September 2, 2010 #Cabernet : 4 Tasted of 4

Host Rick Bakas describes the Taste and Tweet event as “A… gathering of wine lovers on the first Thursday of every month” and for September 2 has chosen Cabernet Sauvignon as the focus wine. For 24 hours people in every time zone will celebrate one of the world’s most planted grapes through the media of Twitter using the hash tag #CabernetDay. The photo of this year's St Supery (View It!) vines is from a @stsupery tweet - looking pretty good, eh? 
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Unfortunately, many Californian wines, or any State for that matter, remain unavailable in Ontario so the three below can’t be called ‘representative’.
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Needing a long ripening period the growing season in Ontario is often too short for this vine to be a success. On the other hand the southern Okanagan Valley (Map It!) is better suited. The region around Oliver south to Osoyoos, a few kilometres north of the US border, is ideal for this noble grape, being arid most of the year with Osoyoos Lake moderating the climate and providing a source of irrigation during dry periods.  As with California, very few Okanagan Cabernet Sauvignons reach Ontario.
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Hope you can join a Taste and Tweet crew near you.
Cheers, Ww 

• Rutherford Ranch ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (JS86)(DL88),  89-1  --  V, Napa, California,  #073817  $19.95 
• Mission Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 VQA Okanagan Valley, 86  (Cellar)  --  V, Oliver/Osoyoos, BC, #553321  $22.95  
• Domaine Bassac Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (DL87), 86-1 --  G, Côtes de Thongue, France, #164152 $13.00 
• De Loach Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (DL83),  80  --  G,  Santa Rosa, California, #089250  $14.95   

(G - General Listing, V - Vintages, O - Other, v-r - Value levels, DL - David Lawrason, JS - John Szabo)

TASTINGS: 
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MISSION HILL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 VQA Okanagan Valley, BC (Map It!), 13.5%  XD, #553321  $22.95  (Tasted August 31, 2010)  CS
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A Vintages release on May 15, 2010 not rated but described anonymously (undated) as “The Okanagan Valley's favourable climate nurtures some outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon like this beauty from Mission Hill. It displays concentrated aromas of ripe blackberry and cassis mingling with notes of cedar, mocha, mint and smoke. This focused, medium-full-bodied wine shows excellent balance, and has a long, firm and spicy finish. Enjoy now with roast beef au jus, or cellar for up to 3 years.”  My notes:A purple hued ruby giving this a distinct appeal. A light spicy blackcurrant aroma and a well established film leading to long tears. The first sip is medium-bodied, full of tannins and a fresh but light blackcurrant flavours with a finish that coats the mouth with chalky dryness. Another two to four years will settle the tannins and a recommendation for cellaring rather than drink-now. (Much better as a sipper the next day, +2) Otherwise pairing with grilled red meats is appropriate.  86  (Cellar)
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RUTHERFORD RANCH ‘NAPA VALLEY’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007, Napa, California (Map It!), 13.5% D, #073817  $19.95  (Tasted August 29, 2010)  CS
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A Vintages release on July 10, 2010 rated 88 and described by Steve Heimoff of The Wine Spectator (Dec. 15, 2009) as “Elevated in its tannic structure, and the way the oak plays with the ripe fruit. The flavours of blackberries, black currants and sweet smoky cedar lead to a rich, spicy finish. Very nice Napa Cabernet at this price.”  My notes: A dense ruby colour, soft aromas of spicy black currants, a hint of damp mahogany and a viscous film with long slow legs that comes with a swirl all make this an attractive glass full. The first sip confirms the black currants now softened by blackberries, edged with liquorice, full in the mouth, tart and silky smooth. Warmer than expected along with a touch of sweet adding to the buildup of flavours and polite tannins for a long finish. A bold sipper or complement with anything grilled and beefy. Cellaring for another three to five years should be OK.  89 
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DE LOACH VINEYARDS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007, Santa Rosa, California (Map It!),13.5% D, #089250  $14.95  (Tasted August 30, 2010)  CS
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On the General shelves this red is described anonymously (undated) as “Deep ruby colour; cassis, berry and vanilla aromas with a touch of spice; dry medium to full body; black currant and spice flavours with moderate tannin. Serve with grilled steak.”  My notes:  A see-thru garnet hued ruby with negligible aromas on pouring, perhaps liquorice, plum and some pepper. There’s a thin film with fast tears and, on first sip, a smooth texture with thin flavours of cranberry and blackberry changing to a slight bramble and spicy berry remaining fresh on the palate a long while. Have with anything grilled and beefy, quaff with pizza or sip with hot chicken wings. A social drink-now - not for cellaring.  80
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DOMAINE BASSAC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Côtes de Thongue, France (Map It!), 13.0%  D, #164152  $13.00  (Tasted August 28, 2010)  CS
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A General listing described anonymously (undated) as "clear, deep ruby red; cassis and plums with oak spice notes, dry, full body; ripe flavours of plums and cherries with notes of cocoa and spice; fine tannins, drink now or hold 1 - 2 years. Serve with beef tenderloin."  My notes: According to the back label: ‘The Domaine in the south of France is run by the Delhon brothers who cultivate the entire vineyard organically drawing out the best from each grape variety.’ Also mentioned by Konrad Ejbich, @winezone, in a tweet as “an LCBO newbie. Really coats the tongue.”  The film is firm and leads to long slow tears. The colour is opaque ruby and the nose is an interesting mix of plums and currants, delicate but there for sure. A smooth texture, full-bodied with flavours of currants, somewhat woody with an even balance of tannins and acid and a long finish carrying the earthy fruit to a dry end. An interesting sipper and it did coat the tongue. Quaff with pizzas, cheesy tomato pastas or with a beef stir-fry.  A flexible meal red, not for cellaring, a drink now.  86