Clean, transparent rim, deep opaque core. Garnet, ruby color. No sign of bricking yet.
Aromatics is of fresh cassis, red cherry, slightly minty. Uplifting.
Palate is dense but round. Quite evolved with no harsh tannin. Noticeable unintegrated oaky profile: vanilla bean, charred wood, burnt butter. Lots of fruit but fresh. Wild strawberry, cassis, red currant, licorice. Finish is long but slightly more oak-infused notes than one would have liked.
This is actually quite classic despite what I described regarding the barrel-derived residual characters. It's pure and fresh. No creaminess or heaviness typically associated with modern Napa cab. However, I doubt that the oak will completely integrated here, otherwise this would have merited much higher score. 90.
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The wine color is ruby to purple. It has slow legs. I found light to medium sediment in the bottle. It smells like forest floor, mineral and red currant. It tastes like cherry, black pepper and mineral. It is full bodied with a medium finish and medium acidity.
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With strip steak, roast garlic potatoes, green beans, rustic bread. Clear dark ruby. Nose is pure cabernet, almost sweet, floral, medium intensity. Smooth, dry, velvet, nice fruit (more cherry than anything) and almost coffee and dark chocolate in the mix. Medium finish.
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Nice aromatics of cassis and cedar coupled with medium bodied black cherry and berry flavors. Finishes with dry and dusty subtle tannins. Good value as always.
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Earthy aromas of black fruit, leather, licorice, and sandalwood. Juicy with spicy flavors of cherry, blackberry, and dried black currants. This cabernet is characterized by fine acidity, ripe tannins, and a healthy dose of chocolate throughout. Gains sweetness in the glass. Well done.
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Decanted 1 hour. Nice ruby color. Hardly any nose. Some cassis, earthy tones, not much in terms of fruit. Very one dimensional and boring. Inexpensive but not an enjoyable wine. (79)
Update (6th November) Vacuum pumped and stored in the wine cabinet, opened again 3 days later. MUCH better this time. Floral nose, well balanced, slightly tart, medium finish. Rating updated.
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Great grocery store priced wine. Straightforward Cab, a little lighter than most. Approachable with some good almost tart dark fruit and sweet oak. A little dry on the finish.
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This is my third bottle of 2009 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County. Strangely, I almost think the first two bottles I had (in restaurants) were better, but the third was still good. Good nose, good oak.
The wine looks Garnet colored. It smells and tastes like Oak. The body and finish is Medium.
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Tolerable wine, not something you'd go out of your way to buy. Not a Costco purchase, but local Maui grocery store purchase. $19, we over paid. Slightly acidic blackberry, light for a cab, medium finish.
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Lovely nose.... Fruit, earth.... Great dark fruit on the front with earthy spice in the middle and sweet buttery finish... That makes you want to take another sip. Love this wine. Well balanced nice tannins... Probaly would improve with some demanding, since it is young. If you can find for under 20 bucks then you have a great dwal
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Medium body, light finish. Decent balance between fruit and tannins. Truffle and black current in nose, straightforward on the palate. Dusty tannins the final note.
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Given the price point, this was a surprisingly good purchase at a restaurant! Perfumed nose of sweet oak and dark fruits. Fruit foward, soft and approachable, and easy drinking. Medium finish. I would purchase for an everyday drinker at $15
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This is better than usual for a cab at this price point. Decent balance, and none of the overt greeness, cloying sweetness or thin midpalate often found in sub $15 cabs. Not going to rock your world, but pretty great QPR, and nice with food.
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From a half bottle at a restaurant. Very lively nose, nice color. Medium bodied, a bit of dark fruit and a clean finish. Well made from a technical standpoint, but not very exciting.
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My favorite sub-$20 wine (also purchasing in bulk while the 30% discount is available.) Great young cab with black and red fruits nicely balanced. Nose with slight earthiness, reminding me of my favorite older bordeauxs. Soft tannins (presumably due to other grapes), making it a very drinkable young wine. Finish also balanced nicely with earthiness and fruit.
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This is an impressive, tasty bottle of cab. Good dark ruby and some legs, too. Lovely, somewhat minty aromas, some spice, and a nice mix of red and black fruits. Penetrating fruit. Sleek and polished on the palate, lush, soft and even feminine, but also fairly rich and very focused. Lovely evolution from start to finish. Love this. Incredible bottle for the money, even before the 30% discount. Wow! 4-13-17-8: 92/100.
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I agree that this is a solid offering, and a pretty good value. That said it is just a bit lighter than I would have liked. Still, good typicity and freshness.
