Tasting Notes 8/19/11

NCWC CABERNET DEBATE, 8/19/11

 PELERIN CHARDONNAY 2009

                We begin our Cabernet Taste-Off by cleansing our palates with this beautiful Chardonnay from the Sierra Mar vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Its very rich nose of spiced apples and Asian pears follows through on the palate with bright fruit pushed along by tangy acidity, making this as crisp as an advance team preparing for a presidential debate.  90 points Tobins.  $19.97.

FERRARI-CARANO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

                Our first candidate for King Cabernet is this lovely example from Alexander Valley.  You’ll find its resume loaded with intriguing flavors, including currants, fennel, sage, loamy earth and minerality.  Significant tannins will grab hold of your tonsils like a presidential hopeful shaking every hand in Iowa.  88 points Wine Spectator.  $19.97.

CLESI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

                Our next contender is a small production Cab from Paso with big flavor.  The intriguing nose carries blueberry, cocoa, and violet aromas.  Then mouthcoating tannins shepherd flavors of blackberry, dried cherry and mocha accented by floral notes.  In the spirit of the original Daley political machine that ran Chicago for so many years, you may want to “vote early and vote often” for this one.  $19.97

JOCELYN LONEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

                Yes, it’s as true as George Washington’s word; this is a terrific Napa Cab for 20 bucks.  Actually 75% Cabernet with Malbec and Charbono rounding out the balance, this boasts bright, lush fruit and soft tannins along with touches of cedar and spice.  A little of this will have you kissing babies in no time, and probably anyone else who happens by.  $19.97.

AMIZETTA COMPLEXITY 2007

                This candidate also hails from Napa.  A Bordeaux-style blend that lives up to its name, the Complexity opens its rebuttal with pretty aromas of dark fruit, cedar and floral notes.  Then it makes a proud statement on the palate with blackberries, light herbs and dark chocolate to go with earthy notes.  91 points Jim Tobin.  $19.97.

FALLBROOK WINERY BDX 2008

                Our final contestant for $20 King Cab is this Cab-based blend, which appeals to all constituencies by including Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, and Malbec.  But it still holds true to its core platform of dark, juicy blackberries and cherries accented by planks of light smoke and acidity.  Upright but approachable tannins keep this as steady as a White House press secretary, but with a much longer shelf life.  88 points Tobins.  $19.97.

RODNEY STRONG SYMMETRY 2007

                Our bonus wine is another Cab blend from Napa, and would be a proud candidate for King Cab in the $40 range.  New, sweetly toasted oak runs through delicious flavors of blackberry, cherry, currant, mocha and bacon.  It’s attractive, alluring, and appealing right now but shows the tannic structure to age well throughout multiple terms in office.  In other words, it’s a shoo-in.  94 points Wine Enthusiast.  $39.97.