CheapWineFinder Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio 2018 is 100% Pinot Grigio sourced from the Tiefenbrunner estate (founded 1848) vineyard in the Vigneti Delle Dolomiti IGT district of Trentino-Alto Adige region of far northern Italy. Vigneti Delle Dolomiti is located in the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains which are part of the Alps Mountain chain. This part of Italy is as much German as it is Italian, with most villages having both a German and an Italian name.The IGT wine designation loosens the rules and regulations that winemakers in DOC and DOCG areas have to adhere to. Trentino and parts of Veneto are the leading growing regions for Italian Pinot Grigio with Alto-Adige being the elite area and wines from there commanding the highest prices. But the conditions in the district allow many locations to grow excellent Pinot Grigio grapes.The Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio is sourced from a vineyard with mature grapevines (planted 1985 or older). This Pinot Grigio was fermented in stainless steel tanks and them aged in cement vats for 4 months. Cement vats are not yet common in US winemaking but are used often in Italian and French wines. The cement tanks are lined to keep out odd flavors and the sides are thick enough to provide the aging wines stable temperatures and humidity.Caves are often used as wine cellars since the temperatures and humidity in a cave a constant and developing wine perform best with consistent climate conditions. Stainless steel tanks are fairly thin-walled and while they provide several advantages for the winemaking process are not as efficient with climate control as cement vats. The alcohol content is 12.5%.The Tasting NotesThe color is a very clean, clear pale wheat yellow. The nose is ripe citrus, along with Golden Delicious apple, peach and a bouquet of flowers. This is a rather tasty Pinot Grigio, light and delicate, but rich flavors and well-balanced acidity (some Pinot Grigio from this general region can overdo the acidity). It starts with a mix of grapefruit, lemon, and lime, and then pear, and a little gentle spice. The mid-palate adds guava, a salty sensation, a hint of minerality, and a late dash of juicy peach. One thing I always enjoyed about Pinot Grigio was the layers of distinct, but subtle flavors and the Tiefenbrunner does well in this regard. The acidity is in the pocket, the flavors unfold, but the acid does not bite. The finish is subtle but does not quit any time soon.The Summary * I was talking to someone recently who has family in Rome and they made the comment that folks in Italy do not spend more than $10 for a bottle of wine unless it is a very special occasion. I found the Tiefenbrunner for $11.99 in Chicago, which would put it under ten bucks back in Italy. * It is a delicious Pinot Grigio. * Not only are the flavors pleasing it has enjoyable mouth-feel and texture, but it is also a well-made wine.        Check out the Companion Podcast Below !!!!

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2018 Lot #23 is a $12.99 Trader Joe's exclusive sourced from vineyards in the Carneros AVA which is half inside the Sonoma AVA and half inside the Napa AVA. This is the 10th vintage of TJ's Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir, we last reviewed the 2017 version. Carneros is an interesting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape growing region.The Carneros AVA is farther inland than most Pinot growing regions and is able to have the proper climate because its southern border is the San Pablo Bay (that is the bay just north of the San Fransico Bay). This brings cool breezes in from the Pacific Ocean which along with the poor soil (remember, quality wine grapes need to struggle to produce good wine, happy grapes make bad wine) create proper Pinot Noir conditions.Carneros Pinot Noir tends to start in the $20 range and go up from there. So, $12.99 is a very good price if the Pinot Noir if this Pinot Noir is even close to those more high-end Pinots. There are not any "budget" wineries in Carneros, the grapes had to come from quality vineyards. Plus the 12.99 TJ's price seems to indicate a quality source for this wine. Trader Joe's does not give any information on the maker of this Pinot Noir or the source of the grapes, but this being the 10th vintage indicates a stable source.At first, I thought a 2018 vintage may be a little young for a Carneros Pinot Noir, but I checked and there are plenty of 2018 Pinots on the market from big-name producers. The Grand Reserve Pinot Noir was aged in French oak barrels for 10 months, which is right on par with Carneros Pinot Noir selling in the $40 range. So, even though we do not know the who, what, and where of this wine this Trader Joe's Pinot Noir does have a track record and what little we do know about it matches up to some top-notch Pinots. The alcohol content is 13.9%.The Tasting NotesThe color is a see-thru garnet red, with a clear halo. The nose is very promising, there is the aroma of herbs, mushroom, dried autumn leaves, spice, cherries, black pepper, all very delicate and enticing. This is a smooth fruit-driven Pinot with an exotic edge. It tastes of black cherry, licorice, sharp spice, and ripe plum. The mid-palate brings in black pepper, raspberry, a salty sensation, herbs, and bitter dark chocolate. The tannins do not bite and the acidity lets the flavors unfold but does not interfere with the flavor profile. The finish is persistent and while subtle does last.The Summary * The Trader Joe's  Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2018 Lot #23 does a very solid impression of a more expensive Pinot Noir. * So you know where I am coming from, I prefer the more classic Russian River, Sonoma Coast-style Pinot Noir to the modern Meiomi-style big and fruity Pinot Noir. * The Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot tastes like old-school California Pinot Noir. It has the tasty ripe cherry that you would expect along with the crazy, funky flavors that only California Pinot seem to have (well, have in abundance, anyway) * There was a time, not long ago, when value-priced Pinot Noir was simple, inoffensive cherry-flavored wine. Not exactly terrible, but nothing worth remembering. * Today, there are many cheap Pinots that are extremely enjoyable, solid and worthy wines in their own right. Winemakers have adopted new (new to California Pinot Noir, not Beaujolais, France) that has brought improvements to the point that cheap Pinot Noir is my favorite cheap red wine. And the TJ's reserve is a great example of cheap Pinot ...

