Cabernet Sauvignon from Navarro, Spain
Purchase Price: $11.99
Wine Enthusiast 93, ElsBob 90
ABV 13.5%
A clear dark cherry red color, aromas of black fruit, licorice, and spice. On the palate it is acidic, subtle tannins, smooth, with a long finish.
An excellent table wine at a great price. Not as bold or complex as a Napa Cab but still interesting and worthwhile. Drink now. Cheers.
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Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale, South Australia.
Purchase Price: $11.99
Wine Enthusiast 91, Wine Spectator 90, ElsBob 89
ABV 14.5%
Aromas of red and black fruits (Le Rouge et le Noir, Stendahal 1830😊), spice; full bodied, bold, chunky tannins with a medium long finish. Not particularly a great sipping wine. Will need to be paired with bold foods such as lamb or strong cheese.
A very good fine wine at a fair price. Although I find the wine label simply atrocious, the eye charts are a playful sobriety test to determine if you can, or should, have another glass.
Trivia: The phrase “stump jump” in Australia refers to the stump-jump plough, an agricultural tool invented in South Australia in 1876. This plough was designed to “jump” over tree stumps, roots, and rocks allowing farmers to cultivate land without the labor-intensive process of removing the buried debris. The tool was recognized as one of the most important agricultural inventions of the 19th century.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Finger Lakes, NY
Purchase Price: $27.99
ElsBob 89
ABV 12.0%
Aromas of black fruits, herbs and spice; medium bodied, semi-dry, moderately light tannins with a smooth finish. Will pair well aged cheese, and pasta.
A very good table wine off the beaten path but overpriced. If you can find it for $10-12 you wouldn’t go wrong picking up a few bottles.
Bordeaux from Tuscany, Italy
Merlot 41%, Cabernet Franc 34%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, Petit Verdot 5%
Purchase Price: $87.00 (Restaurant)
James Suckling 93, Wine Spectator 93, Jeb Dunnuck 92, Robert Parker 92, ElsBob 92
ABV 14.5%
Aromas of black cherry and plum; full-bodied and dry with a silky tannic finish. Pairs well with ribeye, filet, grilled vegetables, or desserts like cannoli and tiramisu. We enjoyed it with osso boco on garlic mashed potatoes – delicious. Also ideal for sipping on a shady patio on a warm afternoon.
An excellent fine wine priced slightly under the median for 92-point wines (retail ~$52).
Trivia: A Faun (Fauno in Latin) is a half-human, half-goat creature in Greek and Roman mythology with hairy legs, pointed ears, a tail, and human arms. The most famous faun is Pan, the Greek god of nature, known for playing a flute, his sexual prowess, and joking attitude.
Other Red Blends from El Bierzo, Spain
Cabernet Sauvignon and Mencia
Purchase Price: $12.99
Wine Enthusiast 91, James Suckling 91, ElsBob 90
ABV 13%
Ruby red in color, aromas of black fruits and flowers, medium to full-bodied, smooth, dry bitter cherry tannins. Ideal with roasted or grilled meats and Spanish shellfish Paella.
An excellent table wine at a very reasonable price…cheap even. Buy a case and set it aside if you can find it.
Trivia: Mencia grapes are only known from the Spanish and Portuguese Iberian Peninsula, producing medium-bodied aromatic red wines that will age well.
Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon 83%, Other Red 17%, from California, USA
Purchase Price: $12.99
Vivino 90, ElsBob 90
ABV: 14.5%
Aromas of black and purple fruits, mainly plums, spice, and chocolate. Full-bodied, smooth, and light in tannins. Will pair very well with lamb.
An excellent wine at an unbelievable price. Stock up if you can find it for less than $15.
Trivia: Charles Dickens often referenced Claret wines in his novels such as Great Expectations.
Cabernet Sauvignon from California
Purchase Price: $17.99
Wine Enthusiast 92, ElsBob 93
ABV 13.9%
Aromas of black fruit, a hint of vanilla, full-bodied, slightly tannic, dry, and a wonderful long finish. This wine will pair well with all meats and is also great on its own.
An excellent wine at about half the price you would expect to pay for a 92–93-point wine. Stock up on this wine if you can find it at this price.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, Central Coast, California.
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Sirah, 4% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot, and 2% Malbec
Purchase Price: $17.99
James Suckling 91, Tasting Panel 91, ElsBob 90.
ABV 14%
Deep ruby trending purple in color, blackberries oak and vanilla aromas, full-bodied, dry, full tannins. An excellent wine to serve with beef cuts or just sipping it to unwind at the end of the workday.
A fine California wine under $20. A 90-point wine generally sells at a mean (average) price of $40.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina
Purchase Price: $14.99
Rankings: James Suckling 91. Robert Parker 90. ElsBob 91.
ABV: 14.5%
A deep red color, medium to full bodied, aromas of plums and cherries, dry, tannic, with a fresh medium finish. A great sipping wine with strong cheeses or server with steak or lamb.
An excellent wine that has aged nicely with a price is $7-10 less than comparable cabs.
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