Martin Ray
Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, USA
It’s time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. Here is a nice one from Sonoma County, California.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black currants, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and light vegetables.
Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn, earth, green tea, vegetables and graphite.
Medium-plus on the finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon from a Double Magnum is a nice surprise. Very tasty and easy to drink.
Well balanced with nice complexity. Spicy with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs a full hour to open up properly. I used 4 decanters.
After 2 hours of airtime, it drinks like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.
Could continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120 (double Magnum).
It’s time for my Friday's Cabernet fix. Here is a nice one from Sonoma County, California.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose with black currants, cherries, plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and light vegetables.
Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn, earth, green tea, vegetables and graphite.
Medium-plus on the finish with fine-grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon from a Double Magnum is a nice surprise. Very tasty and easy to drink.
Well balanced with nice complexity. Spicy with a nice mouthfeel.
Needs a full hour to open up properly. I used 4 decanters.
After 2 hours of airtime, it drinks like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Interesting stuff.
Could continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.
I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French and American oak barrels for 12 months.
14.2% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$120 (double Magnum).
A little better than that Angeline cab, but still not rocking my socks.
A little better than that Angeline cab, but still not rocking my socks.
2 people found it helpfulApr 13th, 2015
Very nice blackberry, smooth finish with some hints of cassis. Silky on the pallet. Nice cab
Very nice blackberry, smooth finish with some hints of cassis. Silky on the pallet. Nice cab
Jul 17th, 2016Nice Cabernet with a good berry flavor not to dry
Nice Cabernet with a good berry flavor not to dry
Jun 9th, 2016
Came across this 2012 vintage on sale at our grocery store. Very pleased, nice aroma very pleasant taste.
Came across this 2012 vintage on sale at our grocery store. Very pleased, nice aroma very pleasant taste.
Apr 11th, 2016
Deep red violet with Crimson translucent rim. Mild nose of cherry, tobacco, cedar and licorice. Light bodied dry acid opening of cherry/plum, cocoa and earth gives way to peppery, oakey, clingy small tannins with a slightly bitter long finish. Balance is shifted toward tannic finish with structure dominated by acid/tannin emphasis. Needs 30 minutes to open and structure means wine is better with rich food than as a sipper. Fair value at $13.48 USD.
Deep red violet with Crimson translucent rim. Mild nose of cherry, tobacco, cedar and licorice. Light bodied dry acid opening of cherry/plum, cocoa and earth gives way to peppery, oakey, clingy small tannins with a slightly bitter long finish. Balance is shifted toward tannic finish with structure dominated by acid/tannin emphasis. Needs 30 minutes to open and structure means wine is better with rich food than as a sipper. Fair value at $13.48 USD.
Apr 6th, 2016