Tag Archives: Cabernet Savignon

Let’s go for a little hoof

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Monte Antico, which means “ancient mountain,” is Neil and Maria Empson’s wholehearted tribute to Tuscany. Their forty years of passion and experience led them to create their own label along with their good friend Franco Bernabei, a master in Italian winemaking. Together, they have styled the quintessential Tuscan grape Sangiovese, highlighting all it has to offer and complementing it with just enough Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to bring it all together.

This wine is 85% Sangiovese with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Grown in a balanced combination of geological diversity. Aged for a year in oak (80% Slavonian barrels, 20% barriques). All of the barriques are made of French Oak. 10-20% of the barriques are new and the remaining percent are 2nd year barriques.  Finally, the wine is aged in the bottle for 6.”

Dark ruby in colour, with a herby bouquet.and a medium- to full-bodied palate. Round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile – in other words food-friendly and pocketbook friendly!

The food friendly part was delivered by lamb shanks.

TOSCANA – MONTE ANTICO

12.5% Alcohol

$16.99 regularly $17.99

UPC: 00726452000152

Off to the movies

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Usually I shy away from Celebrity owned/backed wines and spirits, but did approach this one with an open mind and was sorta/kinda rewarded. Nothing to fault it. This is a good, solid Cab Sauv. But, we’ve had nicer ones from small obscure vintners off shore.

Very smooth tannins and an aromatic nose. The earthy flavours complimented the mussels in a white wine sauce.

The Goddess made a nice selection adding it to the Mystery Case.

Frances Coppola Diamond Collection Claret Cabernet Sauvignon

$26.99 regularly $29.99

13.5% Alcohol

Got it Right

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Decidedly worth of the 93 point rating

AB would approve of his homeland’s efforts.  Dark Berry flavours leading to a slightly chocolaty finish.
18 months in French Oak barrels.

First night was with Treehouse Pizza and second night was with grilled Pork Tenderloin. Definitely Happy with both.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON – SIDEWOOD ESTATE STABLEMATE

$19.99 regularly $22.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 09342333002339

A great combination

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Bandits Renegades and Ruffians

Renegade (F) brought Bandits (3 Finger Jack) to a Ruffian (me).

So, we stirred the pot (80 year old Cominco tangine) with baby back ribs and Mediterranean spices.  3 was the magic number of hours in the tangine. Smack yo fingers for trying to taste when basting.


Odd shaped bottle (wouldn’t fit in the wine rack so had to get it off the counter). Squat is the shape.  Almost vertically challenged like someone we know.


Bold (just like Jack). Bursts onto the scene (just like F).  


76% Cab, 9% Petite Sirah, 8% Malbec, 6% Merlot, and 1% an unspecified other. (Your ruffian has been called the unspecified “other”)


Its a lot more complex than you initially think.  Most enjoyable. A very well done cab.


Still trying to figure out where those two fingers went.

Running and Galloping

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A little person present at dinner made concentrating on the wine a little difficult.  Besides, she didn’t want any.  She just couldn’t understand the concept of Running Ducks down on the Galloping Goose Trail.  Just doesn’t make any sense to a 6 year old. (Doesn’t to her 73 year old Great Grandpa either).


Deep in colour, medium weight but still fresh, given it’s 14% alcohol content.  Nicely rounded finish.


A red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Pinotage (30%), produced from organic grapes in a vegan friendly and fair trade way.


South Africa’s Western Cape Province, Stellar Winery is a producer of organic, fair trade wines. Farm and winery employees own 26% of the enterprise through shares in the Stellar Winery Empowerment Trust. In addition, the Stellar Foundation is in its first phase of “Getting Off The Grid” renewable energy initiative. The focus of the pilot project is to develop sustainable electricity solutions, as well as to help farms/wineries save money on electricity.


First time was with a homemade meaty spaghetti (one of Little Person’s favourites). Next time?  A lamb tangine maybe. (another of Little Person’s favourites).

