef dishes or meat-based pastas.
4.
AVALON CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
VINTAGES 684399 750 mL bottle $22.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.8% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Premiere Wine Group/Avalon Winery
Release Date: Sep 26, 2009
Description
Though Napa Valley is known for producing some of the most expensive premium wines in the world, the area is still known for offering great values, such as this 2006 Cabernet. Intense aromas and flavours of blackberry and raspberry dominate with hints of allspice and vanilla also discernible. This flavourful Cab has the class to accompany rack of lamb or beef tenderloin.
5.
STONEHEDGE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
VINTAGES 25122 750 mL bottle $24.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.3% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Stonehedge Winery
Release Date: Sep 26, 2009
STONEHEDGE RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007
VINTAGES 25122 750 mL bottle $24.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.3% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Stonehedge Winery
Release Date: Sep 26, 2009
Description
Stonehedge Winery has established itself as one of the most reliable producers of affordable premium-quality wines in California. Their reserve wines are from 100% Napa Valley fruit, and this Cabernet offers the ripe blackcurrant aromas and silky tannins that lovers of Californian wines adore. This Cab is big enough to stand up to a grilled steak, but soft enough to be enjoyed on its own.
