EP 896 Supermarket Wine Week- California Cabernet

July 30, 2010

Gary finishes off the week with another round of supermarket wines, this time focusing on 3 of the most popular Californian Cabernets.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Blackstone Cabernet SauvignonCalifornia Cabernet Sauvignon
Kendall Jackson Cabernet SauvignonCalifornia Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Frei Brothers Cabernet SauvignonSonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Latest Comment:

luca bercelli2014-08-11 10:52:00

88/100

line of the day – ‘Very grapey’

More average wines and hard to make a captivating show as a result. There is, however, one of GV’s best expressions at 8.24, so that’s fun in itself

Tags: cabernet, california, red, review, Sonoma, wine, wines

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waynooo daaa wino

Yo MelbaLI, I’m just WAAAAAAARRRRMMIN’ UUUUUUUUUUPPPP !!!!…… ;oD
Anonymous

Did anyone really expect standout wines this week’s theme?
A dumb Rhein king

I don’t know if I’ll want to watch past 900 eps then.
AllanJonassen

There you go! Fun Week G, i think we all learned a lot. I know i did. 🙂

Qotd: I’m going beer this weekend, i’ve had it with all this wine! That is all.

Cheers!
Anonymous

Again, there is soooo much quality wine cheaper than these three that you just have to be lazy to be drinking this stuff.

QOTD: Having friends over for Mexican tonight. Pairing it with 2009 Alexander Valley Vineyards Gewurtz and a 2005 Neyers High Valley Zinfandel
A dumb Rhein king

Blackstone must have gone to Florida State.
A dumb Rhein king

Laid back couch next Friday?

QOTD: The Louise Swenson that Northern Vineyards makes. It is very much like an unoaked chardonnay. Last time I had it I was impressed. Lets see about this time.
AllanJonassen

LOLOL ;P

Take that G!!!!!

YEEEEEHAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MelbaLI

I was hoping for 92+ on the Yellow Tail. 😛
MelbaLI

All is right with world now. Nice to have you back WDW! 😀
Jimmy Trent

I like your thinking on that, however, it will be just as enjoyable if I die and my daughter gets to drink it by herself on her 21st bday in memory of me.

P.S. I really hope that doesn’t happen.
Anonymous

GV

I think you and I share at least one attribute in common, we both think life is too short to drink mediocre or boring wine.

QOTD: My wife and I are attending a Bordeaux dinner this Sunday and there are several wines I am anxious to try. Troplong Mondot 1990, Pontet Canet 2003, Chateau Plamer 1989, Lynch Bages 2000, Pichon Baron 2003, and Leoville Barton 2003 are all being offered and I’m bringing Chateau Malartic LaGraviere 2005 Pessac-Leognan (WA 92), Chateau Clerc Milon 2005 Pauillac (WA 92). It should be a great dinner.
Anonymous

Nope. But it is good to find out which of the grocery store wines aren’t terrible.
LurkerKing

QOTD: 2005 Vietti Barolo this weekend.
Bur.gr

Good end to a nice week! Was surprised by the KJ

QOTD: No wine this weekend, but looking forward to finishing a few Woodchuck Summer Ciders 🙂
Anonymous

That your week of wines sucked, kinda helps make our week a little better – not that we want you to suffer, but for once, it’d be easy to top the efforts, quality, and enjoyment of these wines which, aside from the first day, were not my thing at all. Like Mr. Farrin says – these are all wines for lazy people, or those who just don’t care.

