PX This.

  Selene – Chesler 2004 – Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California Cost: $60/Bottle Interesting; I would have pegged it as an Italian wine if I hadn’t known it was made from the fruit of Napa Valley. It has an aromatic profile with raisin, ripe prunes, mild black cherries, subtle fresh […]

  Antinori Solaia 1997 – Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc – Tuscany, Italy Cost: $85/bottle purchased in early 2000 (vintage 2006 currently about $175/bottle) Amazingly dark ruby/purple color for a slowly maturing wine that is 12 years off the vine. Full-bodied and rather inky in texture. The nose is slow to emerge, almost as […]

Clos La Coutale 2007 – Cahors, France (dry red wine) Cost: $10/Bottle Browsing at a wine store, they give this bottle to me and say, “just try it and see what you think.” At $10/bottle, how could I go wrong? And I certainly didn’t. It does indeed have good value with its dark opaque purple […]

Bangin Red 2006 – Napa Valley, California Cost: $11.99/bottle Shopping at one of my favorite liquor stores, the manager recommended an $11.99 bottle of Bangin Red, made of a blend of 6 grape varietals: cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec, petit verdot, plus a scant 2% of zinfandel— a blend I couldn’t help but find […]

Rustenberg – John X. Merriman 2005, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa Cost: $26.99/bottle A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and some dollops of the remaining Bordeaux varietals, this dark, saturated, ruby-colored wine exhibited a silky smooth medium body with perfume-like scents of cedar, black currants, black cherry, dark Godiva chocolate, and subtle toasted oak. In […]

Quintessa 2004 – Bordeaux blend – Napa Valley, California Cost: $250/bottle restaurant retail or app. $125 store retail A bit of a splurge on the Quintessa 2004, a wine made predominantly of cabernet sauvignon, but with dollops of other red varietals. Nose of liquid Snickers, and mocha-java coffee that lingers above the blackberries and blueberries, […]

Oreno – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese – 2006 Tuscany Cost: $80-$85/bottle A dark opaque purple wine, moderately full-bodied with rather elevated acidity and tannins. Granted, it is young (recently released, that is). Its nose is already revealing— with great black cherries, black raspberries, violets, cedar, graphite, and a touch of vanilla bean. In the […]

Amizetta Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 – Napa Valley, California Cost: $22.99/bottle It’s quite a surprise to find an 11 year-old California cabernet at a wine store these days— but I came across this for just a penny under $23 and thought it certainly worth checking out. My palate tends to prefer older more mature wines for […]

Francis Ford Coppola – Director’s Cut 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Cost: $18-$24/bottle Dark purple opaque in color. Very young, almost fresh pressed juice but still with a tannic presence. Nice fruit content showcasing notes of toasted oak, vanilla extract, black and red currants and a touch of

Bilton Wines – Matt Black, 2006 – South Africa Cost: $14/bottle   After tasting a whole bunch of mediocre red wines, I came across this one from South Africa, a red blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Verdot… kind of a Bordeaux blend with that juicy Shiraz to spike it up. The nose […]