Lipgloss & Wine

Posts tagged cabernet sauvignon

As we settled in the night before Thanksgiving with extended family, we uncorked this newly-purchased bottle of Aconga Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec 2010. It contains 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% malbec. Something about it seemed that it would be rather lovely for the marked-down price of $4.

The nose featured lots of black fruit and walnut. On the palate it was more peppery with blackberry and also a perceived tartness which came across as lime zest. In fact, the tartness was fairly distinct, which ended up being a turn-off. We didn’t get much of the licorice flavor that the anise of malbec usually provides, which was unfortunate.

• Aroma: Black fruits, cherry, walnut
• Taste: Blackberry, tart citrus, black pepper
• Aftertaste: Lingers for a short while with spice and berries

Our verdict is that this is a lovely value wine, but doesn’t suit our personal taste.

Have you tried this wine (or something like it)? What did you think?

During our trip to the supermarket last week to pick up a bottle of pinot grigio for dinner, we discovered our grocer was hosting a wine tasting for a tiny fee. Being the explorers we are, we accepted their offer and paused to taste wine, nibble on their chef’s selection of Thankgiving-inspired eats, and listen to some live jazz!

We chose to taste this 2007 cabernet sauvignon by Geyser Peak. It retails for $18 with an ABV of 15.3%.

The nose was smooth and rich with black currant and cranberry. On the palate we savored tart berries and Dr Pepper underneath from the hints of cherry and malty caramel. Tannins and acidity were mellow overall. This would make a fabulous thanksgiving wine - a perfect complement to turkey and mashed potatoes with homemade cranberry sauce.

• Aroma: Smooth; black currant, cranberry
• Taste: Medium-bodied; cranberry, cherry, caramel, apple peel, pear
• Aftertaste: Short and smooth with berries and pear

For the price tag we were expecting a more complex cab sauv, but if you find this marked down, grab a couple bottles for family dinner!

We follow many wine blogs for recommendations and inspiration. Some articles have piqued our interest lately, including this one: Why You Should Be Drinking Cheap Wine

While we believe that a great everyday wine doesn’t need to set you back over $20, there are some that obviously, quite frankly, miss the mark. In considering wines less than $10, we tried this one from Crane Lake tonight and we were less than impressed.

The aroma was that of what we expect of a decent wine under 10 bucks. There were tart berries and a hint of warm oak after allowing to breathe for a bit. But the flavor profile of this one was nothing to write home about. Our tasting notes suggest that we would not purchase this 2010 cab sauv again.

• Aroma: Cranberry, purple grapes, chocolate, nutmeg
• Taste: Light-bodied; prunes and berries
• Aftertaste: Very short with a mild fruitiness.

What are some of your favorite wines under $10?