Tasting: 3 Cabernet Sauvignon, California & 1 from Washington State from Food Lion

🍇 Wine Varietal Overview: Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most well-known red wine varietals, prized for its bold structure, deep flavors, and aging potential. Common flavor notes include blackcurrant, plum, cherry, tobacco, and cedar, often complemented by firm tannins and a long finish.

• 🍷 California Cabernet Sauvignon: Tends to be fruit-forward, with plush tannins and rich oak influences, producing a full-bodied and approachable style.

• 🍷 Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley): Often exhibits more acidity and balance, with cooler climate expressions that provide brighter fruit and less heavy oak influence.

🍷 Tasting Results

1️⃣ Josh Cellars 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine A)

• 📍 Region: California, USA

• 💲 Price: $12.99

• 🏅 Lynn’s Score: 16 – Would buy again and bring to a 🎉 party

• 👎 Scott’s Score: 10 – Would not buy again

• 🍷 Tasting Notes:

  • 🔴 Dark color with a slight pinkish hue

  • 👃 Aroma: Licorice, cherry, light spice

  • 👅 Taste: Mild berry notes with a smooth, pleasant profile

  • 🔚 Finish: Medium-length with a slight acidity

  • 🏁 Overall: Approachable and well-balanced, but not complex enough for Scott

2️⃣ 14 Hands 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine B)

• 📍 Region: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA

• 💲 Price: $14.99

• 🏅 Lynn’s Score: 16 – Would buy again and bring to a 🎉 party

• 👎 Scott’s Score: 9 – Would not buy again

• 🍷 Tasting Notes:

  • 🔴 Darker color than Wine A

  • 👃 Aroma: Slightly smoky, single-note fruit scent

  • 👅 Taste: Strong berry flavors, slightly tangy acidity

  • 🔚 Finish: Short-to-medium with an aftertaste that required food pairing 🍽️

  • 🏁 Overall: Lynn enjoyed its drinkability, but Scott found it lacking depth

3️⃣ No Venophobia 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine C)

• 📍 Region: California, USA

• 💲 Price: $11.99

• 🏅 Lynn’s Score: 10 – Would buy for home drinking 🏡, but not for a party

• 👎 Scott’s Score: 8 – Would not buy again

• 🍷 Tasting Notes:

  • 🔴 Very dark in color but slightly artificial-looking

  • 👃 Aroma: Light floral notes, licorice, faint black pepper

  • 👅 Taste: Berry flavors with a metallic, barrel-like aftertaste 🛢️

  • 🔚 Finish: Short, slightly acidic, and left a metallic impression

  • 🏁 Overall: Scott was particularly unimpressed, feeling it lacked complexity

4️⃣ Snoop Dogg 19 Crimes Cali Red (Wine D)

• 📍 Region: California, USA

• 💲 Price: $11.67

• 🏅 Lynn’s Score: 15 – Would buy again and bring to a 🎉 party

• ✅ Scott’s Score: 12 – Would buy for home drinking 🏡

• 🍷 Tasting Notes:

  • 🔴 Lighter color than the others, resembling a Pinot Noir blend

  • 👃 Aroma: Licorice, spice, and pine-like freshness 🌲

  • 👅 Taste: Milder and smoother than the others, well-balanced

  • 🔚 Finish: Lingering but not overwhelming, with a soft tannin structure

  • 🏁 Overall: A crowd-pleaser that was smooth, easy to drink, and enjoyable for both tasters

🏆 Winning Wine: Snoop Dogg 19 Crimes Cali Red

🥇 Total Score: 27 (Highest Rated)

🎖️ Reasons it Won:

• 🍷 Balanced and smooth profile, making it highly drinkable

• 🍇 Milder flavor compared to others, making it approachable for different occasions

• 🎉 Lynn enjoyed it enough to serve at a party

• 🏡 Scott found it pleasant enough to buy for casual drinking at home

🔑 Key Takeaways from the Tasting

• 🍷 Josh Cellars (A) and 14 Hands (B) were strong contenders, both scoring high with their fruit-forward profiles.

• 🥇 Snoop Dogg’s 19 Crimes Cali Red (D) was the overall winner, scoring the highest, with both tasters agreeing on its smooth, easy-drinking style.

• ❌ No Venophobia (C) scored the lowest, with both tasters finding it lacking in complexity.

• 🔀 Lynn and Scott had very different preferences: Lynn was willing to rebuy most wines, while Scott was more selective.

Overall, this blind tasting highlighted the diverse styles of California and Washington Cabernet Sauvignons, with fruit-driven, smooth wines emerging as favorites. 🍷✨

Winner !!