In sampling several hundred wines at trade tastings and events, plus browsing local merchants for great values under $!5, we found some fine candidates the past two months and tweeted about them. The following scored well in their price range. Happy quaffing!
Cabernet and Blends
Quaffing value Chilean Cabernet ’11 Santa Rita “120” $7. Herbaceous, Syrah-like nose; mid-body, grapey; decent tannins. w/burgers, BBQ
Value Medoc ’09 Chateau Prignac $8. Dark garnet; berries, jam, wood nose; mid-body; a little tight; some character, earthiness. w/pasta
Soft, fruity Mendoza Cabernet ’10 Norton Barrel Select $10. Herbaceous, varietal nose; mid-body; decent tannins. w/pasta, BBQ.
Value Bordeaux Superieur ’10 Ribebon $11. Cocoa, mint, wood nose (60% Merlot, 30 Cab, 10 Cab F); mid-body, tannic, decent finish. w/pasta
Quaffable red blend Columbia Crest ’11 H3 Les Chevaux $12. Jam, prune, berry nose; mid-body; grapey, not fat, w/munchies, stew
Quaffable value Bordeaux ’11 Domaine Rothschild $12. Light berry, cherry nose, cocoa (Cab/Merlot); soft, round, some character. w/cheeses
Quaffable Calif. Cabernet ’10 Donovan Park $12. Light mint, herbaceous nose; mid-body, decent flavor, improves with air. Burger wine.
Grill/BBQ Cabernet ’10 Chateau Ste Michelle $13. herbaceous, ripe grape nose; jam; mid-body; grapey; some tannins. Fat finish
Great value Chilean Cabernet ’10 Santa Rita Reserva $13. Mint, herbaceous, peppery nose; mid-body; fruity; tannin-acid balance. w/beef.
Value party Sonoma Cabernet ’11 Alexander Valley Vineyards $13. Light nose, berries, mint, wood; light-mid body; decent flavor, finish.
Fine value Montagne-St. Emilion ’10 Croix-Beausejour $14. Cocoa, jam nose (75% Merlot 15 Malb 10 Cab Franc); balanced; long fruity finish.
Barossa burger wine ’11 Tait Ball Buster $14 (75% Cab; 23 Shiraz; 3 Merlot). Prune, jam nose; mid-fat body; soft tannins; hot (14.9 alc).
Nicely structured $15 Mendoza Cabernet ’11 Casarena Riserva. Peppery, black cherry, wood nose; balanced; semi-tight; big berry finish,
Fine Cabernet value Pine Ridge 09 Forefront $15. Mint, berries, cassis nose; mid-body; good fruit, flavor; soft tannins; long finish.
Value Haut Medoc ’07 Chateau Bernadotte $17. Berry (59 percent Cabernet), mint, plum, mineral nose; mid-body; long chewy fruity finish. w/pasta
Well-made Medoc ’09 Pierre de Montignac $18. Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc blend. Ripe grape, Merlot, cassis nose; mid-body; tight tannins
Chewy Napa Cabernet ’11 Napa Cellars $18. mint, berries, ripe grape, light oak nose; mid-body; hard-edged; good Cab flavor. w/beef
Food-friendly Spring Mountain Napa Cabernet ’09 Maroon $25. Ripe grape, berry, mint nose; balanced; good fruit; tannins rounding out. W/beef.
Browsing in the Library
Evolving Napa Cabernet ’06 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis. Mint, chocolate, peppery nose; chewy tannins; almost sweet fruity finish.
Food-friendly Napa Cabernet ’06 Clos du Val (6% Cab Fr, 5 Merlot, 4 P. Verdot). Peppery varietal nose; oak; long smooth finish.
Evolving Pauillac ’05 Clerc Milon. Chocolate, earth, berry, oak nose; tight tannins, good acids; big fruit extract; long finish. w/beef
Smooth older Margaux ’00 du Tertre. Chocolate, earth, mineral, mint, strawberry nose; mid-body; Merlot-Cabernet blend; rich finish.
Rich Lafite 2d label Carruades ’00. Classic Pauillac nose; leather, tobacco, earth; balanced, fine structure; long rich Cabernet finish.
Fine evolving Spottswoode ’99 Cabernet. Older Cab nose; berries, wood, smoke; balanced; easing tannins; rich round finish. w/beef
