Tag Archives: Cabernet Sauvignon

Zenato Alanera Rosso 2020

4 November 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Red Blends Other from Veneto, Italy

Corvina 70%, Rondinella 10%, Corvinone 10%, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Purchase Price: $15.99

Wine Enthusiast 90, ElsBob 91

ABV 13.5%

A medium garnet with a tawny rim in color. A medium-bodied wine with aromas of cherries and coffee. On the palate a touch of sweetness and plums, easy tannins and an acidity that provides a refreshing finish.

An excellent table wine at very nice price. Current price is about $17.00.

Trivia: Veneto wine region of northeastern Italy stretches from the canals of Venice to the Alpine foothills. Viticulture here dates to Roman times, with early vineyards tended by local tribes. During the height of the Venetian Republic, paralleling the fortunes of Florentine Renaissance, Veneto became a hub for wine blending and trade, shipping its product throughout the Mediterranean Basin, Byzantine and Ottoman Territories, Northern Europe, and along the Silk Road all the way to Mongolia. This hemispheric reach not only spread winemaking techniques but elevated the reputation of Veneto wines.

At the end of Republic in the 1797 winemaking was in a slow, constant decline. The erosion of trade routes, driven by the Republic’s ossified and hidebound bureaucracy and maritime collapse, decimated the region’s commercial infrastructure. Recovery began in the late 18th and into the 19th century, not as a revival of trans-national trade but as a scientific and agrarian rebirth. Improved farming techniques and increased vineyard plantings were initially focused on local consumption. Today, Veneto is Italy’s top wine-producing region, accounting for roughly 25% of the country’s output and over 35% of its exports. Prosecco and Pinot Grigio occupy the region’s power positions in volume, anchoring its global presence.

Chateau Moulin de Mallet 2020

26 September 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blends from Bordeaux, France

Merlot 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Purchase Price: $12.98

Wine Enthusiast 90, ElsBob 86

ABV 14%

A deep garnet to deep ruby wine, with aromas of black fruits, medium bodied, strong tannins verging on overpowering and acidic.  Sub 90 wines always go better with spicy or tomato-based appetizers such as meatballs in a marinara sauce or aged cheeses such as cheddar, blue, or Gouda.

A good wine at an elevated price. I wouldn’t pay more than $8-9 for this wine. Currently the wine ranges from $12-15.

Trivia: In the 17th century, the Médoc, now home to legendary estates like Château Margaux and Château Latour, was a marshland, better known for corn than Cabernet. Dutch masters of hydraulic engineering and maritime trade drained the swamps, transforming them into arable land ideal for vineyards. Their aim was strategic rather than altruistic: to buy Bordeaux wine and sell it to the English at a modest profit, or a ludicrous one, if the winds blew favorably.

Windmills pumped water into manmade canals that emptied into the Gironde estuary, terraforming the landscape into a system of trade, terroir, tale, and endless lore. Though water management continues today, steam and electric pumps have long replaced the windmills. Most were dismantled or left to decay, their blades stilled by steam and electric pumps.

One survivor, the restored 18th-century Moulin de Lansac and another, depicted on the wine label shown above, Moulin de Mallet, were not water-pumpers but grain-grinders. Moulin in French translates to grain-grinder, turning wind into flour rather than marsh into vineyard. Still, it stands as a quiet admission of simpler times.

Dutch windmills turning. Pleistocene gravels emerging. French vines growing.

Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind “ by Noel Harrison, The Thomas Crown Affair, 1968.

Devin Nunes Patriot 2021

9 September 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Margarita Ranch, Paso Robles, California

Purchase Price: $50.00

ElsBob 93

ABV 14.29%

A clear deep ruby color, full-bodied and bold with aromas of dark fruit and oak. On the palate the wine exhibits tastes of cherries and plums. Slightly acidic with noticeable but fine tannins and a very long satisfying finish. We served this wine over a meal of cheese tortellini in a mushroom garlic alfredo sauce topped with a grilled chicken breast. Somehow it worked perfectly.

