This cabernet is produced by a California negociant, and is a mighty good $12 cabernet. As evidence of its quality, this cabernet and the Castle Rock Chardonnay have been chosen as Ruth's Chris Steak House's "House wine by the glass," which is a pretty impressive accomplishment. (Sure, there's a marketing component thrown in to that deal, too, but a restaurant of the calibre of Ruth's Chris Steak House isn't going to pick up a crummy wine as their house wine.)
Young, bright ruby-red color. Strong bursts of dark red fruit in the flavor - black cherry and plums - with hints of darker undertones of leather and pepper. Aroma not as intense as I'd expected from the flavor, though. Medium body, not as rich and layered as a $30 cabernet, but nowhere as expensive, either. Young tannins, although not a lot of them. Probably needs another year, or at most two, to mellow out the tannins and make this wine as velvety smooth as it could become. Initially fairly closed, this wine had opened up tremendously when I finished off the last half of the bottle two days after I'd opened it.
Not as full-bodied as a big cabernet, this would go well with red meats and probably okay or better with grilled red meats, but I'd want something a little more substantial for a charcoal-grilled pepper-crusted steak.
Westpark Wine & Beer, Richmond, $11.99.
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Thoughts about wines I've tasted.
