I like my big cabs, even in the middle of summer. I like my little cabs too, and I’m finding more and more that the quality of these wines are increasing as new & different winemaking techniques are regularly being employed.
This wine recently hit a few of the Costco clubs that I frequent, and I must say that on first glance, the label didn't exactly speak to me. Copper-colored and shiny, like a penny, and with too many words printed in a safe font, it made me immediately think “cheap cab.”
Phrases printed on the label such as “craft vinted wines,” and “intense concentrated flavor” were off-putting to me, at first, because most of my favorite wines have fairly simple labels that don't need to promote the juice that's inside (I'm talking about you, Honig).
This being said, if you've been paying attention to my reviews, you have probably figured out by now that I'm a ratings junkie. I fall for designations like “Top 100, Editor's Choice, and Best Buy” which almost always accompany a 90-plus score. So, when I see a $12 bottle that is both a 91 point wine and Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice, you had better bet that it's going in my cart.
The back label of the bottle is where the juice promotion actually belongs, and in this case I was intrigued by what I read. The main body of the text explains that “Slow Press wines are a tribute to the true craft of winemaking. Our vintners know that great wines are worth waiting for, so they've slowed down the winemaking process from start to finish. This Slow Press process releases the purest, most concentrated flavors and smooth finish.”
Well, I'll be the judge of that, thank you very much.
The wine is simple and smooth upfront, with dark berry flavors as well as hints of vanilla and sweet baking spice. The beauty and value in this wine lies in the complex, elegant, and lingering finish, a finish that you would not normally get from a wine in this price range.
Wine Enthusiast calls it “concentrated and tannic, with medium-full body, a hint of sweetness and layers of dark cherry and plum fruit.” It’s a pleasure to drink and the quality is right where it needs to be.
For a “California” wine, this is one of the better Cabernet Sauvignon's I've had. According to labeling laws, the grapes from this wine can come from anywhere in California, and only 75% of them have to be Cabernet (also, only 75% of the grapes have to come from California).
The winery's website states that the grapes are sourced from Lodi, Paso Robles, and Monterey. Malolactic fermentation and 9 months of oak barrel aging produce a full-bodied and well-structured wine, relatively speaking, while an extended cold soak aids to exemplify the layered fruit profile. I could not find an exact percentage of the grape varieties that were used.
I give this wine an agreeable 91 points.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points
ABV: 13.5%
Purchased in: Atlanta, GA (Alpharetta)
Costco Item Number: 1165007
Joe O. says
The Central Coast influences are very evident with this wine. Up front it's reminiscent of Paso Robles sourced cabs like Justin and Daou, but with the brooding power dialed back a bit. WE recommends optimum drinking in 2019 so I bought enough to lay down a few bottles.