This wine is attractively priced for what it offers. It can be had in the $12 to $14 range for a 750ml bottle. The color is a very nice amber deep purple. The smell is one of fruit and smoke. The winemaker says this on the taste: “The palate showcases chocolate, coffee and tobacco with berry notes supported by a rich tannin structure.” When I taste it I can detect tobacco for sure, some chocolate and a hint of berries. The coffee is a bit harder for me to find. The tannins are good, definitely not overwhelming. Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon does have a finish that stays with you a bit. All in all this wine offers a fair amount of complex flavor for the money your spending.

A few more notes on Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon (2006). The wine is aged for 18-20 months in oak barrels. Toasted Head Cab originates from the North Coast region of California. I saw a review on Snooth that rated this wine an 86 points which I think is fair though I personally think its good for at least an 88+.

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Here’s what the winemaker says:  “Our Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with black cherry and blackberry flavors, firm tannins and a hint of mocha..”  The black cherry and blackberry flavors are there, the mocha a little tough to detect.  The tannins are not overbearing, an easy Cabernet wine to drink.

Wine Spectator rated it at 86 points and other ratings I saw around the internet were close in this vicinity.  I agree with this rating.  Its a solid choice that isn’t the best I’ve had but worthy of purchasing again especially at its price point.

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The aroma of this Cabernet Sauvignon is an enjoyable fruit jam smell but I dont’ detect any cocoa as the wine label indicates.  The wine’s color is a deep violet.  Glass Mountain Cabernet has a nice sweet cherry and plum flavor with some toasted oak wood.  The tannins are not heavy at all, a smooth drink all in all with a sweet finish that stays a little while.  The wine’s varietal composition is an interesting 75.4% Cabernet and 24.6% Syrah.

There doesn’t seem to much of an opinion on the internet for this wine.  I did see someone say that they loved the wine and rated it a 4 out of 5.  So in any case with all things considered an 87 points is well deserved.  If I’m looking to spend $8 for a bottle of Cabernet wine this would certainly be on the short list.

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The color of BV Coastal Estates Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby red and may detect mint in its aroma.  This Cabernet wine is smooth giving of a nice dark cherry flavor with a little vanilla at the end.   The wine’s does not have much in the way of tannins so is meant to be enjoyed right away.  This Cabernet is sweet and has a pleasant finish but don’t expect it to be long.

You’ll find that the majority will enjoy this wine but perhaps not everyone.  This Cabernet Sauvignon is scored by many in the mid 80s which is fair considering the price.  An 85 seems like a good rating, I will drink it again if the price is less.  I think there are equal wines for less.

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337 Cabernet Sauvignon has a very nice deep purple color and you won’t notice much light getting through.  So the wine’s smell is pleasant and as the winemaker puts it “exudes seductive aromas of mocha and dark cherry.”  You know this Cabernet wine has soft tannins and I find it to be very smooth and enjoyable.  It leaves a fresh wash of fruit on the tongue that stays with you  a bit.

Generally you’ll find kind things said about 337 Cabernet Sauvignon.  The most common of which would be to the nature of undervalued gem.  I was lucky enough to purchase it for $9.50 for a 750 ml bottle and will gladly buy it again.  Too me this wine is a solid 89 points.

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Now I found the color to be sort of a medium purple with some amber and actually it was darker than I expected.  So on to the nose (or smell) and Crane Lake Cabernet wine has a sort a of a spicy grape cherry aroma to it.  Now the taste is pleasant, you get some fruit but don’t expect a fruit bomb.  The body is definitely on the lighter side.  You get some tastes typical of a Cabernet Sauvignon like cherry, plum, cassis but I don’t detect anything more. Don’t expect  much of a finish with this wine either.  This is a good wine for those that don’t want to spend a lot and don’t like a mouthful of oak or vanilla.

Crane Lake Cabernet Sauvignon is a California wine that is bottled in Napa and Sonoma.  The grapes may come from several regions of Cali and most likely suplus grapes.  You know after some research I found that its made by Bronco Wine Company who also makes Charles Shaw (known as 2, 3 or 4 buck Chuck dependant of where its bought).   I found that people generally rate the wine in a range as high as 85 points down to 77.    So after being on the fence on whether its 82 or 83 to me,  I’ll go with my first gut instinct of 83.  Its a solid wine at an undeniable price point that I would buy again.

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Later on the in the 1980s there was an effort to revitalize the quality previously captured in this Cabernet wine but it was in vein.  The perception of the label’s quality was damaged too greatly.

