The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fantastic for the price! This wine is full bodied and silky smooth, with aromas of chocolate, vanilla bean and bold barrel spice. A core of red raspberry and blueberry fruit flavors are framed by cedar, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The wine finishes with mouth-coating tannins and toasty oak. This is a smooth and elegant Cabernet that will pair nicely with a juicy steak or pasta in a rich Italian red sauce.
Bread & Butter is a producer of California wines that takes their name from the tantalizing aromas and flavors that naturally develop during the winemaking process. In the winery, oak and yeast lead to “bready” aromas and malolactic fermentation create buttery aromas that fill the cellar.
Sourced from two regions in California, this wine is 100% Cabernet and honestly, one of the best California Cabernets I have ever had at this price point! The nose is an alluring combination of dark berries, chocolate, subtle spice and creamy vanilla. The palate is outstanding, full of rich dark cassis flavors, framed by lovely hints of mocha, cherries and smooth tannins. The wine has a great mouthfeel, very round and smooth, with a long finish. This is as crowd pleasing a Cabernet as you will find, approachable and tasty, yet with enough nuances and intricacies that it will please even the most discerning palate. Good right out of the bottle, even better with a quick decant, enjoy this wine on it’s own, or matched with a lovely steak, charcuterie or pulled pork!
The Penley Phoenix Cabernet is a tremendous wine, and a true example of a great Coonawarra Cabernet. Wine Spectator’s tasting note is spot on and so I will post it as follows, “Dense, with sink-your-teeth-into-them tannins and concentration to the plum, cassis and blackberry flavors. Sage and rosemary accents linger in the background. Strikes the right balance between power and elegance, with grace notes of eucalyptus, black tea and tobacco lingering on the velvety finish. Drink now through 2030.” This wine is awesome on it’s own, and just as good with food. Very versatile, the wine goes with a wide variety of food, it is great with steak, roast lamb, hearty meals and aged cheese. It is not often a wine at this price is cellarable to 2030 and beyond but that is just how good this vintage is!!!
It has been proven over time that Paso Robles is hands down a stellar place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon. Benefiting from the largest swing between high daytime and low nighttime temperatures of any region in California, the climate allows wine grapes to fully develop solid varietal characteristics and highly concentrated color and flavor.
No strangers to Paso Robles, the Niven family has been a part of San Luis Obispo County’s farming history for more than four decades. They previously owned and farmed a Cab ranch in Paso, and have continually been proponents of keeping this expressive fruit local and in bottles bearing the Paso Robles appellation. Along with winemaker Christian Roguenant, they have tapped into their multi-generational relationships with current growers to source high quality fruit for this wine. True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon shows off exactly what the AVA is known for; rich, gutsy Cabs of distinct depth and varietal character.