Tag Archives: Cabernet Sauvignon

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 Though both the company and label are no longer active, the wine’s origins trace back to Paul Hobbs Winery, where it was vinified using Hobbs’ signature methods and materials.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.

Bodegas Manzanos Reino De Altuzarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

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

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.

Posted

D’Arenberg The Stump Jump Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

25 March 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , Leave a comment

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.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

18 March 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , Leave a comment

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.

Tenuta di Arceno Il Fauno di Arcanum 2020

25 February 2025 By in Red Wine Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

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.