Review: River Road Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Im a fan of low alcohol, wines says Ron Rubin, the vintner behind River Road wines. I keep the alcohol in check to produce elegant wines that you can enjoy, glass after glass.
I too am a fan of low alcohol wines. I generally find them to be more food-friendly, more elegant, more accessible and more enjoyable than higher-alcohol wines. But it can be hard to find well made wines with lower alcohol levels.
We still live in the shadows of the Robert Parker days, when his reviews were coveted by winemakers because they sold wine. But Parker had a clear preference for higher alcohol levels and winemakers followed suit to produce wines in that style in hopes of getting a positive review. Plus global warming is accelerating grape ripening in many regions, which results in higher sugar levels that then translate into higher alcohol levels in wine. With these factors in play, I come across a lot of wine with alcohol levels higher than Id prefer. Its not uncommon for me to find wines that are 14.5%, 15% or higher.
But there are a growing number of producers who gravitate toward lower alcohol levels. They dont have to be crazy low either, just not crazy high. Its all about balance. This Cabernet Sauvignon checks in at 13.9% ABV, which isnt super low. In fact some folks may not say its low at all. But as Rubin says, its in check which makes this wine approachable and for that Im appreciative.
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Alphabetical Guide To California Cabernet
These wines were tasted for the California Cabernet tasting report in the November 15, 2021 issue of Wine Spectator by James Molesworth. For a full analysis of the latest vintage and recommended wines, read the Beauty of Cabernet. WineSpectator.com members can find full reviews, with full tasting notes, in the Wine Ratings Search.
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What Is The Famous Wine Region Featured In The Movie Sideways
Thats Santa Barbara.
The greatest attribute of Sideways is that it promoted Pinot Noir, which became very popular because of the movie.
The region of Santa Barbara offers a great variety of unique tasting options with over 120 different wineries to choose from. This region is off-the-beaten-track, but should not be underestimated. Sideways drew much-needed attention to this region and all that it has to offer.
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The High Road Directors Reserve 2015 95pts
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Tyrrells Beside Broke Road Cabernet Sauvignon
Midnight black at its core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated aromas of blackcurrant infused with black olive are trailed by dusty cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes. Medium bodied the palate features generous blackcurrant fruits over spicy vanillin cedar, black olive, subtle tobacco and infusions of bay leaf. Refined yet well constructured tannins with a sturdy medium length conclusion.Cellar 4-5 years.
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Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R210.00R1,260.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was made with the utmost attention and detail to deliver an extremely high quality end product. This wine is a big wine with a nose of raspberry, mint, cigar box, chocolate and gamy meat. The palate is firm and oaky with rounded ripe fruit and tannins which gives length to the finish.
Alcohol 14.7% vol
Where In California Is The Wine Country
The Californian wine country is in the North San Francisco Bay area, with over 800 wineries located all along this scenic route. The Bay area encompasses some of the world’s most famous wine regions, including Napa Valley and Sonoma.
The success of these famous regions within the Bay area is largely to do with the sound soil composition and ideal climatic conditions. Each region is fortunate to have a wide range of temperatures and soil types, allowing the brilliant variety of grapes to thrive here.
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Post House Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R223,00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,338.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 was made with the utmost attention and detail to deliver an extremely high quality end product. This wine is a big wine with a nose of raspberry, mint, cigar box, chocolate and gamy meat. The palate is firm and oaky with rounded ripe fruit and tannins which gives length to the finish.
Alcohol 14.7% vol
Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,320.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,320.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,080.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R732.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,110.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,578.00Product sold in box of 6 bottles R1,524.00
Product sold in box of 6 bottles R960.00
Product sold in box of 6 bottles R960.00
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Best Wineries For Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
If youre doing Napa Valley for the first time or the fifteenth, youll likely be tasting a lot of cabernet sauvignon during your visit. Cabernet is, after all, acknowledged as the king of red grapes in Napa, dominating 40% of the regions total production. With a terroir perfectly suited for growing cabernet, Napa has certainly found its sweet spot with this much loved Bordeaux grape, and the results are powerful, deeply layered, and age-worthy wines showcasing notes of black fruit, violets, tobacco, and cedar, to name a few.
Of course, the sheer number of wineries in Napa featuring cabernet and cabernet blends is enough to overwhelm any wine taster, so where to start? To help guide you, weve put together a list of 13 of the most famous names in Napa cabernet welcoming visitors, along with a few lesser known wineries worth noting. Make some room in your cellar, because we have a feeling youll be going home with a few new bottles.
Courtesy of Pine Ridge Vineyards
5901 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, 252-9777
Courtesy of Canard | Adam Fox
1016 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga, CA 94515, 942-1149
Courtesy of Beaulieu Vineyard
1960 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573, 257-5749
Courtesy of Cliff Lede
1473 Yountville Cross Road, Yountville, CA 94599, 944-8642
Courtesy of Stags Leap Winery
6150 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, 257-5790
Courtesy of Round Pond
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Best Wineries In Alexander Valley To Sip Cabernet Sauvignon
Here are seven tasting rooms pouring excellent cabernet sauvignons and blends, all of them a 10-mile drive from downtown Healdsburg.
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Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Healdsburg: Jackson Family Winerys 5,500-acre Alexander Mountain Estate, which hovers over the tasting room from the north, is planted to Bordeaux red varieties and chardonnay. Old-timers know the estate as the Gauer Ranch, which Jess Stonestreet Jackson purchased in 1995. The wines from the rugged mountain blocks are firmly structured, with a hint of rocky minerality, known to age beautifully for a decade or more.
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Several experiences are available at Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, among them seated tastings of single-vineyard wines, library-wine explorations, picnics on the patio and, weather permitting, the Stonestreet Mountain Excursion, a tour of the vineyards with tasting and lunch. The views are dramatic, as are the cabernet sauvignons the Cougar Ridge and Bear Point bottlings are standouts, and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is outstanding for the price.
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Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley and Napa Valley cabs are available for tasting at the Healdsburg tasting room try them side by side and a library wine is also offered. Walk-ins are welcome reservations are required for private tastings, pairings and tours.
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Which Wine Regions Are In California
From North to South, the main regions are Mendocino, Lake, Napa Valley, Sonoma, Livermore Valley, Lodi, Sierra Foothills, Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.
California is a vast region that consists of several smaller wine-producing areas. Although Napa Valley and Sonoma are what California is most known for, the states other regions produce equally outstanding wines.
Napa Valley and Paso Robles are renowned for the bold reds of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, as well as the scenic wine route which offers unique experiences to wine lovers. On the contrary, Santa Barbara and The Russian River Valley, with conditions more suited to delicate grapes, produce outstanding expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Each of these regions offers a unique take on the wines of California allowing for a greater expression and experience of what the Golden State can truly offer.
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Post House Road Proprietary Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Post House RoadProprietary Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon
Bulls Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Made with the utmost attention and detail to deliver an extremely high quality end product. This wine is a big wine with a nose of raspberry, mint, cigar box, chocolate and gamy meat. The palate is firm and oaky with rounded ripe fruit and tannins which gives length to the finish.
Alcohol 14.7% vol
