2013 VitaLuce Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's selection Sunday, and I just watched the entire NCAA basketball bracket revealed on CBS, so now it's time for a glass of wine and get to making dinner!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 VitaLuce Cellars Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out.  It's a young Cabernet, but given this wine from Paso Robles was primarily from grapes on the west side of the appellation, I thought it might be just a bit more interesting despite its youth and inexperience.

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, with a violet hue and great clarity.  The nose is somewhat fruity, with some jammy plum and blackberry notes overlaid with some lovely earthy notes of toasted oak, cedar and a touch of mint.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of jammy fruit up front, blackberry and cassis that quickly subsides into some baking spice and dark chocolate midpalate.  The well structured tannins make for a long, smooth, very dry finish that dare you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Cabernet and a terrific value at just $13!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare bacon wrapped filet with some garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  The fruit and minerality of this wine are perfect against the richness of a great steak.  Cheers!