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Louise d’ Estrée Brut is an $8.99 Trader Joe's exclusive Sparkling wine produced somewhere in France with undetermined grapes. The label has virtually no information except that this Bubbly is made with the Traditional Method (same technique as Champagne) and it is Brut or Dry (not sweet). In France where the grapes are grown and the wine is produced is more important than which grapes were used. For example, Red wine from Burgundy will display the village where the vineyards are located but have no mention of Pinot Noir.The wine classification is also extremely important, AOC, IGP, or Vin de France are mentioned on every French wine label, but not here. Which is odd for a French wine, they all have some sort of classification. The producer named on the back label is Marcel Martin, which is a company and not a person, located in the Loire Valley and is part of a very large French wine company.Marcel Martin does make a well regarded Cremant (the French term for Sparkling wine or Bubbly that is not produced in Champagne) from the Loire Valley using the Chenin Blanc grape. So, Marcel Martin does have a track record of producing excellent Sparkling wines. Still, I am puzzled by the lack of information on the label, maybe because this wine is made for the US market it is not subject to French labeling laws. But still where the grapes were grown and which grapes are included should be standard info for any wine. The alcohol content is 11%.The Tasting NotesThe color is a pale golden yellow with a splash of tiny bubbles. The nose is crisp and clean, lemon, melon, citrus along with apple and pear, ripe peach and faint spring flowers. This is a balanced and tasty value-priced Bubbly, not complex by any means, but enjoyable. It starts with a mix of ripe peach, slightly tart lemon, and slap of minerality, pear, and grapefruit follow. The mid-palate adds that salty, cashew "on lees" thing, along with a juicy apple. The acidity is well focused, lets the flavors unfold, but does not bite. The finish is nicely full and long.The Summary The Louise d’ Estrée Brut Trader Joe's is a first-class New Years' Eve 2020 party wine. It is relatively cheap ($8.99), tasty (cool mix of sweet and sour flavors along with some wine snobs attributes like minerality and "on lees"). Why drink a Bubbly toast only at midnight when you can have your Bubbles all night long. This Trader Joe's Bubbly is satisfying enough work for the midnight 2020 toast.                                                 Check out the companion Podcast below !!!

