Wine Review: Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon

Even though I am a fan of homegrown Californian wine I do like to occasionally venture into import wines to see how different different regions create new tastes. Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon was one of those wines I came across in my shopping activities and decided to throw a bottle in my cart. It wasn't a bad choice. 

Gato Negro is a well known brand of Chile that is exported to many other nations. It is from one of the older wineries of Viña San Pedro. A popular wine that has won significant award. Consumers generally rate the experience positively but a minority of online reviews expressed dislike. 

Personally I found the wine to be very drinkable. It was smooth and fruity and seemed to lay more in the wet arena. I have never been fond of excessively dry and high tannin tastes. As an important wine that can be used to add some variety to your selection life it is worth picking up a bottle. 

Out of all the red wine available Cabernet Sauvignon has the highest concentration of antioxidants. Wine made from red and purple grapes are better for you than green and white. The dark purple and red hues being the best.Gato Negro's Cabernet Sauvignon offers a higher level of antioxidants.

Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon

Taste: Berries, chocolate, and vanilla.
Glass: Dark, maroon, red
Nose: Ripe berries with a touch of strawberry. 

Certainly you can find more expensive wines as well as those that may tantalize your taste buds to a higher sizzle but you are unlikely to find a quality wine for under $5. Try a taste of Chile without having to skimp on your bills. 

Wine Review: Lindeman’s Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine is served on dinner tables across the country with a tradition that predates the founding of the country. Early settlers brought wine vines with them on their travels.  Wine lovers regularly seek to find new varieties of foreign and domestic productions to experiment with. Lindeman’s Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 offers an exciting option at a price only your local market can provide.  A true table wine ready to serve for most dinner functions.

Lindeman’s Bin 45 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bright red wine with high viscosity and long legs. In the glass Bin 45 contains current flavors, dark berry, vanilla, spices and oak. A smooth start and higher tannin finish with a reasonable level of acidity. A well balanced wine that retails for under $10. It pairs well with most meat dishes making it versatile for most home uses. 

The growing region of southern Australia has warmer interiors and cooler exteriors. The type of soil in the region has an impact on the taste and texture of the wine. For example, organic soils produce looser clumps, heavier berries, and high performance grapes (Cheng, et. al. 2014). In this case they produced a solid product ready for market production. 

It is hard to find wines that have a solid taste but still not budget busting your hard earned dollars.  Among the variety of wines that I have tasted and reviewed I find the Cabernet Sauvignons to be some of the best wine categories. They generally work well with oak barrels that lessen the tannin levels and raise the vanilla flavor. Bin 45 fulfilled my expectations and is on the “buy again” list. 

Cheng, et. al. (2014). Effects of climatic conditions and soil properties on Cabernet Sauvignon berry growth and anthocyanin profiles. Molecules, 19 (9).  

Wine Review: The Legend of the Vine has Arrived

What is in a legend? Apparently legends can be made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 8% Petite Sirah. Legend of the Vine Cabernet Sauvignon is a ripe red wine, plum tasting, chocolate hinting, smooth wine that provides twice its value for a fraction of the price. Aged in 92% French Oak and 8% American Oak it provides just touch of oak spices to its mix (1).  The combination of different red wines enhances the taste and body of the offering. 

Legend of the Vine’s brand is considered unique. It appeals to Millennials who were raised on medieval shows like Game of Thrones and video entertainment something akin to Legend of Zelda. The bottle is wide and broad while the label appears like something from the ancient world. The taste seems to match its mystical inheritance. 

It is difficult for new products to make a presence on the market and compete against much stronger funded brands. According to Cardoso, et. al. (2013) having a brand personality can make all of the difference in finding a level of exposure. Brand personality can help customers manage and formulate a concept of the offering which leads to greater memory recall and purchase frequency. 

Legend of the Vine is also dark and ripe in the genre of winter wine that some may associate with an ancient era. Grapes picked early in the formation of Cabernet Sauvignon wines are sour and have fresh vegetative flavor while grapes picked at later stages are hot, bitter, fruity, and contained sweetness (Heymann, 2013).  The Legend of the Vine’s ripe and fruity flavors is from a ripe grape that matches its hardy brand impression. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is the prince of all wines. As a thick winter wine it contains an abundance of tannins that make it difficult to pair with light seafood, and vegetables (2).  It is recommended that such wines be paired with bbq fatty meat foods or strong tasting fish like tuna and shark to balance out the tannins. Most cheeses are not recommended with this type of wine. 

The Legend of the Vine

http://www.thewinebar.com/Legend-of-the-Vine

Cardoso, I. et. al. (2013). Determinants of the perception of the personality of brand: an application to the Azores regional brand. International Journal of Academic Research, 5 (2). 

Heymann, H. et. al. (2013). Effects of extended grape ripening with or without must and wine alchohol manipulations on cabernet sauvignon wine sensory characteristics. South African Journal of Enology & Viticulture, 34 (1).

