Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery:  Martin Ray

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Location: Napa Valley, California

Purchased: Party House Liquors

Price: $18.99

 

On our wine country trip last summer, we wanted to make a stop at Martin Ray, but time was not on our side. Since then, we looked for a bottle of their wine without success. Recently, we came across a bottle of the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon at a local wine store and enjoyed it with a quiet dinner. Jonathan and I both loved this wine and thought it spectacular for the price. It will be one we drink often!

 

Wine By Joe Pinot Noir

 

Winery: Wine By Joe

Wine: Pinot Noir 2006

Location: Dundee, Oregon

Purchased: Party House Liquors

Price: $19.99

 

At a recent wine tasting Jonathan and I ran across Wine By Joe. The generic name and bottle didn’t scream try me I’m going to be great. In fact, I’m not a huge fan of Pinot Noir wine. I think many of them taste like cough syrup and lack depth and complexity. Both, Jonathan and I, found this wine to possess a little more body and finish than most Pinot Noirs, but still hold the traits and characteristics of a traditional Pinot Noir.

 

A Closer Look: Cabernet Sauvignon

The current red wine king, Cabernet Sauvignon, hits the top or near the top of every connoisseur’s wine list. The origins of Cabernet Sauvignon were unknown for many years, but recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is a hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

 

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes emerge as small, round berries with black, thick and flavorful skins. The skin’s thickness provides an extra toughness for the grapes, making them fairly resistant to disease and spoilage. These grapes require considerable heat accumulation over the course of a growing season to attain full ripeness making it a mid- to late season ripener. 

 

Cabernet Sauvignon grows best in moderately warm, semi-arid regions with a long growing season. Also, these grapes prefer well-drained soils of varied compositions. Some of the more well-known Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions around the world include Bordeaux in France, Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California and the Maipo Valley in Chile. According to the Wine Institute Cabernet Sauvignon is California’s most widely planted red wine grape, with 75,622 acres reported in 2007.

 

Typically, Cabernet Sauvignon wines smell of black currants, green peppers, chocolate and mint. The body is medium to full with a noticeable degree of richness. The finish leans toward the medium to strong end leaving your mouth wanting more. The acidity and tannins should both be moderate to prominent. Cabernet Sauvignons age extremely well, often improving into a truly great wine. With age, the tannins tend to soften and aromas of cedar, leather, violets or a cigar box develop.

 

Cabernet Sauvignon appeals to individuals worldwide, and has grown into one of the most popular red wine varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon represented 13 percent of the wine volume sold in 2007 and nearly 11 percent of the case volume, according to The Nielsen Company.

Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Blend

Winery: Hogue

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot Blend 2002

Location: Columbia Valley, Washington

Purchased: Friar Tuck Beverage

Price: $9.99

 

This was the second tasting of the Hogue Cabernet-Merlot for us. We seemed to enjoy it more the first time. Or as Jonathan put it, “it’s the second bottle when you’re having more than one.” This wine combines 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc to create the Hogue blend.

 

The appearance of the Cabernet-Merlot holds a deep brick red color with slight tinges of rust on the edges. It’s slightly transparent. The most memorable feature of this wine, an outstanding nose. It carried hints of raspberries, cherries, licorice and other jammy fruits. The nose presents a full and flowering bouquet, but the wine doesn’t live up in taste. The Hogue drinks very easy, with or without food. A chocolaty hint sneaks through the fruit, but the finish drops relatively quickly and does not present a memorable impression.

 

Hogue Cellars, founded in 1982, sits in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. It’s grown into one of Washington’s largest wineries, with an annual production of 570,000 cases. The Washington wine industry began in the 1960s and the location sits at approximately the same latitude as the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions in France. The Columbia Valley covers 18,000 square miles and provides a large range of geographic and climate conditions. This diversity creates distinctive fruit characteristics of the Columbia Valley.

Suggestions Please

In an effort to expand my blog, I’m taking suggestions for favorite websites, blogs, wine gadgets, articles or anything to do with wine. I’ve added a few websites and blogs that I’ve visited in the past and enjoyed, but I’m looking for more ideas. Let me hear what you have!

In surfing the web, I came across a recent article on Wine Spectator that highlighted the benefits of grape seeds in treating and preventing  Alzheimer’s disease. Again, research shows the benefits of red wine. check out the link for the article.