Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and Sonoma

[wondersofwine]

(Posted on another forum also).

1999 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA $26.99 at Bassin's/Macarthur Beverages in DC. 13.8% alcohol

Color/clarity/transparency: Deep purple-red, lighter at rim; opaque.

Nose: Cassis scent with secondary herbal notes.

Palate: Juicy dark berry flavors; cassis dominates; borders on jammy. Dry finish with controlled tannins. Attractive now; might evolve further with time. I don't have enough experience to verify potential. I also have tried the 2001 and 1998 vintages of this wine and actually prefered the '98 vintage which was perhaps softer, less ripened. I believe the winemakers' notes said that although it was a rainy vintage, the particular site of their grapes managed to avoid some of the problems other vintners encountered in '98.

2001 Arrowood Grand Archer Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA $14.99 at grocery store Winery website lists a suggested retail price of $22.00. Grand Archer is the value line of wines from Arrowood.
13.5% alcohol

Color/clarity/transparency: Grape-popsicle purple with a brown or tan undertone; opaque. Quite "leggy" on the glass.

Nose: A little bit of the grape popsicle on the nose too with a mild scent of shoe polish.

Palate: Flavors of purple and black fruits; boysenberries to the forefront. Fuzzy tannins cause slight puckering. I could imagine this as being a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot although the website makes no mention of other varieties unlike their regular C.S. which has a small percentage of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

The grapes were primarily from Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys with grapes from Sonoma Valley, Knight's Valley and Russian River Valley blended in.

Overall impression: okay wine but seemed to have less varietal typicity than the Sequoia Grove.