I don’t know about your house, but it’s getting colder in Vegas. And that means red wine season is coming. Typically, that means more dough-ray-me than vino-blanco season. But it doesn’t there aren’t great tasting values our there, in red town. Here are four, or maybe five, fine suggestions. Don’t worry, they won’t be the last.
The wines:
2007 Franciscan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99 @ Costco
2008 Beaulieu Vineyards Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $15.99 @ Costco
2007 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, $10.99 @ Total Wine
2008 La Carraia Sangiovese, $9.99 @ Costco
2007 Franciscan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $16.99 @ Costco
COLOR — Deep garnet red all they way to the edge, Deep, opaque
NOSE — Red currents, red cherries, dusty sage and something meaty.
TASTE — Currents & cassis, tart cherries, sage and dust. Full body
FINISH — Long & deep red fruit with serious dusty tannins. Sticks your lips to your teeth. Full bodied. OLD SCHOOL!
RATE — 4 Stars. This is everything I personally want form a Napa Cab. Kills wines twice its price, for me. Needs time, like five years. I’ve bought 10 so far.
2008 Beaulieu Vineyards Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — 14.5% Alc $15.99 @ Costco
COLOR — Deep garnet red. Opaque all the way to the edges.
NOSE — This one changed with air. At first I smelled of the dusty currents I expect from Rutherford Cabs, but later changed to red cherries and eyucliptis, with a hit of vanilla.
TASTE — Red cherries, mocha and a good touch of minty-vanilla.
FINISH — Lush red cherry fruit, vanilla and some soft & dusty tannins. Medium-full bodied.
RATE — 3.5 Stars. I used to LOVE this wine in the early 90s, when it was $10.99 & 13% Alc. But winemakers change, and so do fashions. I can’t help but like this wine, but it isn’t a classic Rutherford Cab, like it should be. Still, if you’re not into the harder, old-school Napa Cabs like I am, you may LOVE this wine! I think it will age well for 3 years.
2007 E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Red — 14.5% Alc $10.99 (or less)
COLOR — Deep purple. Opaque all the way to the edges.
NOSE — Liquid black licorice with pepper, soy sauce, ginger, figs and brush
TASTE — Dark red figs, plums and figs with complex bits of ginger, soy sauce, pepper, underbrush, minerals & kirsch.
FINISH — Long, deep, dark & complex. Plenty of tannins.
RATE — 4 Stars. This is the best Guigal Cotes du Rhone I’ve ever had, and I’ve loved this wine for years! Drinks with wines twice its price. This can age for 5 years, easy.
2008 La Carraia Sangiovese — 13% Alc. $9.99 @ Costco
COLOR — Deep garnet with a touch of purple. Medium opaque.
NOSE — Crushed strawberries with menthol and herbs.
TASTE — Bright strawberry & red berry fruit, with herbal menthol undertones. No earth. Not much Oak.
FINISH — Juicy finish, with a touch of menthol. Med-Light bodied. No oak or Alc heat.
RATE — 3 Stars. This wine is from Umbria, in southern Italy. The best wines from Sangiovese are from Tuscany, like Il Tarocco Chianti Classico — $9.00 @ Trader Joe’s. But it’s an lovely drinking introduction to the grape, and at the price, you owe it to yourself to try a bottle.
Slightly lubed-up thoughts:
Of the two Napa Cabs, I’ll go with the Franciscan, but I have a VERY old-school palette. The 2008 BV Rutherford is not bad in any way. It’s not what I remember it to be, but so what? It’s still quite nice, and may really hit the mark for those looking for softer cabs. Plenty to like about it, for sure. Especially at the price. That said, I’m buying the 2007 Franciscan Napa for my cellar.
The 2007 Guigal is genius! The best Cotes du Rhones they’ve ever made. And I’ve bought that wine for years. So much wine for the price. I’ll be buying some to age.
Lastly, let’s talk about the 2008 La Carraia Sangiovese Umbria. I’m reasonably sure you’ll like this wine. I would be hard not to. It’s got a medium juicy body that’ll pair well with everything from salmon and tuna, to stew to roasted chicken and pork chops. A nice way to begin to learn about Sangiovese. Not as complex as a Chianti, or Brunello. But a good entry point to one of my favorite grapes. For the money, you cannot go wrong.
Cheers!
