Wineguider wine reviews

Merry Christmas! Today we check out a 2006 California cabernet that will cost you somewhere between $40 and $60. 

I paid $47 for this cab at Costco, but I’ve found it ranging from $38 to $70.  Wow.

This is a very pretty cab.  It’s only 13.5% alcohol, so it’s not fire-breathing.  It’s lighter and has fewer tannins than some of the big boys from California.  But it’s more elegant, so you can pair Jordan Alexander Valley with all kinds of food — it’s not just a red meat wine. 

The aroma offers strong alcohol, cloves, vanilla, and a mix of cedar and red/black raspberries, like a pinot noir.  You’ll taste mainly oak and black raspberries.  It tastes young, so storing this wine for a few years will likely deliver a more sublime experience.  It isn’t pure cabernet sauvignon: it’s 19.5% merlot, 4.5% petit verdot and 1% malbec.  Any downside?  Sure.  For its price, it is, like this review, a little boring.

At $45, this wine is a go.  I probably wouldn’t pay $50 or more for it, but I might if I wanted a delicious red wine that has a fresh take on traditional California cab traits, and is also light on its feet.  Recommended.