Napa Cab That Delivers

2006 Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon

A close friend of mine came into town last night for the coming weekend. I haven’t seen him in 6+ months, but when he lived in California, my wife and I introduced him to Regusci Winery, a small Stags Leap District winery right off Silverado Trail.

It’s one of my favorite places to visit, and between the smiles and knowledge of the employees, and the happy butt-wagging of Trixie, the winery’s Welsh Corgi, we always have a great time.

Oh, the wine is pretty damn good, too.

I bring up the friend of mine, because he had supper with my wife and I last night, and I decided to crack open this Regusci cab I’d been holding on to for a bit in celebration. The man’s been in Utah, not a place known for its spectacular wine (or liberal direct-shipping laws)!

So what’s the wine like? First, it’s not completely cab, but is instead a Bordeaux-style blend (called a Meritage here in California) of 90% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot, and 4% cabernet franc. In the glass, the wine is dark, almost black at its core, and lightens to a bright ruby at the edges. There’s a bit of heat on the nose but it dissipates with even a short amount of time in the glass. Smoky toastiness mixes with red cherry and blackberry notes for a pleasant mix of fruit-forwardness and oaky, earthy mellow.

The Regusci cab is full-bodied, with soft, supple tannins and good structure. Notes of raspberry and black cherry mingle with oak, mimicking–though remaining distinct from–the combination on the nose.

The wine isn’t the cheapest in the world, listed at $48 on their website, but is worth it, as it’s a great example of a Meritage, with grapes from the Valley floor tucked up against the eastern hills.

Verdict: B+

2006 Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Regusci Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington State Claret Scores

2003 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon

Quite a while ago now, I won this bottle in a contest at Josh Wade’s Drink Nectar wine/coffee blog. Josh is a huge proponent of the burgeoning Washington State wine scene, and he raved pretty good about Kiona and their cabs, especially.

When the bottle arrived, I popped the cork, eager to see what it had to offer. That bottle, however, offered me little more than a bitter, vinegary sensation. It looked like the rigors of travel… and a loose cork (these things happen)… had done the wine no favors whatsoever. It was undrinkable.

I told Josh about the unfortunate result, he told the folks at Kiona, and they happily sent out another bottle. Good thing they did, because this is a wine I’m glad I got to try.

The Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon is a Washington State blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, a very Left Bank Bordeaux-style combination (in the UK, red wines from Bordeaux are sometimes called “Claret,” hence my use of the word in the title. No, I’m not British).

The wine is a ruby red color at its core, and there is a slight orange-brown rusting to the edges. The nose shows off a bit of heat (though its modest 13.8% ABV keeps this from getting Lodi Zinfandel levels), but a plentiful bouquet of raspberry, blackcurrant, and white pepper.

The 2003 Kiona is a medium-bodied wine. The tannins start off a bit sharp, but smooth considerably with just a little time in the glass. There is some good structure, but this is a wine to be enjoyed, not to be cellared. The dominant notes on the palate are smooth black cherry, and toasted oak that comes off a bit smoky.

All in all, very enjoyable. And for $12-$20, a very good value.

Verdict: B+

2003 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon

Sterling, Indeed

2001 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

We went to a wedding last weekend. My wife was in it, actually. The bride is a good friend. She and many of the members of the wedding party work or have worked in the restaurant business, and the food was fantastic.

The wines weren’t none too shabby, neither.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from Sterling Vineyards might be just a tad past its prime, but it’s still a very solid wine. It’s a Bordeaux-style blend, at 81% Cab Sauv, 11% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, and clocks in at a solid 14.2% ABV. The color is a dark purple. On the nose are notes of dark red fruit and forest floor (some mushroom, some grass, a bit of oak).

The wine is lighter-bodied than I expected, and definitely fruit-forward. Ripe, red fruit all over the place, but with a soft tannin structure that keeps it from tasting like Juicy-Juice.

A bit of sediment in my glass told me the wine should really be decanted, so if you go for this offering from Sterling–especially if you actually have a bottle this old–I’d highly recommend you do that.

Verdict: B