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Roederer Estate Brut is a non-vintage Sparkling wine with a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Roederer Estate (founded 1982) is the Mendocino County, Anderson Valley in particular, branch of the nearly 200-year-old (founded 1833) Louis Roederer Champagne House in France. Roederer Estate has 600 acres of vineyards and grows only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Anderson Valley is a coastal valley about 100 miles north of San Fransico.Roederer Estate produces Champagne-style Traditional Method Bubbly with the same esthetics as its Champagne counterpart. The first fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks, then portions of these wines are then aged in French oak barrels. As a non-vintage Sparkling wine different vintages of these barrels aged wines are added to the mix.Roederer Estate goes into detail about the production techniques used. When the freshly picked grapes a crushed to extract the juice, they often crush the grapes 2 or 3 times, it is thought that the quality of the juice declines with each pressing. The Roederer Estate Brut only makes use of the first pressing, the 2nd or 3rd pressing juice is sold off.In Champagne, the rules dictate that the second fermentation (this is where the bubbles are formed) must last a minimum of 18 months, this Roederer estate Brut was aged "on lees" in the bottle for at least 2 years. This Bubbly was named the #27 wine in Wine Spectators Top 100 Wines of 2018 (it is a non-vintage wine so the 2019 release should be exactly the same) and every wine publication of noted has issued it 92 points or more.So, what we have here is a Sparkling wine founded by an Iconic French Champagne House, produced very much in the style of the French Bubbly. With Estate farmed grapes from an excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir growing area and produced to specifications above the rules and regulations of Champagne, France. So what exactly is the difference between Champagne and comparable Traditional Method Sparkling wines produced elsewhere? Is the difference only price or is there more? Let's find out. The alcohol content is 12.4%.The Tasting NotesThe color is pale gold with persistent bubbles. The nose is detailed and slightly yeasty, there is lemon, green apple, pear, crusty bread, grapefruit, soft black cherry, and lime. This is a Bubbly that expands as it engages your palate, crisp, clean with excellent acidity. It starts with lemon cream, tart grapefruit, slightly sour apple, and Anjou pear. The mid-palate offers cherry, a little brioche, that salty, cashew "on lees" thing, a touch of melon, and guava. The acidity is well-balanced, this Bubbly has terrific length, the flavors keep rolling on. The finish is strong and long.The Summary Do you really need to spring for real-deal Champagne for New Years' Eve 2020 or can you save a few bucks and get what is essentially the same thing only from Anderson Valley, not Champagne? In a blind tasting, I doubt if too many people can pick which Bubbly was French and which is California. Louis Roeder Champagne produces Cristal and some truly excellent high-end Bubbly and there are not many other wine regions that can go one-on-one with high-end Champagne. But when it comes to more "entry-level" Champagne there are Sparkling wines that can compete and come in several dollars cheaper than the French stuff. The Roederer Estate Brut is a Bubbly worthy of special occasions, weddings, anniversaries, and New Years' Eve 2020. It is not Champagne, but it is real-deal, great-tasting, luxurious Sparkling wine that does not have to take a backseat to any entry-level Champagne.                                                             Check Out The Podcast Below!!!  

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe ALDI Monsigny Brut Champagne #3 is a non-vintage $19.99 ALDI exclusive, a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay sourced from multiple vineyards in Champagne, France. It seems this is a brand name that ALDI owns and in the past several different Champagne Houses supply the Bubbly for ALDI. But it seems, and it isn't easy to be sure, that Philizot et fils has been making these Bubbles since 2012.Philizot et fils are negociants, which means they do not grow the grapes and possibly do not perform the first fermentation on the grapes. That isn't unusual in Champagne, most of the big, famous Champagne Houses do not own their vineyards or if they do have some fields only use those grapes on the most exclusive Bubbly.ALDI in Europe and Australia are far more famous for their value wines than in the US. Their wines often win prestigious awards and Monsigny Brut #3 won the best Champagne award in an international wine festival. In Europe, the Monsigny Brut is known for its low price and for being one of the best Sparkling wines under $50.Is this the same Champagne that won the award? It does not seem to be, the award-winning Bubbly was 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay and while that is only a 10% difference with the Chardonnay and the Pinot Meunier, that does make this a different Bubbly. I asked a winemaker once on why they would add 1% of a grape to a blend and they said everything you do to wine makes a difference. Ten percent of something makes a big difference.Is this a Champagne made for ALDI America and not the same as the European effort? I don't know, but the $20 selling price is attractive and ALDI has an excellent track record with this Bubbly. There are some great reviews online and who knows, maybe the change in the blend (I am not positive these Bubbles are from the same producer) made this Champagne even better than advertised. The alcohol content is 12%.The Tasting NotesThe color is a mix of platinum and silver and the bubbles are plentiful. The nose is crisp and clean, there are scents of cherry, lemon, a nice hint of minerality, a little melon, and lightly floral. This is a well-balanced Champagne, nice and dry, it almost evaporates on your palate. It tastes of tart, sour cherry (not sweet and ripe), lemon cream, a slap of minerality, a touch of crusty bread. The mid-palate adds that salty, nutty "on lees" thing, lime, and soft black cherry (again not juicy and ripe). The acidity is spot-on, enough to let the flavors unfold and enough to get you reaching for the next sip. The finish is full and does not stop.The Summary * I came into this post thinking this, at $19.99, would be ok for a party Champagne, but not for the New Year's Eve toast or any other very special occasion, but I was wrong. * That this version of the Monsigny Brut # 3 wasn't the same Champagne as the Sparkling wine that received all the acclaim in Europe was a red flag, after all, it is 20 buck Champagne. * Now, I do prefer Pinot Noir based Bubbly to Chardonnay-based Bubbles, so I am predispositioned to enjoy this 60% Pinoir Noir Bubbly. But this Champagne is delicious * This is the best entry-level Champagne I have tasted in some time, period. * That you can buy 2 bottles of the Monsigny Brut #3 for the price of a typical entry-level French Champagne is crazy. 

