I usually know what I want to drink with any particular dish I am eating. I say usually. Occasionally I either can’t quite figure out what would be best, or I just plain don’t care! This often happens when I grill a great burger and want a nice red to accompany it. Lately I have [...]

Last week, the boss (read: wife) and I hosted a wine tasting at the house for a few close friends. We only stipulated under $30 and red….cold and rainy, no whites allowed. As often happens, we ultimately ended up with 6 Cabernets, and our Spanish blend (our friends do love their cabs). Lo and behold, [...]

Continuing the Thanksgiving theme….we know that the “experts” say Pinot Noir for turkey, but what if you are doing something different for Thanksgiving? A few years back I had a chorizo-stuffed turkey (fantastic FYI) that would have destroyed a Pinot. Or, for that matter, what if you just don’t like Pinot? Cabernet Sauvignon, especially those [...]

David Ramey is one of the founding fathers of modern Napa and Sonoma winemaking. Having help establish Chalk Hill, Dominus, and Rudd Estate, he was an early champion and developer of indigenous California yeasts. He applies all this knowledge to his own line of wines now, with nary a miss in any. Take the Ramey [...]

This will be a first for me on this blog…hyping a South African red. Not that you should read much into it, more a coincidence than anything else, I have had much more past experience with SA whites. The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Excelsior could easily be mistaken for a above average cabernet from France’s [...]

Here is a great little, “off-the beaten path” red blend from Argentina. A region known almost exclusively for Malbec, this little gem is a combination of the classic Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. Bodega Benegas Don Tiburcio 2005 show a bright ruby color. Smoky dark berries, black cherry, plum, [...]

Something a little thematic today. On a day that we hopefully celebrate and embrace our liberty,  Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is a lot of wine in normal size bottle, for a small price. This wine displays upfront aromas of ripe red fruit and hints of vanillin, followed by similar vibrant red berry flavors. Solid [...]

Ex Libris Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, from the Champoux Vineyard in Washington State (pronounced shampoo) is a tremendous value in today’s Cabernet selections. Ex-Libris is a latin term for “from the library,” and was the guiding principal for this proprietary project. Through connections with some top wineries in Washington and California, we were able to go [...]

J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks is an intensely-colored with youthful and bright hues. An abundance of dark cherry, black currant and berry fruit greets the nose, enhanced by spicy cedar, vanilla and toasty notes. On the palate, the fruit follows through with full weight and a lingering intensity and balance from the tannins. From [...]

Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, from acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaezter, is a find from South Eastern Australia. This fruity powerhouse is described by Jay Miller (Wine Advocate) as “…Purple-colored, it delivers a fragrant nose of vanilla, cedar, spice box, tobacco, and black currants. This leads to a medium-bodied, elegantly styled Cabernet with concentrated black fruit flavors, [...]