Wino Wednesday

Vineyard: Nathanson Creek
Class: Cabernet Sauvignon
State: California
Cost: $5.29
Profile:
At Nathanson Creek, our award-winning wines are crafted using an innovative “soft press” method, making them very approachable and easy to drink, while bringing out the best in any food they are paired with. Each varietal is distinctive, with a personality all its own. If you’re a wine lover, you’ll know why our frog is always smiling!

#1: Look
After tilting the class & looking around you can tell from the raspberry red coloring the age is consistent with a six-dollar bottle of wine. The wine itself although red, lacks the vibrancy of some other $6 wines — but don’t write this one off just yet.

#2: Swirl, Sniff, & Viscosity
On first sniff your taken away by the tartness of the wine but as it slowly opens up you start to nice the subtle, but nice, dark fruits & spices. This sniff corresponds directly with what the vineyard was pushing for, which was a “very approachable wine” that could (through its subtleness) be paired with many different foods and enjoyed by even the least experienced wine drinker.

In terms of Viscosity of this Cabernet had some legs! Whats that mean? Well, the faster the wine runs down the side of the wine glass after the swirl the more viscous it is… that being said — this also has a direct correlation with the amount of alcohol contained in the particular wine.

#3: Sip
The first taste that hits you is biter-ish & salty but not horrible. Its not as smooth as say a $10 dollar wine (hah!) but as far as the $6 category goes it fits the bill exceedingly well & maintains its identity. In addition, the weight & body of the wine is quite substantial compared against, say, a Yellowtail. While the vineyard may have desired to produce a wine without large body or weight, this cabernet escaped they’re control this time around.

#4: Aspirate
You get the bitters as-well-as the dark fruits & black current flavors upon aspirating — truly this wine becomes enjoyable whilst all of these flavors mix in your mouth. Unfortunately you look like an idiot aspirating a $6 wine, but I’ve found that most in this category need this stage to make it enjoyable. Once the enzymes in your mouth break down the wine you notice it starting to settle/mellow and becomes quite enjoyable. Bottom line — aspirate this sucker!

#5: Aftertaste
The bitter aftertaste lingers in the 8 second+ range but disappears leaving your mouth almost dry… its certainly an odd sensation but begs for more. After the wine has dissipated from your taste buds you can note the oaky darkness of this merlot and feel the kick of the alcohol — this is a good thing in a $6 wine.

#6: Overall Opinion
Overall — this wine met my criteria for a $6 wine worth buying; so for all you winos out there, if you like your $6 wines a bit bitter with a great aftertaste… Nathanson Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon is for you — & at $5.29 you can’t beat it!