An excellent fine wine at a very reasonable price. Drink now or hold for another 10 plus years.

Trivia: Devin Nunes’ winemaking venture is a revival of his family heritage. His grandfather farmed grapes in California, and the family vineyards endured until the 1990s. In 2020, Nunes leased vineyards in San Luis Obispo County and partnered with winemaker Mike Sinor to craft blends using Portuguese varietals.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is named The Patriot, a moniker crowdsourced via Truth Social. The bottle design features large white lettering reminiscent of vintage port, a possible nod to Nunes’ less ostentatious Portuguese roots and perhaps a subtle dig at Napa’s more overt polish. Part of his folksy branding includes leaving bottle neck naked sans the capsule, stripped of all pretenses on the rack, a silent expression of independence in a land of hyper-homogeneity.

Old Soul Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

4 September 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, California

Purchase Price: $11.99

Tasting Panel 91, Wine Enthusiast 90, ElsBob 90

ABV 14.5%

Garnet in color, aromas of plums, full-bodied, dry with a tannic finish.

An excellent fine wine at a very reasonable and friendly price.

Trivia:  The first mug of A&W Root Beer was poured in Lodi in 1919, making it the birthplace of one of America’s earliest fast-food franchises. Also, John Fogerty admits he never actually visited Lodi but chose the name for the CCR song because it sounded cool: “Oh Lord, I’m stuck in Lodi again”. Continuing with Lodi irreverence, the town’s west edge features the geographic head scratcher of South Lower Sacramento Road located north of North Lower Sacramento Road.

Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

27 August 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California

Cabernet Sauvignon 83%, Merlot 13%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Petit Verdot 2%

Purchase Price: $59.99

James Suckling 92, Wilfred Wong 92, Connoisseurs Guide 91, Wine Spectator 90, Wine Buyer 90, ElsBob 92

ABV 14.5%

A dark ruby wine with aromas of anise, dark fruits, spices, and vanilla. Full-bodied, with tingly fresh acidity, tannins with a bite, and flavors of blackberries and black cherries on the palate. A wonderful long finish.

An excellent fine Napa wine at a fair price. Recent retail prices range from $60 to $115, with a median price just under $70 for a 92-point 2019 vintage. Selected retail is $78.

Trivia: Founded in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in St. Helena, Duckhorn Vineyards was one of Napa Valley’s first 40 wineries. Their inaugural releases in 1980 included both Cabernet Sauvignon and the now-iconic Merlot. Over the decades, they expanded into Sonoma, Anderson Valley, and Washington State under various duck-themed labels.

Beginning in 2007, the Duckhorns began selling controlling interests to private equity firms. After several transitions to various companies, the winery was acquired by Butterfly Equity in 2024, a firm specializing in food and beverage investments.

Millworks Pillar & Post Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

14 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

Purchase Price: $19.99 (retail range $20-22)

Cellar Tracker 89, ElsBob 89

ABV 14.5%

A deep, dense red with full body and aromas of black currants and blackberries. Tannins are assertive up front, balanced by acidity, leading to an excellent finish.

A fine wine with surprising structure and complexity at this price point. Drink now or hold for 2-3 more years.

Trivia: This wine was produced by Millworks, a now-defunct label and bottling entity owned by Paul Hobbs. Though both the company and label are no longer active, the wine’s origins trace back to Paul Hobbs Winery, where it was vinified using Hobbs’ signature methods and materials. The grapes were sourced from Napa Valley vineyards not owned by Hobbs, placing this bottle stylistically adjacent to his Sonoma Crossbarn project, which similarly emphasizes quality fruit and precise techniques, including wines crafted from both estate and non-estate sources. A quiet echo of Hobbs’ craftsmanship, delivered under a separate name. (Editor’s note: This section was pieced together from disparate and incomplete sources, so its accuracy may be imperfect.)