CAB SAUV PINOTAGE – STELLAR ORGANICS RESERVE FAIR TRADE

$14.49 regularly $17.99

14% alcohol

UPC: 6009679895959

The Roasted Veggies did it

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Bergerac is a wine region and appellation in South West France, covering an area along the Dordogne River. The wines are close in style to those of Bordeaux, around 100km (60 miles) to the west. Wine has been made in this region since the Romans – and all thanks to the monasteries which established vineyards on the banks of the Dordogne.


This Grand Cuvee is a blend of the classics: Cabernet and Merlot –  It is a most savoury red that works its way around your mouth – full of flavour.  It has length and depth and structure and balance – all in check.  A little softer than most Bordeaux and probably won’t age as well – Not to worry, we’ll be drinking them as soon as we buy more.


We generally have a white with Roast Chicken, but with the mess of roasted veggies around it we decided to have a red blend. Glad we did, the wine beautifully accompanied the meal. 

BERGERAC – CHATEAU LA BESAGE GRANDE CUVEE 2017

$20.99 regularly $21.99

13.5% alcohol

UPC: 03700898210594

Decidedly Chilean

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Not quite Aussie ‘medium bodied”, but certainly more so than many BC and California Savignons. Stone fruit aromas open up to spicy tones and then a lush oaky finish.  It’s nicely structured.


The wine hails from the Coastal area of Maipo Valley, near the Maipo River – Chile’s prime wine region.  Warm days, cool nights and a dry-ish climate.  Texture and rounded tannins come from French/American oak barrel aging.


Grilled pork chops, peas, and yummy scalloped potatoes were a great accompaniment.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON – CHOCALAN RESERVA MAIPO 2018

$15.49 regularly $17.99

13.9% alcohol

UPC: 07804603660400

Stand UP and stand alone

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On it’s own or with food, this works very well.


The higher up the mountain, the greener grows the grass, and deeper the colour of the grapes, and the richer the texture of wines.The dry, hot climate of Argentina is really great for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes ripen very easily, so these Cabs are almost always filled with a lot of fruit flavours.


Argentina is famous for it’s Malbecs, but I think the Cabernets should be on that list too.  They are very affordable and it’s hard to pick a mediocre one these days.  We find them richer and fuller than the Cabs in the Bordeaux, and almost as big as some of the ones from the Napa Valley andalso Australia.


I could make it a very long dinner and keep drinking this. Hamburger Patties. veggie mix and mashed yam/baking potato made ittoo short a supper.

When I go back looking for ‘long’ ribs, I’ll pick up another bottle of this to go with them.

93 Pointer by James Suckling

Uko Cabernet Sauvignon

$17.99, but we got it on sale at $14.99

13.5% Alcohol

UPC: 07798284570175

It just goes

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Hailing from the coastal areas, hence Seaward, this is a narrow band that is close to the cool Atlantic and also the temperateFalse Bay.  Nature takes it course to produce big, flavourful harvests each year.


Multiple prominent reviewers have given this a 90+ points, and it won a Silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits competition of 2019.


To us, it went very well with our ‘all but the kitchen sink’ home made pizza.  Bright – just like the red and yellow peppers.  Fresh – like the garden tomatoes. Robust and able to hold it all up, like the Middle Eastern Pita base. Full of flavour like the garlic and red onion, and it really brought out the flavour of the Feta.

Spier Seaward – Cabernet Sauvignon

$19.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 00819457001320

Heading to the top

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MONTSANT – CELLER DE CAPCANES MAS DONIS NEGRE
Montsant, Spain
UPC:  08427154011935
13.5% alcohol
$17.99

Full and Robust combination of Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.

The grapes come from old vines between 30 and 60 years old, planted on clay and granite soils located on terraces.


This could very easily become one of our favourite red blends yet, because it’s pleasing from beginning to end. Lovely bouquet and a strong finish. It will go with just about anything the cook prepares.