Albert Bichot Saint~Amour Les Champlettes 2014 Gamay (Beaujolais) Red Wine, $18.99-$20.99, 89 points, appeared as a rainbow of bright red colors, mostly cranberry red, but flashes of ruby and maroon complicated the chart.
Aromatic floral red cherry with just a hint of what is becoming a more standardized Necco Wafer (see: The Fun of Smelling) descriptor were intriguing.
Medium-bodied marked by mouth-watering acidity and surprising fine supportive tannin managed a rather dry red wine with flavors of cherry, strawberry, cola, and a nutty note.
Finished well on hints of white pepper and marzipan with a balanced 13% alcohol.
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Ladera Napa Valley 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $39.99, 88 points, appeared as a crushed black currant purple/red with a broad clear wine ring and some draping.
Upon opening, dusty cedar aromas were outstanding, but with some air gave way to plum and strong black currant aromas.
Medium-plus bodied with good acidity and still strident grainy tannin carried flavors reflective of the aromas with red cherry and dried herb notes.
Finished fair on the well integrated 14.1% alcohol, white pepper, pomegranate, and a slightly astringent tannin.
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Martin Ray 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.99-$19.99, 89 points, poured core black grading purple/red then a tinged brick-red toward the thin clear wine ring and leggy glass wall.
Smells of cedar, clove, cinnamon, black currant, juniper berry, and sea breezes were quite good.
Full-bodied with good acidity and round soft tannins managed good flavors of cola, plum, black currant, and hints of mulled cooking spices.
Finished well on a warm 14.4% alcohol, warm spice notes, and the trailing palate.
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Frog's Leap "Estate" Rutherford 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $49.99-$54.99, 94 points, poured a crushed black currant purple/red with flashes of maroon toward the transparent wine ring and teary glass bowl.
This Cabernet might not wow the average Cab drinker, but it just might hypnotize with sheer provocatively piquant prowess; marked by aromatic dusty cedar, soft Arabica coffee notes, and fruity blackberries, this wine begins to mesmerize.
Frog's Leap Rutherford Cab just might lull you with its velvety full-bodied texture rather than muscle you with astringent tannins or hot alcohol levels, and just might please your palate with mouth-watering acidity, pinpoint flavors of bilberry, blackberry, truffle, anise, and a hint of mint.
Finished long on the delicious trailing palate and an innocuous 13.4% alcohol.
Varietals were 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc.
Paired perfectly with my veggie pizza and spiced rubbed porterhouse steak.
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Sean Minor Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.99-$22,99, 89 points, poured a deep maroon color with a broad clear wine ring and a leggy glass bowl.
Profuse blueberry aromas with hints of violets, raspberry, and black fruit were okay.
Medium toward medium-plus body carried good acidity and appropriately supportive tannin.
Flavors reflective of the aromas with hints of coffee and cola were good.
Finished long on nuanced flavors of mocha, warm spices, and a sweet-spot 13.5% alcohol.
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Louis M. Martini Alexander Valley 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $19.99-$23.99, 90 points, was a bright ruby red grading crushed black currant purple/red toward the broad clear wine ring and leggy glass bowl.
Subtle aromas of violets, cedar, roses, and black fruit were very good (wow, two in a row).
Medium-plus body carried good acidity, mildly supportive tannin, and robust flavors of licorice, black currant, warm loam, black cherry, cola and pomegranate.
Finished long on the trailing palate, warm spice, and a well balanced 14.1% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with a rack of spiced Australian lamb.
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Alexander Valley Vineyards (Wetzel Family Estates) 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, $14.99-$24.99, 89+ points, poured a deep ruby red trending orange toward the still broad clear wine ring.
Aromatic underbrush, cedar, blackberry, and hints of cinnamon were excellent.
Medium-plus body carried fair acidity, nearly resolved tannin (considerable sediment-decant), and a wonderful panoply of flavors; licorice flavors were strong, and Hot Tamales Candy were invigorating, but more traditional blackberry, mint, and blueberry were quite good.
Finished long on the trailing palate, warm spice, and a well integrated 14% alcohol.
Paired well with my spiced rib-eye steak and broccoli in cheddar-cheese sauce.
You're not likely to find this vintage, but if you find a more recent vintage and you give it a try, let me know your opinion.
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