Cabernet Sauvignon vignette #14a & #14b Kenwood Cabernet Wines-Sonoma Valley & Jack London

Kenwood Sonoma Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $13.99-$16.99, 88 points, has an almost rose color, the aroma  breaks with an earthy quality (Carries over to palate) and as the wine breathes, a bit of black currant and a hint of mocha fragrances appear.

The Kenwood 2007 Sonoma Cabernet is a light to medium bodied wine with little early palate flavor, but with grapey-plum late palate flavors, and with a fair spice finish; this is a clean wine, quaffable, delicious, and pair-able, or as a stand-alone wine. This is just what I've come to expect from Kenwood: a good wine at a fair price, for the QPR is very good.

Kenwood Jack London 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $29.99-$35.99, 90 points, is the 30th anniversary of this Sonoma Valley wine.

The color is darker than the above reviewed wine, and less bright, the early palate is richer, but overall the flavor is similar, however the finish is long, spicy, and rich, all wound together in a heavier-body than the 2007 Sonoma. The QPR does not stand-up to the 2007 Sonoma, but if you can find the Jack London for a better price than I bought it ($29.99), I would recommend this wine.

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Cabernet Sauvignon Vignette #13 Burgess Napa Valley 2005

Burgess Napa Valley 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, $28.99-$38.99, 89 points, has a lighter Bordeaux color than the 2005 Supery, but the strong vegetative aroma (Hints of which carry-over onto palate) and overall feel makes these two wines difficult to tell apart in a blind-taste-testing. With just a bit more fruit, the Burgess defines itself, but the price is hard to justify with so many good Cabernet wines available, and lacking great distinction, I'm not inclined to try this one again, at least not until another vintage and a GOOD sale present themselves enticing.

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Cabernet Sauvignon Vignette #12 2006 Toasted Head

Toasted Head 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon , $12.99-$14.99, 85 points, has a fair, but muted aroma, Bordeaux Black-currant color, and a rather one dimensional  black-fruit flavor, but lacking anything distracting, not a bad social Cab.

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Cabernet Sauvignon Vignette #11 FRANCISCAN NAPA VALLEY 2007

 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.99-$22.99, 90 points, has a strong aroma of Black currant wafting up from a deep purple full-body.

This cab begins with an instant tannic bomb which maybe too much for some, but for me the tannin adds a dynamic that otherwise might leave the Franciscan Cabernet a bit boring; of course with bottle age that tannin should relax, but I like it now; I think the tannin wakens this wine, while the 13.5% alcohol will hardly dent the overall good flavor of plum and licorice, it is smooth and suitable for most Cabernet cuisine. 

Want something different, or just want to impress friends? At $18.99, this is a big wine for a fair price.






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BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON PRIVATE RESERVE 2007 NAPA VALLEY

This wine cannot be presented as a vignette because that would be an oxymoron.

Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $67.99-$115.00, 94 points, is one of those wines you don't just open and mindlessly gulp-down.
 I was in no hurry. There was no competition, just me and this Cabernet to listen to; I was prepared by a hard day at work and being left alone; I was up for the adventure which began with hues as crystal-clear as a dense Australian Shiraz could be, and with flashes of deep ruby.
A beautiful bouquet of gentle Red cedar, hints of cinnamon, and sweet Black currant was, in the modern vernacular, AWESOME!  With supple flavors of prune and smooth licorice resting on mid palate, and just a hint of espresso late-palate. The long finish of spice, and just hints of mint and menthol  imprinted forever this pleasant wine experience, which was totally in harmony with a friend of mine.
Now, what to pair this mammoth Cabernet of full-body, silky texture, and weight, with?
This wine will dominate most cuisine, but was okay with a bacon-black-bean stew.
This is a show-case wine for important friends and occasions, or for R and R.
Robert Parker scored this wine 95 points, however Wine Access has him scoring it 97 points. Some confusion here, but I'm uncertain which is correct.
Stephen Tanzer scored it 92 points.
WS scored it 91 points.
It's hard to justify paying BIG dollars for a 91 point wine, but I can assure you this is not a 91 point wine.
Laurie Hook Winemaker and Ed Sbragia have carved a fine wine out of the hills and fields of Bancroft Ranch, Steinhauer, Chabot, Lampyridae, St. Helena Home, Marston, and Rancho del Oso.

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Cabernet Sauvignon Vignette #10 2005 ST. SUPERY NAPA VALLEY

ST. SUPERY NAPA VALLEY 2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, $24.99-$34.99, 89 Points, is to me, not as described by the St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery,
but just maybe, you'll find this wine as I have found it: dark Bordeaux color, strong vegetative aroma (Hints of which carry-over onto palate), long Tabasco finish, but mid palate hints of plum, licorice, and eucalyptus lightly wrapped in a light body of glycerol.
This wine is not a typical fruit-forward Cabernet, but more Syrah-like to me, and maybe that's why I like this wine so much, but I think many Cab drinkers will not, and at this price not an enthusiastic recommendation.

 

 

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Cabernet Sauvignon Vignette #9 2006 Benziger, 2005 Ferrari-Carano, 2007 Justin PASO ROBLES

Three vignets of California Cabernet Sauvignon wines, all 88 points, all are a good buy on sale, all rich and full of flavor, and  all will pair with appropriate cuisine. Availability and price will help in choosing which Cabernet is right for you. Need help with that pairing? Check-out: .foodandwinepairing.org

Benziger Sonoma County 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99-$18.99, 88 points, has a pleasant aroma, is rich, smooth, and earthy. Though a friend of mine thought it thin (I did not), for these dollars you have a good wine.


Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, $22.99-$36.99, 88 points, has a pleasant aroma, lush and wonderful, but maybe just too fruit forward for me, but at the lower price, this is a good buy. Also posted on: Winter's Cabin Fever Brings out the Cabernet In Me


Justin Paso Robles 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $21.99-$29.99, 88 points, is more complex than the others, more a light-bodied wine (That could be the feel of a 13.5% alcohol), but rewards with a fine long finish. Again, Quality, Price, Ratio (QPR) is important, but with these three Cabernet Sauvignon wines, QPR is quite close when found on sale.

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