Tenuta Rapitala Hugonis DOC 2019

9 July 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , Leave a comment

Red Blend Other from Sicily

Cabernet Sauvignon 50% and Nero d’Avola 50%

Purchase Price: $75 (Restaurant)

ElsBob 91

ABV 14.0%

A dense deep red, full-bodied, with aromas of red fruit and spice, well balanced with tannins that add a fine even structure, and a very long, pleasant finish. It was an excellent pairing with our entrées of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

An excellent fine wine that retails from $38-60. $38 is a fair price to pay but $60 is a bit much. Drink now or hold for another 4-5 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Nero d’Avola grapes produce a full-bodied wine high in tannins with medium acidity and tastes of red fruits. Almost all Nero d’Avola wines come from the dry farms of Sicily and are a natural for blending with Cabs and Shirazes. The name originates from the southern Sicilian town of Avola which began growing the grape several centuries ago.

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari 2022

30 June 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Bordeaux Red Blend from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot

Purchase Price: $139 (Restaurant)

Wine Enthusiast 96, James Suckling 95, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Spectator 93, Decanter 93, Vinous 91, ElsBob 94

ABV 14.5%

A dark red, full-bodied wine with aromas of black fruits, silky tannins, and remarkable balance. The long, enjoyable finish paired exceptionally well with our main courses of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

A superb fine wine, currently retailing between $80–$120. Drink now or hold for 5–10 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Ca’Marcanda, GAJA’s estate in Bolgheri with roots in Barbaresco, Piedmont, part of the Wilson Daniels portfolio, was acquired in 1996 after 18 distinct and arduous negotiations with the previous owners. The name comes from a Piedmontese dialect expression meaning “The House of Endless Negotiations”, a nod to the persistence and diplomacy required to secure the land.

By Italian cultural standards, the name is not a slight but a compliment. Negotiation is seen as an art form, a process of relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect. Naming the estate Ca’Marcanda honors that tradition: a story of tenacity, dialogue, and reverence for the craft of agreement, worn as a badge of honor by both buyer and seller.

Trivento Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

11 June 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina

Cabernet Sauvignon 100%

Purchase Price: $11.99

Tasting Panel 91,Wine Enthusiast 87, ElsBob 88

ABV 13.5%

A deep ruby in color, medium to full body, aromas of red and black fruits, pepper, with a touch of vanilla. On the palate it is moderately acidic, slightly tannic, with a long, structured finish.

A very good table wine at a fair price. Drink now. Cheers.

Trivia: The Trivento name is a tip of the corkscrew to the three dominant winds around Mendoza: Polar, Zonda, and Sudestada. Polar winds bring cold air from the south. Zonda are strong, warm, and very dry west winds coming off Andes, often producing dust storms. They would be similar to Santa Ana and Chinook winds in the US. The Sudestada winds come from the southeast bringing humid air and generally prolonged rainfall.

Artiga & Fustel El Campeador 2022

20 May 2025 By in Red Wine, Wine Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Other Red Blends from Jumilla, Spain

Syrah 50%, Monastrell 40%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Purchase Price: $11.99

James Suckling 90, ElsBob 91

ABV 14.5%

A dense dark purple color, medium to full body, aromas of black fruit and spice. On the palate it is acidic, noticeable tannins but smooth, with a long finish.

An excellent fine wine at a great price. Recent prices are in the $14-17 range. Drink now. Cheers.

Trivia: Jumilla is a wine DO of the Murcia region near the Mediterranean in southeastern Spain. Monastrell (Mourvedre) is the dominant grape grown in this hot, arid region. In good years the DO produces about 100 million bottles of wine but the area has experienced severe droughts for the last couple of years and as such yields have decreased by 50-80%. 2024 yields supplied enough grapes to produce approximately 45 million bottles of wine. On the brighter side the grapes were said to have achieved “perfect ripeness” but with only average sugar levels.