I had a feeling this was going to be a powerhouse, but holy smokes, this wine is like a wild animal that becomes uncaged the minute you pull the cork.
I say that in a good way as I think fans of big, bold wines will find a lot to like here. It's a well made wine and with 15.2% alc. it's ideal after a hard day in the office (without being overbearing).
The wine pours dark and thick; aromas of spicy red fruit, pepper, and dark chocolate; in the mouth is where this wine shines; it's juicy with mocha/espresso flavors, spicy dark cherry, a touch of Andes mint and a little bit of Vicks cough drops towards the end; the finish is dry and sticky.
It's comprised of an interesting blend of "support" varietals, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, to complement the 93% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Online and at Total Wine this bottle is priced in the low $20's. Costco is selling at $18.99 which is a fair price indeed especially for those readers who enjoy these gigantic wines, which I tend to enjoy as the cooler months approach.
We're now two for two in the last week on reviews hitting the Recommended Wines list. So if you head to Costco soon, look for this Luke bottle as well as the Ardal Ribera del Duero that we just reviewed, and you'll be enjoying two great wines for under $40.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points
Costco item number: 1088605
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Kennesaw)
Alc. 15.2% (yes, a hefty one, but it's masked by an enjoyable wine)
Maria Jette says
15.2% ABV is just madness. I can't figure out how people can tolerate the alcohol burn, but more importantly to me, a person on the smallish side for a contemporary American (ca. 120#), it's just TOO MUCH ALCOHOL to comfortably have more than a glass at a sitting. I'm so suspicious of CA reds from Central Coast and Lodi and even Sonoma that I look for the ABV before any other descriptors-- but I obviously missed the news that I must now beware of WA cabs, too! Alas.
Speaking of ABV, though, I was recently amused to see (on a label which was trying VERY hard to be amusing) "14% ABV by volume." I don't think that was part of their attempt at humor, though. Again, alas. 😉
Erin says
Italian Amarone’s are also notoriously high in alcohol. Certain producers such as Orin Swift & the Wagner Family of Wines make wines with extra RS and alcohol because many Americans like big wines. Alcohol itself carries flavor and accentuates those in wine. It’s a trend that’s unlikely to change, but there are plenty of winemakers who feel the same as you. I must agree that it’s hard to drink multiple glasses of an uber-high alcohol wine without feeling, well, drunk. Perhaps a smaller glass would be appropriate? 😉