BARGAIN HUNTERS…CABERNET SAUVIGNON UNDER $20
Sometimes you just want a bargain. Sometimes you just want a drink.
My son is following in my hubby’s footsteps, those two will spend hours bargain hunting. My son is 4. He wants a kite, they scour every store, online site, to find the best deals. Its kinda like a game, and kinda not. Sometimes it works out and today the kite lasted five minutes. I have always said my son should be a toy tester, he can break toys we’ve possessed for years in two minutes. He can test every limit, on EVERY toy. It doesn’t stop at toys, he can pull apart a pen in seconds. Seriously, someone hire this kid. On the other hand, I don’t have time for that. Three kids, enough said. I like a good bargain yes, but I would rather spend all that energy drinking rather than saving. Lets be honest.
The mission this week is to find a good Cabernet Sauvignon for under $20.00. I am hesitant and I beg (OK, I didn’t have to beg) some friends to help taste our way through 6 bottles. The line up:
Kendell Jackson, Vinters Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Sonoma County $15.99 (avg price $15-20)
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon Vinters blend, California 2012 $8.99 (avg price $8-12)
Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 2012 $12.99 (avg price $12-17)
Summers Andriana’s Cuvee, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Napa/Sonoma $20 (avg price $20-25)
Greg Norman Estates, Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, Ca 2012 $11.99 (avg price $11-15)
Goose Ridge G3 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, WA 2012 $10.99 (avg $10-15)
The WINNER (BY A LOT) was Goose Ridge G3
The two runners-up were: Ravenswood and Estancia with Kendell Jackson close by. We did not like (not one person liked) the Greg Norman or Summers wine.
I’ll start from the top.
The Kendell Jackson was a balanced wine that was fruit forward, and smooth, for the price a good solid drinking wine.
Next up the Ravenswood. This was our 2nd best wine in terms of taste. It’s brambly, more red fruit than black, sweet spice with vanilla and smoother than the Kendell Jackson
Third wine was the Estancia, this was close to Ravenswood in terms of like-ability. Its more of an earthy (Bordeaux style) wine with plum and cherry, so if you like earth, pick this over Ravenswood. If you like more fruit taste the Ravenswood.
Four and five we did not like. The Summers was hot on the nose, grippy tannins and not balanced, the Greg Normas smelled like an ash-tray, better on the palate but no one like either one.
Number six was our favorite. The G3 is amazing for the prince, I mean amazing. We actually poured in Next to a $60 Conn Creek Anthology wine, they tasted so similar. You could definitely tell the quality of the Conn Creek, but the gap was not that big in terms of taste and quality. This is a bargain wine. It drinks like a $40 wine. Restrained black fruit, good acidity, could be decanted and can drink now or drink in next ten years.
Sometimes bargains aren’t all they are cracked up to be, the same applies to wine. When a winemaker starts the process of making wine, they have to know what type of wine they will be making. Are they making an artesian wine with a higher price tags or a more value priced wine. Everything they do from pruning to bottling will be based on what type of wine they are making. Sometimes you just run across a really solid wine for the price, and that would be the G3.
Let me know if you have a type of wine for our next wine tastings or anything you want to see on the blog!