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Trader Joe's RSVP Brut is a $6.99 TJ's non-vintage exclusive, sourced from grapes grown in California and produced with the Traditional Method, the same techniques used to make Champagne. CWF reviewed this wine way back in 2010 and then it was a blend of "92% Chardonnay and 8% shhh...it's a secret". Why they felt the need to "shhh" us, I don't know, what could the mystery possibly be? This may or may not be the same blend. The label says this Bubbly was produced by RSVP Vineyards out of Ceres, California. Ceres, Ca. happens to be the headquarters of Bronco Wines, the makers of "2 Buck Chuck" a Trader Joe's staple, so there may be a connection.I went to Trader Joe's looking for an inexpensive Holiday party wine, I recalled them having some decent Cremant Bubbly from Burgundy in past years. Cremant is the French term for a Sparkling wine or Bubbly made in France, but not in Champagne. I checked the Bubbly section and they had a few to choose from, but none of the bottles said Traditional Method on the label. Now, this isn't by law or is scientific, but I have found that when a Sparkling winemaker produced the Bubbly with the Traditional or Champagne Method that put the information on the label front and center. If the Bubbly was made in the Charmat Method or the Prosecco Method they don't mention it.It's just me, but I want my value-priced (cheap) French Bubbly made in the Champagne style and my inexpensive (cheap) Italian Bubbles made in the Prosecco style. So, anyway, this isn't a value-priced French Burgundian Cremant write-up, It is a super cheap California Traditional Method Sparkling wine. Judging from my review from Christmas 2010, I thought it was a very tasty bang-for-the buck Bubbly. The alcohol content is 12%.PS: If you want to know what RSVP stands for check out the upper left corner of the front label, turns out RSVP is French, who knew?Tasting NotesThe color is a pale golden yellow with a flurry of bubbles. The nose is a crisp green apple, lemon, a little brioche, Anjou pear, peach, and lime. This a well-balanced Sparkling wine, the acidity stays in control (often very inexpensive Traditional Method Bubbles can be acid bombs) along with some flavors that caused me to pause to figure out what was happening in my glass. It tastes of slightly sour lemon, a drop or two of lime, crisp apple and melon. The mid-palate adds some Ricola cough drops (mix of herbs and lemon), apple core (seeds and all), stone fruit, and pear. The acidity does not bite and the herbal, apple core flavors take a moment to get used to, but once you adjust it becomes a pleasant surprise for a $6.99 Sparkling wine. The finish is full and long.The Summary * I seemed to have enjoyed the 2010 version of the RSVP Brut more than the 2019 version. The 2010 RSVP seemed to be a typical Chardonnay-based Sparkling wine, just very inexpensive. The 2019 edition has some challenging flavors, not bad flavors, it is just that herbs, minerals, and apple core are not often seen in cheap Bubbles. * This is a very drinkable Bubbly, but may not be the first choice to pour for non-wine people at a Holiday party. Something light and breezy may be a better choice. * It is not a bad Bubbly by any means and is actually quite interesting, it is just that I am not so sure interesting is the best choice for a Holiday party.

