2009 B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Norm's Tasting Notes
by: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net






2009 B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
#nb-36-11


When I first got in the wine business, I loved Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California so much, that I hardly ever drank any other red wine. After a few decades in the wine business, I have learned to enjoy wonderful wines from all over the world. However, when I open a really good bottle of Napa Cabernet, its like coming home. After all, I was born there many long years ago, back when there were more fruit orchards than grape vineyards in the Napa. Valley.

The history of the Sabastiani family also goes back quite aways in California, and the winery of Don Sabastiani and Sons has continued a fine family tradition. The 2009 B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an extension of that tradition in its finest. I have sampled a few of the previous vintages and have enjoyed them all. The 2009 is a big tasting Cab for a reasonable price, and I enjoyed this one as well.

This wine is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Malbec, and all of the grapes were grown in the Napa Valley. The Malbec and some of the Cabernet comes from Rutherford, while the balance of the Cabernet is from the Stags Leap District. The wine is 14.7% alcohol and was aged in French oak.

B Side opens up with a nose as dark and intense as its vibrant deep purple color. The aromas of black cherry and currants lead into flavors of dark cherry and plum with a strong over-riding blackberry influence. There are gobs of fruit accompanied by a slight chocolate whisper, which finish with sturdy tannins for a refined oak finish. This is the real deal, we ain't in Kansas Toto! I love Napa Cabs and this is a very good example of Napa's "Bottled Poetry", and at around twenty dollars it is comparable to a lot of Cabs costing twice as much.

We enjoyed this wonderful bottle of wine with a two inch thick New York strip cooked a perfect medium rare. I don't know what could be better! Norm's score is 92.


Price: $19 to $24
Score: 92

Norm

Norm's Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his Blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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