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Solid offering from AVV. Cassis, cedar, and tobacco influences, and not over oaked. Nice acidity on the backend makes this a pretty good food wine. Would recommend.
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4/28/2021 - NarunP wrote: 90 Points
Unknown blend (most likely 100% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Clean, transparent rim, deep opaque core. Garnet, ruby color. No sign of bricking yet.
Aromatics is of fresh cassis, red cherry, slightly minty. Uplifting.
Palate is dense but round. Quite evolved with no harsh tannin. Noticeable unintegrated oaky profile: vanilla bean, charred wood, burnt butter. Lots of fruit but fresh. Wild strawberry, cassis, red currant, licorice. Finish is long but slightly more oak-infused notes than one would have liked.
This is actually quite classic despite what I described regarding the barrel-derived residual characters. It's pure and fresh. No creaminess or heaviness typically associated with modern Napa cab. However, I doubt that the oak will completely integrated here, otherwise this would have merited much higher score. 90.
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2/16/2018 - JasonWino wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour.
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1/14/2017 - dpolzien Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still drinking very well.
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3/20/2016 - redz wrote: 91 Points
drinking great, short decant, lush fruit
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6/5/2015 - davewr Likes this wine: 86 Points
Good but without much depth.
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12/14/2014 - VinoHunter wrote: 89 Points
Drink up, fruit is fading.
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10/26/2014 - VinoHunter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar to previous notes, drink up....
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10/13/2014 - jbehrendt wrote: 89 Points
An enjoyable cabernet sauvignon with beef. A great value.
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9/14/2014 - pcarleto Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine color is ruby to purple. It has slow legs. I found light to medium sediment in the bottle. It smells like forest floor, mineral and red currant. It tastes like cherry, black pepper and mineral. It is full bodied with a medium finish and medium acidity.
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2/9/2014 - VinoHunter Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good for the price. Almost Zin like with its finish and the tannins are well integrated.
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10/19/2013 - lockestep Likes this wine: 88 Points
Last bottle, mellow Cab is a little light in body and lacks great complexity, but offers a decent bang for the buck.
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6/18/2013 - wineotim Likes this wine: 89 Points
Consistent with previous bottle, great value, refined flavor, sediment, amazing... year in and year out.
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6/17/2013 - JPLogan wrote: 89 Points
Alex Vall! Great value.
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5/26/2013 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 88 Points
With strip steak, roast garlic potatoes, green beans, rustic bread.
Clear dark ruby.
Nose is pure cabernet, almost sweet, floral, medium intensity.
Smooth, dry, velvet, nice fruit (more cherry than anything) and almost coffee and dark chocolate in the mix.
Medium finish.
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3/3/2013 - wineotim Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice aromatics of cassis and cedar coupled with medium bodied black cherry and berry flavors. Finishes with dry and dusty subtle tannins. Good value as always.
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2/10/2013 - lockestep Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fairly straightforward Macon, medium body, round finish. Pleasant match for Lobster Rosetto.
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1/25/2013 - Baron Slick wrote: 89 Points
Earthy aromas of black fruit, leather, licorice, and sandalwood. Juicy with spicy flavors of cherry, blackberry, and dried black currants. This cabernet is characterized by fine acidity, ripe tannins, and a healthy dose of chocolate throughout. Gains sweetness in the glass. Well done.
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11/3/2012 - soon.wine wrote: 84 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Nice ruby color. Hardly any nose. Some cassis, earthy tones, not much in terms of fruit. Very one dimensional and boring. Inexpensive but not an enjoyable wine. (79)
Update (6th November) Vacuum pumped and stored in the wine cabinet, opened again 3 days later. MUCH better this time. Floral nose, well balanced, slightly tart, medium finish. Rating updated.
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9/11/2012 - brooklynian wrote:
Great grocery store priced wine. Straightforward Cab, a little lighter than most. Approachable with some good almost tart dark fruit and sweet oak. A little dry on the finish.
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7/6/2012 - ABWP Likes this wine: 85 Points
This is my third bottle of 2009 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County. Strangely, I almost think the first two bottles I had (in restaurants) were better, but the third was still good. Good nose, good oak.
The wine looks Garnet colored. It smells and tastes like Oak. The body and finish is Medium.
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7/5/2012 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Not as good as prior vintages. Still a decent CA cab sauv at that price point, but not as deep and interesting as prior vintages.
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7/5/2012 - comlaw wrote: 88 Points
Outstanding for the price. Good fruit and tannin.