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Légende Pauillac Bordeaux 2015 is a 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30%Merlot blend sourced from Domaines Barons de Rothschild estate Lafite vineyards near the village Pauillac in the Medoc region of Bordeaux. That is about the fanciest sentence CheapWineFinder ever had to write. While these vineyards are very, very upscale vineyards, the grapes were taken from some of the younger vines, which keeps the cost down. This is a Bordeaux selling in the $45 to $50 range rather than 100sof dollars per bottle.The Légende is Rothschilds' brand wine, they have a line of White and Red Bordeaux wines that are reasonably priced (50 bucks for a Bordeaux from Lafite vineyards IS reasonably priced, the others are mostly well under $20)) and solid representations of Bordeaux wines. You don't need to know Domaine This or Chateau That to choose an excellent, affordable Bordeaux wine, You just need to know Legende.With the younger vines and the various lots of wine being aged 3 to 9 months, 40% in French oak barrels, the didn't specify but I would imagine the other 60% was aged in stainless steel tanks. This is a drink-it-now wine, not meant for cellaring, you may be able to put it down for a couple of years, but there isn't any need for further aging.Check out the Podcast where Quake and Dave put the Légende Pauillac Bordeaux 2015 through its paces. While we make no claims to being Bordeaux experts, we do know good wine and more importantly, we know what we like. So listen up as CheapWineFinder goes upscale for the Holidays.

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir 2017 is the #1 wine on Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy Wines of 2019. And that is somewhat remarkable. Beringer is the oldest (since 1876) continuously operating winery in the US and they produce a lot of wine, from $400 bottles to $4 bottles, they run the gamut. The Founders Estate Pinot Noir is not the typical wine that leads best-of lists (I have not tasted it yet, I do the tasting notes in real-time). First, it is a Pinot Noir that I found on sale for $7.99, second, most of the grapes (along with a smaller portion of grapes from coastal Central Coast AVA) are sourced from multiple vineyards in the California Delta region. The California Delta region is basically the Clarksburg AVA and the Lodi AVA, they are about 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean. They are wine grape growing regions because of the San Pablo Bay, which is the bay north of the San Fransico Bay and is far enough inland that its influence can reach those areas through rivers and valleys. Neither AVA is known for Pinot Noir.Value-priced (cheap) labels from giant wineries, featuring grapes from non-buzz-worthy Pinot Noir growing regions and nothing out of the ordinary production techniques. It is aged for 5 months "on" French oak, what does "on" mean in this setting? I thought you aged wine "in" barrels, is "on" some winemakers term or does it mean something else. Actually, I don't expect a sub-10 buck wine to see oak barrels, it does happen from time to time, but the oak influence can come from oak staves or chips with inexpensive wine.I am not trying to be negative, because I am intrigued. #1 wines on Top 100 lists tend to be some wine from France or Italy that you can't find in any wine shop. Not that the Beringer was easy to find, I figured since it hit the top of the Best Buy 2019 list every store would feature it with a sign saying #1, but I had to visit 5 shops to find it and it was on the bottom shelf behind a kiosk of some other wine. I guess accolades don't count for much anymore, but when I read it took the first spot, I knew I had to see what was what. The alcohol content is 13.9%.The Tasting NotesThe color is crystal clear, see-thru garnet red. The nose is ripe fruit and funky herbs, there is ripe cherry, mushroom and a distinct herbal scent, oak spice, vanilla, slightly sour cranberry, and a faint hint of smoke. Ok, I kind of get it, it has a distinct mouthfeel, smooth, but with an edge and interesting flavor. It tastes of black cherry, spice, a little black pepper, chocolate powder, and ripe plum. The mid-palate shows tart cranberry and vanilla cream, along with soft herbs and orange zest. The tannins stay out of the way and the acidity does a good job of allowing the ample flavors to unfold. The finish is soft and does linger for a while.The Summary First of all, we at Cheap Wine Finder have known for some time that on the best, if not the best, inexpensive red wine was California Pinot Noir. In the last few years, cheap Pinot Noir has blossomed. Is the Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir 2017 my personnel #1 wine of 2019? No, but I am glad I gave it a try. It is more on the Meiomi side of Pinot Noir, which I like, but it isn't my favorite style of Pinot Noir. If you like your Pinot Noir full of ripe and juicy cherries, herbs, and spice, yet nicely focused, then the Founders Estate might be your #1 wine.                                                         Check out the companion podcast below  