Wine Review: Candy-Apple Red Cabernet Sauvignon

In the perpetual search for the perfect wine I am forced to try interesting varieties. Sometimes these wines tantalize the right taste buds and other times they do not do justice. Being in the mood for something a little sweet, I picked up a bottle of Jellybean the Candy-Apple Red Cabernet Sauvignon. Thinking this was a type of flavored wine with blackberry jam, boysenberry pie and hints of cherry licorice that was to give me “candy flavors” I was excited to give it a shot.

A few days later, I had my chance and poured myself just a little. With a red tone associated with dark cherries it looked a little like fruit punch in a glass. It had a heavy look and clung slightly to the edges of the glass. Something akin to heavy punch in both smell and texture. Raising the glass to my lips, I noticed the first taste of berries that seemed to excite the senses. However, the aftertaste was not particularly that exciting. Not bad…but not exciting. Don't be afraid to try it as your tastes might be different.

Therefore, I decided to experiment with the wine and mix it with another brand of Cabernet Sauvignon and found that the two had a very strong combination. You might want to try this mixture for yourself to see what happens. If your palate is not into the high berry taste of Jelly Belly then go ahead and mix it with a less fruity brand. It works out fine and you might actually like it better than many of the wines you have purchased at full price.

Jelly Bean wine is a young person’s wine with bright flavors and bright colors. They host a number of different events in their wine tasting outlets. It is branded for a generation that is not yet very familiar with wine and provides some of their first interests in sweet tasting flavors. Fun, exciting, outgoing, and youthful are some of the words that can describe this product. It is a social party wine that is full of good times.

Cabernet Saugignon is a popular Californian wine. The grapes grow well in many different atmospheres and climates. As a small berry, it is seasoned just a little longer before being harvested. These berries are dark and tannic. A higher level of spice should be expected and an aftertaste may be more associated with drying out the back of the mouth. As a high tannin berry, it pairs well with meat, lamb, lentils, and other high fatty foods.  Such foods protect the taste buds from the high kick taste.

http://www.jellybeanwines.com/

Let’s Get Gnarly with Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon

Gnarly Head Cabernet Sauvignon is an easy drinking wine that is light to the taste and soft to the taste buds. Big fruit and dark cherries mixed with an oak flavor. With 14.5 alcohol content and a PH level of 3.51 the taste doesn’t knock your socks off or make your hair fall out. However, it is hardy enough to make your event just a bit more interesting. 

Most reviews rate it right around the center of taste and quality. Yet with a grand price tag of $8.99 I think it is worth at least one bottle. Of course, your eye will be drawn to the red label with a gnarly old vine sprouting grapes. This is label fits the brand as the wine is made from older grapes, which encourages it have more flavor but less grape clusters per bunch. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is a relatively new wine on the market as it first made an appearance in the 18^th century in Chateau Mouton. As legend has it the Baron De Brane ripped up white wine grapes and planted a red wine grape by the name of Vidure. From here, the grapes are processed into a new type of wine that has sequentially spread across the globe. 

The type of food that Cabernet Sauvignon classically pairs with is lamb. However, as a hardy drink it can go with just about every type of high tasting meat. Beef, pork, venison, and rabbit are also proper choices.  High levels of oak influence and alcohol level make it a bold drink that goes with bold food. The wine matches with fatty foods that reduce the tannins on the palate to make the berry taste more alive.

Personally, I found the wine worth a single try but not particularly in the lineup of favorites. It works well as a basic table wine that can be used on occasion. The price is exceptional so it has just a bit more appeal than some of the higher priced brands. It is a California wine so if you are about supporting your local economy this would be one of the ways to do it. 

Price: $ 8.99 bottle

Blog Ranking: 3.7/5

Wine Review: Cabernet Sauvignon by Kirkland

You wouldn’t think of solid wine coming from a department store. However, Costco wine is known for their quality. Bottles often range from $10 to over $100 depending on their quality, brand and strength. Kirkland’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a Californian wine that is great for the table. The label indicates, “Kirkland Signature California Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Cabernet Sauvignon with vibrant, juicy flavors of black currant with broad, red fruit notes that linger on the palate and are surrounded by hints of spice and sweet smoke with graceful finish of cherry and mochas.” 

Kirkland Cabernet Sauvignon is actually bottled and cellared at DC Flynt. They import wine from a number of countries and provide education on wine selections. Apparently, Kirkland has a contract to purchase the wine under its label. DC Flynt is known for its strong selections and large quantities of sales. They are located in sunny Modesto California.

Cabernet Sauvignon is an international wine that can be produced in a variety of environments. Grapes are generally hardy and resistant to rot and frost which make them perfect for easy growing and development. The grape had considerable mystery surrounding it. Dr. Carole Meredith completed DNA testing and found that the grape was passed in the 17^th century as a hybrid to Cabernet franc and Sauvignon. 

The label is accurate in terms of its fruity content and zippy taste. The wine is a good choice for everyday dinner. It would also be a strong choice for groupings or social gatherings under a budget. This wine has a refreshing taste even if the label turns you off. Originally, knowledge of this wine came through a Christmas social gathering and would continue to be a bought product at $13 for 1.5L. Yet with its deep flavor it is worth trying out at least once.