Luscious Hedonism Small-Lot California Cabernet Tastelive Event

Tonights post comes to you courtesy of Tastelive and another awesome tasting Small Lot Cabernet Sauvignon from California. The wine was very impressive and matched the esteem tasting panel of yours truly, Bean Fairbanks @WineBeerWa, Katie Pizzuto @gonzogastronomy, Dezel Quillen @myvinespot, Beau Carufel @UCBeau, Megan Kenney @Sonadora, Grace Hoffman @Cellarmistress, Lain Bradford @winereview, Pamela Heiligenthal @Enobytes, Amy Corron Power @Winewonkette, Joe Power @HoustonWino and lets not forget Cailyn McCauley and Joel Quigley our hosts. We enjoyed 4 quality cabernets this evening all with their own distinct characteristics.

We start the evening with the 07 Chateau Felice La Craie American Celebration Chalk Hill $50. What a wine to start the evening taste off with this blend of 73% Cabernet, 23% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc (75 cases produced). The aroma is full of dark berry, cherry, herbal notes and a wonderful spice. The flavor is so silky smooth with huge fruit nuances of ripe blackberry, cherry, hints of raspberry and a nice spice finish. The juicy fruit lingers very long into the taste. Amazing starting wine.

Next the 07 Krutz Family Cellars Stagecoach Vineyards Napa Valley $75. My 3rd tasting of this exceptional cabernet and the wine impresses me each time. Aromas of black cherry, spice, smokey oak, sweet vanilla, currents and herbal notes. The flavor showcases the ripe fruit perfectly. Cherry, blackberry, raspberry all wrapped around a touch of oak. Wonderful hint of spice.

The third wine is the 08 Rodney Strong Alexanders Crown Alexander Valley $75. Big bad boy here clocking at 15.5%. Aromas of green pepper, clove, blackberry, hints of leather and oak. The flavor is bold and elegant. The raspberry intertwined with the dark berry flavor finishing with a touch of spice and oak. Would love to taste another bottle in 5 years and compare.

Our final wine of the evening the 07 Wente Vineyards The Nth Degree Livermore Valley San Francisco Bay $60. Aromas of herbal tea, blackberry, hints of cocoa, slight raspberry and earthiness. The longer in the glass this wine really opened up. Once again another awesome tasting cabernet with raspberry, blackberry, plum, spice, oak and finishing with some earthiness. This wine is another I would love to taste in 5 years.

Descriptions of tonights tasting range from exceptional to epic (ucbeau)among the comments from the blogger panel. I won't disagree and we were all very spoiled by these wines. My kudos to all the winemakers for your hard work and talent. Special wines indeed! Cailyn and Joel another great event and my thanks for including me.

Cheers everyone!
Dan