Francis Ford Coppola owns the estate where the great Inglenook was made.  He has paid homage to Inglenook  (and John Daniel) when in 1995 he reunited the entire original estate and  produced Rubicon Cask Cabernet Sauvignon.  Rubicon Estate is located in Rutherford, California.

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The best way I can think of to define a cult wine is a low production wine that is in high demand, highly rated and astronomically priced. Some would say Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of this class. Napa Valley is famous for being the home to many cult wines and Screaming Eagle is located in the Oakville part of Napa. To get an idea of how hard it is to buy this wine from its maker you have to sign up for its mailing list and if you’re lucky you’ll eventually move onto its purchase list. That’s if a spot becomes available.

A consistently high mark. One well know wine critic, Robert Parker, has more often than not rated Screaming Eagle vintages in the high 90s. The two vintages that stand out (and believe me you pay a large sum of money for them) are the 1992 and 1997 vintages. The 1992 vintage was the first and received a score of 99 points. The 1997 vintage received a rare 100 point rating.

A small production. The winery is said to produce roughly between 400 to 600 cases a year. Some of the early vintages had even smaller production; with the 1992 vintage only 175 cases were produced! The 93 vintage was even smaller coming in at 130 cases.

A consistently high price and some stories. There is no argument that to buy Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon directly from the winery is the best way to buy the wine. This is if you’re lucky enough to get on the purchase list. Out of curiosity I did a little after market search to see what prices were like. Vintages produced in the last few years are in the $1000+ range for a 750 ml bottle. Next looked at the 90s vintages and prices shot up. I searched around for the 1992 vintage and found it for sale as little as $7500 for a 750 ml and often saw it going for $10,000. So what about 1997? It can be found for around $3000 for a 750 ml. The 1993 has a similar price tag at around $3000 a 750ml. So how about some interesting stories. In NYC, a man at a restaurant orders $2000 bottle of Screaming Eagle accidentally while his intent was to purchase a $100 bottle of wine. Yikes! The 2008 Auction Napa Valley (a famous charity event) had 1 bidder purchase 6 magnum (1.5 ml) bottles of the 1992 Screaming Eagle for $500,000.  The 2001 Auction Napa Valley event saw a generous bidder pay $650,000 for an Eight bottle set of 3.0 L bottle with the vintages ranging between 92-99.

Screaming Eagle Cabernet wine is just one cult wine that’s overly benefited from much positive press. There are several other options in purchasing rare and excellent wines. Perhaps I’ll be writing on them at some future point.

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When I first tried Re’serve Maison Nicolas Cabernet Sauvignon I thought I was going to have flashbacks to the poor French wines I had previously.  Now I’m over that impression and since I’ve had it few times in the past 3 days I can say its not bad.  It also far from great but at its price point its a fair choice.  Well its imperative that I mention that in the same price range I would rather have  Mascarelli Montepulciano Di Abruzzo, Sacred Stone Red Masters Blend (the topic of one of my previous posts) or in the Cabernet line: Beringer Stone Cellars.    Anyways back to Re’serve Maison Nicolas Cabernet Sauvignon.  So I’d have to say that this wine’s weakness to me is its entry or when you first have a taste.  The wine’s strength (again this is my opinion) is how it finishes.  As I sit here now and have this wine I do like the taste it leaves on my tongue after about 10 seconds though don’t expect fireworks.

When I searched around the internet I found that there isn’t much written on  Re’serve Masion Nicolas Cabernet Sauvignon.  Is this surprising?   I don’t think so as it is an average wine .  So as far a rating, the low 80s like an 81 would be fair.  In closing I’m can say I’m satisfied with this wine as I feel that I got some value for my money but I’m not jumping for joy either.

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The smell of Alamos Cabernet wine lets you know that it has alchohol in it.  You’ll detect fruit like blackberries as well.  When I first smelled I thought it reminded me of toasted bread.  The wine’s color is a deep purple and perhaps the wine’s strongest point.  Now I don’t like to be negative but honestly I feel this wine’s taste is lacking.  The best description I can come up with to convey my taste expression is that this Cabernet wine is like having a grape seed in your mouth while also having a bit of grape fruit juice.  Perhaps the wine is too young.

Now what is said about Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon.  Well the little note at the wine store posted on the front of the wine rack said this wine is 86 points.  Others view it as an 3 out of 5.  I’m disappointed and have to say a 79 points but not the worst wine I’ve ever had either.

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