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryQuake and Dave sample a bottle of Mionetto Brut Prosecco from their Prestige Collection. It is a light, crisp and delicious DOC Prosecco from the Treviso region in northern Veneto section of Italy. It may be crisp, light, and refreshing Bubbly, but it has loads of flavor: apple, lemon, pear, honey, and grapefruit, with light acidity. It is one of those wines where the bottle is empty before you know it - it is just so easy and enjoyable to take another sip.Mionetto has a whole line of tasty sparkling wines. The IL Collection, a light, and breezy bubbly that goes well with pizza. The Prestige Collection, which is this bubbly with the orange label. The Avantgarde Collection, the black label which we have not tried but it looks interesting. Then there is the Luxury Collection, with the Cartizze DOCG, the flagship wine. Mionetto is one of those "can't miss" bubbly wines. If you don't know which Prosecco to pick, grab the Mionetto.Quake and Dave also reminisce about a few terrific wine events we've attended, the Spring and Fall Galas at Mainstreet Wine and Liquors in La Grange, Illinois. Nancy and friends really know how to throw a party - these are great events!Also one of our favorite events, the LuxeHome Chill @ the Mart, is a truly unique wine and food event inside the showrooms at the Merchandise Mart on the Chicago River in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Each amazing high-end kitchen and bath showroom features food from a noted Chicago restaurant and several excellent wines. The Mart is huge and there are many showrooms along the block-long first floor and every showroom has something interesting to eat and drink.And last but not least we talk about Wine Condoms, an idea that at first, I thought was silly and then when I used them made perfect sense and they certainly are a conversation starter at a party. So listen up and enjoy!

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

The StoryThe Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from several carefully selected vineyards located in various AVAs inside the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington. Check out the Wines of Substance website for vineyard details. This is the base Cabernet for the Substance line, the others are single-vineyard wines selling at several times the price. But being the value offering does not hold this Cabernet Sauvignon down, Wine Spectator (also gave it 91 points) named it #49 in the Top Wines of the Year, not Top Value wines, #49 out of all the wines they reviewed. Jeff Dunnuck (also gave it 93 points) said this Cab would sell for 3 or 4 times the price if it said Napa on the label.Substance wines are one of Charles Smiths' wine labels, he was behind House Wines, Kung Fu Girl Riesling, Boom Boom Syrah, and Velvet Devil Merlot among others. He produces wines that receive 100 points and can get quite expensive and is also one of the most reliable value winemakers. This wine was fermented with natural yeast, which is the yeast that naturally floats on the air and sticks to the grape skins. This Cab was aged for 12 months ("on lees") in 50% new and 50% reused French oak Bordeaux sized barrels. The alcohol content is 14.5%.The Tasting NotesThe color is deep, dark, opaque purple. The nose is rich, ripe fruit with a touch of spice, there is blackberry, molasses, plum, a hint of smoke, baking spice, licorice, and pepper. This is a balanced wine, nothing is over-the-top, it is sleek and focused. It tastes of blackberry, licorice, chocolate, soft spice, and juicy plum. The mid-palate adds extracted blueberry, a nice rough edge from herbs, the salty, nutty "on lees" thing and a late hit of tart cranberry. The tannins are smooth and the acidity does its job and gives the flavors plenty of time to unfold. The finish is as full as the body of the wine and stays with you.The Summary The Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is an extremely tasty wine. Often value-priced Red wines get things done with a bit of bombast, in-your-face flavors, but the Substance Cs use the restraint and elegance approach. The more sips I take, the better I like it, which tells me to be sure you let the wine "open up". Pop the top and pour will do this cab a disservice. Is this Cab the equal to Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 3 or 4 times the price? (Costco has it for $12 or $13, it lists for $17 and every store sells it for somewhere in between). I don't know, I do not have that much experience with pricey Napa Cabs, I am the Cheap Wine Finder, not the Napa Cab Finder. But I can say that the Substance Cs Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is my current favorite Cab.                                                                Check Out The Companion Podcast Below!!!!!

Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.com

or email us at [email protected]