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6/4/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 88 Points
Very good for $10-$12.
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5/7/2012 - RandomCoil wrote: 90 Points
Oak and cedar, ripe fruit and spice. Excellent example of a domestic cab.
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4/28/2012 - blabbott wrote: 86 Points
Tolerable wine, not something you'd go out of your way to buy. Not a Costco purchase, but local Maui grocery store purchase. $19, we over paid. Slightly acidic blackberry, light for a cab, medium finish.
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4/20/2012 - brianspross wrote: 84 Points
This is a pretty good everyday drinking bottle.
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4/9/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 89 Points
My house wine. Very good for the dough.
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4/1/2012 - leatonmb Likes this wine: 88 Points
Lovely nose.... Fruit, earth.... Great dark fruit on the front with earthy spice in the middle and sweet buttery finish... That makes you want to take another sip. Love this wine. Well balanced nice tannins... Probaly would improve with some demanding, since it is young.
If you can find for under 20 bucks then you have a great dwal
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3/21/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 89 Points
Good stuff
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3/18/2012 - lockestep Likes this wine: 85 Points
Medium body, light finish. Decent balance between fruit and tannins. Truffle and black current in nose, straightforward on the palate. Dusty tannins the final note.
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3/6/2012 - tshepard wrote: 86 Points
Easily drinkable, better with Vinturi, nothing complex or special but good for price. Crisp tannins, spicy fruit.
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2/29/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 90 Points
One of my ole trusty stand-by's. great qpr. 90
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2/22/2012 - ewisor wrote: 86 Points
Obviously young at this point but it is consistently good over the last 3 vintages. Buy a case and start trying them in a year or so.
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2/20/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 90 Points
One of the best sub $15 California Cabs on the market. Lovely color, aromatics, and finish. One of my favorite everyday pours. 90+
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2/19/2012 - enaurbach wrote: 89 Points
Earth, tart fruit and a bit of smoke in the nose. Rich fruits on dry tannin. Soft mouth and a dry finish.
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2/19/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 88 Points
Approachable and easy to drink.
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2/16/2012 - wmccone54 wrote: 88 Points
Given the price point, this was a surprisingly good purchase at a restaurant! Perfumed nose of sweet oak and dark fruits. Fruit foward, soft and approachable, and easy drinking. Medium finish. I would purchase for an everyday drinker at $15
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2/9/2012 - stubbie999 wrote:
This is better than usual for a cab at this price point. Decent balance, and none of the overt greeness, cloying sweetness or thin midpalate often found in sub $15 cabs. Not going to rock your world, but pretty great QPR, and nice with food.
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1/20/2012 - daver852 wrote: 88 Points
From a half bottle at a restaurant. Very lively nose, nice color. Medium bodied, a bit of dark fruit and a clean finish. Well made from a technical standpoint, but not very exciting.
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1/19/2012 - Darbyjwin wrote: 93 Points
My favorite sub-$20 wine (also purchasing in bulk while the 30% discount is available.) Great young cab with black and red fruits nicely balanced. Nose with slight earthiness, reminding me of my favorite older bordeauxs. Soft tannins (presumably due to other grapes), making it a very drinkable young wine. Finish also balanced nicely with earthiness and fruit.
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1/9/2012 - MicklethePickle wrote: 92 Points
This is an impressive, tasty bottle of cab. Good dark ruby and some legs, too. Lovely, somewhat minty aromas, some spice, and a nice mix of red and black fruits. Penetrating fruit. Sleek and polished on the palate, lush, soft and even feminine, but also fairly rich and very focused. Lovely evolution from start to finish. Love this. Incredible bottle for the money, even before the 30% discount. Wow! 4-13-17-8: 92/100.
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12/31/2011 - Pfertitta wrote: 84 Points
Garnet colored. legs are Slow. Black currant (cassis), Strawberry Jam and Prune. The body is Medium/Full textured Leathery. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/7/2011 - sleepyhaus wrote:
I agree that this is a solid offering, and a pretty good value. That said it is just a bit lighter than I would have liked. Still, good typicity and freshness.
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11/18/2011 - tooch wrote:
Nice cedar, dark fruit and smoked herbs on the nose. This had nice restraint and balance and should age nicely.
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11/7/2011 - BSpdx wrote: 88 Points
Solid offering from AVV. Cassis, cedar, and tobacco influences, and not over oaked. Nice acidity on the backend makes this a pretty good food wine. Would recommend.
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7/21/2011 - Johnny Reno-Rosa wrote: 90 Points
Well balanced cab. Excellent value
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