2023 Kirkland Signature Stag's Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday! It was a great first week of classes, have I mentioned that I am now a teaching professor of finance?  In any case it was a good week, and now I am spending the weekend preparing for next week, but in the interim I can enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I picked up at Costco yesterday, the 2023 Kirkland Signature Stag's Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  You had me at Stag's Leap Costco!  So, let's see how this (likely too young) wine is tasting!

The wine has the look of a classic big Napa Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby all around.  The nose presents aromas of leather, Bing cherry, hints of white pepper and just a bit of dried herbs.  The first sip is an intriguing combination of green grass up front that transitions to some ripe cherry and blackberry and earthy limestone midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it would have rated higher, but it's still quite young and has a bit of sharpness along the edges (if they release this a year later, this wine would be really singing!).  This wine would of course pair well with steak, but also with barbecue, braised lamb shank, or even a variety of pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest dinner of pan seared New York strip, over sautéed red onions and mushrooms with some corn on the cob (I am reliably told there is more than corn in Indiana).  I will likely enjoy the rest of this wine beside the fire this evening, cheers!  

2013 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's Sunday, time for me to explore the culinary world for Sunday dinner and of course find new and interesting wines to try.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  For a little background, I was introduced to this winery on the Napa Valley Wine Train interestingly enough, as the two couples sitting across from me on the train brought a bottle of 2012 Justin Isosceles on board and they were kind enough to share a glass with me.  I really enjoyed it, so when I was at my local supermarket yesterday and saw the Justin Cabernet on sale, I just had to try it!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look, with dark, inky color at the centers with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose exhibits aromas of black cherry, oak and leather, just what you'd expect from a really good Cab.  The taste is delightful, with a blast of dark fruit up front, black cherry and plum that transition smoothly to some lovely black pepper spice notes along with some limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with well structured tannins supporting a velvety smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it tastes like is could easily be a $50 Cabernet, but I bought it yesterday for just under $22!  And tonight I've decided to enjoy this wine with a decidedly uncharacteristic Sunday dinner to pair with a big Cab, but I do it because I can!  So tonight I am enjoying this wine with some grilled teriyaki chicken breast served with blood orange infused jasmine rice and steamed organic rainbow carrots.  Something about teriyaki always makes it good with a big bold red.  Cheers!

2010 Notarius Heart Arrow Cabernet Sauvignon

What a lovely Sunday afternoon, a perfect time for a lovely Sunday dinner and a bottle of wine!  Today it's the 2010 Notarius Heart Arrow Cabernet Sauvignon that I picked up at my local wine merchant on sale!

The wine itself is a lovely only purple in the glass with great clarity. The nose is a lovely combination of rich leather, ripe plum and forest floor. The taste was quite nice, with some bright fruit up front, blueberries, plum and tart cherry, which transitions to some dusty limestone mid palate.  The finish a quite nice with very nicely structured tannins supporting a lovely long, smooth dry finish that seems to fast a minute or more. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a lovely Cabernet that tastes like a much more expensive bottle of wine than the $21 I spent on this one. Today I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner starting with a lovely Caprese salad with fresh basil, Tuscan herb olive oil and 25-year balsamic, and the main course of shank ham, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, leeks and purple carrots and the Midwest classic green bean casserole!  Delicious!