You’re An Alcoholic! Cavatappi Sangiovese 2006
The Cavatappi Sangiovese 2006 is too alcoholic for my delicate palate. And if anyone knows me, my palate loves alcohol (and knows as well that ’delicate’ isn’t particularly apt to describe anything about me!). That being said, I opened this bottle and tried it at several stages throughout my dinner making and dinner consuming, and it was still overwhelmingly dominated by the alcohol factor. I simply wasn’t able to discern any unique flavors because of the strong bite of alcohol with every sip. At 14.5%, it’s definitely up there - but after drinking the Excelsior Cab at 14.5% and barely noticing the bite - I think there is something amiss. After deciding I didn’t much care for it and that it will indeed languish half-drunk and take up counterspace (though I thought maybe if I was eating something SUPER rich it would provide itself useful) - a week or so later I noticed its distinctive (and quite attractive) label at Lola, and upon brief internet search, it appears on the menu at Chez Shea as well. I cheerfully concede that these two restaurants are MUCH more wine savvy than I, so I beg you buy the Cavatappi Sangiovese (or perhaps order a glass!) and make your own assessment of the situation. After all, who am I to assert alcohol as a bad thing! Ha!!
Cavatappi Sangiovese 2006 - Ballard Market - approx. $10.00 (I promise to start paying more attention to prices - $10/per bottle is my typical price point!)
Filed under Wine | Comment (0)An Excel-lent Wine - Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Despite the terrible pun, Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is honestly an excellent wine - I was absolutely blown away by its easy drinkability! This bottle was consumed with what I can only call reckless (lush) abandon. There are bottles of wine that I open while making dinner and only manage to get through one glass… the rest of the bottle languishes corked on the counter for days until it slowly evolves into something I won’t even classify as vinegar. Not this bottle! This was consumed by the end of the evening, approximately 2.45 hours after it was initially corked. An amazingly full-bodied wine with delightful juicy/berry flavors… and despite the high alcohol content of 14.5%, there is no strong backlash burning your mouth, nose, or stomach. The alcohol is cloaked in the intense flavor of the wine, something I long for in every bottle I open, no matter what grape! This wine I would definitely recommend as very versatile, I could see drinking it not only on its own (most definitely!), and equally as lovely with a meal. Although the alcohol is hidden, it definitely helps cut through strong flavors and I could see it accompanying strong cheese as well. I happened to try this wine with a spicy marinara pasta dish and caprese salad and loved it.
The Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon is from South Africa, and the back label describes it as “Brimming with abundant blackcurrant aromas, this full-bodied wine is a mouthful of juicy plum flavors. Delightfully versatile, it makes a delicious partner to a wide variety of foods, including chicken, red meats, game or rich pastas.” Now after reading the back label, it appears that I have “borrowed” several terms, but what can I say? Great minds think alike.
Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - Ballard Market - Approx. $10.00
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