Okay, it’s in the can. The Royal Tannin Bomb’s Tier II affordable mostly California Cabernet Sauvignon tasting. This is in preparation for the Tier I tasting which at this point looks like it will be the best of the Old World vs. the best of the New World.
Tasting Date: 02/06/2009
Tasting Geeks: Tally-Ho, The Bad Man
Tasting Theme: Cali (mostly) Cab, Tier II, affordable – assaggio majoralus
The Contenders:
2006 Louis Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.9% abv, $12.98
2007 Viña Ventisquero Root:1 [The Original Ungrafted] Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% abv, $9.99
2005 Villa Mt Eden Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.2% abv, $13.99
2001 Raimat Costers del Segre D.O. Spanish 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot, 13.5% abv, $7.99
2005 Paoletti Vineyards Piccolo Cru Napa Valley Meritage, 14.1% abv, $16.99
2006 Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.8% abv, $11.99
2006 Nine North Wine Company Twenty Bench Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.1% abv, $17.99
Read all about the detailed tasting here. Then come back and post a comment below!
10/02/2009 at 2:18 pm Permalink
As soon as I smelled that middle wine in the line-up, wine number 4, I though it had to be the 8 year old Spanish swill! Who ever heard of Cabernet Sauvignon growing in Spain anyway? And to those of you who quip up being all holier-than-thou because I know nothing about Cab since I haven’t brushed up on my Spain/Cab Trivial Pursuit knowledge, guess again – that shit sucked!
10/02/2009 at 2:53 pm Permalink
I’d only had 3 of the seven bottles prior to our Tier II, and although my pre-tasting predictions were all wrong and I only correctly guessed The Root 1, Raimet and Piccolo, I was pleasantly surprised to rate 4 of these wines between 86 and 88; possibly the tightest showing for me in memory. Props to Rod at Wine Thieves for mostly not steering us wrong. I’ll forgive him the Raimet because he redeemed himself on the Avalon and Villa Mt Eden.
Good news: 2 of my favs are readily available and priced under $14! Try and say that about the Zins we Royals favor.
Bad news- Spain is not a ‘go to’ locale for Cabernet Sauvignon and fresh cut green pepper can be a wine killer.