West Coast Cabernet Comparison
There are many locations along the West Coast of North America that are well suited to growing wine grapes. California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia all have well developed wine regions. For Cabernet Sauvignon the obvious appellation to look to on the West Coast is the Napa Valley.
An interesting Cabernet Sauvignon from B.C. showed up at the table recently and I took the opportunity to crack a bottle of the same varietal from the best Cab region on the West Coast for comparison. Both are in the same price range and from the same vintage.
2005 Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Raymond
My initial impression was that this was higher toned and less dark and plush than I was expecting for Napa (not necessarily a bad thing). Warm oak tones of vanilla and cedar with plum and cassis, but also red fruits like raspberry. Some spice and savoury elements add complexity. Vanilla, mint and fruit on the palate, maybe some spicy leather hidden in there. The heat from the 14.4% alcohol does peak out in the finish. This was quite lively and less heavy than I would expect from the producer, vintage, or region. For comparison, I rated the 2002 vintage of this wine 92 points, it was rich and reminded me of Black Forest Cake. Wine Enthusiast gave the 2002 a 90 and this wine 93: elegantly structured wine, sweet tannins, blackberries, spicy cassis, cherry pie, smoky oak. $34.95 91
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon – Mistral Estate Winery
This wine was crafted a little north of Napa in B.C.’s lush Okanagan Valley. Though I haven’t tried many wines from B.C. I was quite pleased to give this one a gulp. The nose reminds me very strongly of a wine I had in a past Tuscan wine tasting, the 2003 Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi, because of the bizarre sweet tomato nose. A great wine for ribs or wings with a sweet and spicy sauce. Slightly cooked plum. Grippy tannins firm up the finish. This wine handles its 14.5% alcohol a little better than the Raymond. Different, not bad, but the positive Cabernet character is obscured. $35 90
An interesting Cabernet Sauvignon from B.C. showed up at the table recently and I took the opportunity to crack a bottle of the same varietal from the best Cab region on the West Coast for comparison. Both are in the same price range and from the same vintage.
2005 Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Raymond
My initial impression was that this was higher toned and less dark and plush than I was expecting for Napa (not necessarily a bad thing). Warm oak tones of vanilla and cedar with plum and cassis, but also red fruits like raspberry. Some spice and savoury elements add complexity. Vanilla, mint and fruit on the palate, maybe some spicy leather hidden in there. The heat from the 14.4% alcohol does peak out in the finish. This was quite lively and less heavy than I would expect from the producer, vintage, or region. For comparison, I rated the 2002 vintage of this wine 92 points, it was rich and reminded me of Black Forest Cake. Wine Enthusiast gave the 2002 a 90 and this wine 93: elegantly structured wine, sweet tannins, blackberries, spicy cassis, cherry pie, smoky oak. $34.95 91
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon – Mistral Estate Winery
This wine was crafted a little north of Napa in B.C.’s lush Okanagan Valley. Though I haven’t tried many wines from B.C. I was quite pleased to give this one a gulp. The nose reminds me very strongly of a wine I had in a past Tuscan wine tasting, the 2003 Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi, because of the bizarre sweet tomato nose. A great wine for ribs or wings with a sweet and spicy sauce. Slightly cooked plum. Grippy tannins firm up the finish. This wine handles its 14.5% alcohol a little better than the Raymond. Different, not bad, but the positive Cabernet character is obscured. $35 90
Labels: Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
posted by Jason Zacarias | 4:14 p.m.
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