| |
| |
A Downright Delicious California Cabernet for $12.79
Plus 2015 Chappellet "Mountain Cuvée"
|
Cabernet is the top-selling varietal in the United States, by a
wide margin. When planning this week's email offers, however, we realized it had been ages since we'd offered a tasty Cabernet at the value end of the price spectrum. Despite Cabernet being so popular, true California Cabernet values are rather unusual to find!
 Founded in 1883, and now run by fourth generation vintner John Concannon, Concannon is one of the oldest wineries in California. They have been famous for Cabernet almost from the beginning, as founder James Concannon planted a vineyard in Livermore Valley way back in 1893 using clippings from Château Margaux.
According to the winery, roughly 80% of all Cabernet now planted in California are descendants of that vineyard, including today's gem from Paso Robles. Full of
ripe, juicy, dark fruit flavors with a soft, jammy texture, this wine is just freaking fun to drink!
With a 91-point rating from Wine Enthusiast, and a price of $12.79 per bottle, it also happens be right in that sweet-spot of value and hits the bulls-eye for any-night-of-the-week enjoyment.
Check out the details below on this tasty Cabernet from Concannon, and then scroll down further for our review of the just-arrived 2015 "Mountain Cuvée" from Napa Valley's Chappellet! As always, click the
Big Yellow Button
to load up!
|
Cabernet Tasting this Thursday!
(Vin Chicago - Highland Park)
With Napa Valley's brilliant trio of 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintages, it is time for a Cabernet tasting! Join us this Thursday, May 25th, at our Highland Park store for an exploration of Cabernet Sauvignon!
Special bottlings from Araujo, Caymus, Frog's Leap, Silver Oak, Jordan and Frank Family will be open to taste, along with two dozen more Cabs from across California and the world.
Complementing these powerful wines will be tasty bites from Jennifer Eisen's and Eloin Amador's
House 406
.
It promises to be a fun night!
WHEN: Thursday, May 25th, 7:00pm
WHERE: Vin Chicago, 1350 Old Skokie Rd, Highland Park
COST: $35 per person
To reserve your spot, click here or call our Highland Park store at 847-831-1049.
|
 2014 Concannon
Cabernet Sauvignon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are times where a wine really just hits the sweet spot, and the 2014 Concannon Cab is one of them. With ripe, juicy, dark fruit flavors and a soft, silky mouthfeel, it offers a combination of density and overall pleasurability rarely found at this price.
Made from grapes from the warm-climate Paso Robles AVA, it has a wonderful combination of ripeness and soft tannins. Often wines from Paso are rich, but also high in alcohol - not this one. Clocking in at a modest 13.5% ABV, Concannon has found a near-perfect balance of plump fruit and rich texture.
Our own tasting panel awards this a solid 90 points. That's quite a high rating for a Cabernet we're able to sell for $12.79 per bottle!
Awarding an "Editors' Choice" award, Wine Enthusiast goes a point higher, writing this 91-point review:
"This is a strong wine for the price, unfolding with caramelized berries, kirsch, black cassis, wet river stone and tight plum skins on the dense nose. Cooked blackberries and black-cherry jam show on the palate, where elegant graphite tannins make for a very silky, earthy wine."
- 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast (September 2016)
Pop this one open on a Taco Tuesday or a Just-Because Thursday - you won't be disappointed. Even at
Wine Enthusiast's $20 release price, it is one heck of a buy. At $12.79 per bottle, this is a buy-it-by-the-caseload and drink any night of the week kind of Cab!
Vin Chicago Price: 12.79 ($153.48 per case of twelve)
|
A Big, Bold, Beautiful Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend from Chappellet!
 2015 Chappellet "Mountain Cuvée" Proprietary Red
Napa Valley, California
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In recent years this Bordeaux-style blend from Napa Valley's Chappellet has developed a HUGE following. More accessible, both from a pricing and structure standpoint than their Signature Cabernet, it has a personality that appeals both to classic Napa Cab drinkers and those who prefer the new, bolder style of Napa Valley blends.
The 2015
Mountain
Cuvée is exceptionally well-crafted, and a real smile inducer. Bigger, denser and with a stronger earth character than the 2014 vintage, this exuberant wine is complex and layered with flavors of blue berry, black currant, spice and a tiny hint of green herbs. Rich, bold and structured, it has nice woody tones of vanilla and a long, velvety finish.
A blend of the five traditional Bordeaux varietals - 37% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 11% Petite Verdot and 7% Cabernet Franc - each grape building on the other to create an incredibly complex wine that completely belies its price. You can almost taste the five decades plus of Napa winemaking experience as the layers unfold to reveal a wonderful depth of flavor.
With 92 points from our ultra-conservative tasting panel, this Napa Valley red is a very serious wine that really made us smile.
|
If you already have a password account, click here to log in.
If you cannot see a yellow button, please either click here,
or contact Ellen at 773-791-7936 for assistance. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