QotD – Berger 2008 Gruner Velt., 1L, Beer crown bottle cap. Organic. Terry Theise!
and – 2007 Montes Ltd Seleccion Cab. Sauv./ Carmenere. 70/30. Apalta Vineyard.
Anonymous

QOTD: I’m really never “dying” to try any wine. I enjoy certain wines, and will occassionally go outside my box to try something new, but I never catch onto the hype of having to have a certain wine. Boring me.
As for this weeks shows; they are what they are.
Found a few wines to possibly avoid, but possibly found a Chardonnay that I may want to try, as I like the Oak. And at $8 bucks, really now, how bad can it be?
Dinosaurjr85

Dude… you have the best name and icon. I am an advocate of the burger.
Anonymous

‘bleaaah’. no value. mind you, just my opinion…
Bur.gr

tnx bro 🙂 diggin’ your blog, btw, some great grill pix
Anonymous

@bobbytiger

How long have you been drinking wine and how much of a budget do you have to spend? Maybe you just haven’t had that “AHA” moment yet. Most winos…..er vinophiles like me have, at least once, tasted a wine that hit us like a ton of bricks thus cementing a lifelong obsession with wine.

If you are living on the low side moneywise try to cultivate some “flush” friends to increase the odds of hitting that moment.
Sebas_cp

I am going to open a bottle of Errazuriz KAI 2006..
AllanJonassen

Good luck with it ! Serious producer for sure!!
AllanJonassen

Where’s costello?
AllanJonassen

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
AllanJonassen

“Friday left me fumblin’ with the blues…..”
TheGreatDane

Sipping on a Strong Arm Shiraz as I type……. Pretty good.
Anonymous

Yeah, just skipped through the blog, looks good!
Dominus

Nice show, what can one expect reviewing these mass marketed wines. I’m surprised they scored as well as they did. I may even try the KJ cab which brings me to a quick story. I visited Napa and tried a million cabs and the one that piqued my interest was their high-end cab which name I forgot. Yes, it was from Sonoma but reallly good.

QOTD: Since my order did not arrive today I will be taking a bottle of Pahlmeyer Chard to dinner and some obscure red.

Cheers!
Mike Vey

QOTD: I’ve been looking for the Jaboulet Parallel 45 you reviewed earlier in the week, to give that a go

And KJ is my mother’s maker of choice, so I’ll be sure to tell her she doesn’t have horrible taste =P
Anonymous

True; of course I think my local grocery store is a year behind the show’s vintages!
oscarfalcon

QOTD: the one wine I am most looking forward to try, because it’s been sitting in the cellar for the longest time, is a bottle of Barrua 2005, right now we’re having a grill gathering and we’re drinking Rueda with our chicken, but come night time the reds will be popped for sausage and veggies.
Cubatobaco (Ray)

On the episode when they had open house.
Cubatobaco (Ray)

I had this last month. The alcohol was very strong. Might try again if opened for a few hours.
Cubatobaco (Ray)

Good show all in all. Very informative on the wines you see everywhere you go. May have to try the KJ. Looking forward to next week’s shows. Have a good weekend!!!

QOTD: Might break out the Ch. Cantemerle 06 or a bottle of Catena Alta Chard.
Cubatobaco (Ray)

Sounds like a good time, Capt! Let us know how it was. Looking at grabbing an 06 bottle of Pontet Canet, so I’m interested to see how the are drinking.
Cubatobaco (Ray)

Al Tuna!!! : )
Cubatobaco (Ray)

Cos d’estournel….good call!!! I’ve got an 04 bottle I can’t wait to open!
Cubatobaco (Ray)

This is depressing, Jimmy…

Pour some out for the homies…lol
Anonymous

dude
Via Domitia

Dying to try my Clos Des Papes 2007 or my Pontet-Canet 2005, but got to leave them in the cellar for many more years!
Anonymous

good show. I agree with your assessments (does it matter? haha). Blackstone makes me think I got it a Walmart. ha.
QotD: Cab Franc 2006 Vineyards at Southpoint. go NC wines!
Anonymous

qotd; blackstone cab.
Dr Edwardo

QOTD: it’s the BC Day long weekend here in British Columbia hence I am really looking forward to drinking the 2009 vintage Quails’ Gate Dry Riesling. The 2008 vintage was fantastic and, at C$16 (in a province where Yellow Tail Shiraz retails at C$13 [http://www.bcliquorstores.com/product/624544]), represents the best sub C$20 BC white in the province!

Edwardo
Jimmy Trent

you got a shout out on the wed show i was on but I didn’t see any comments from you. did you see it?
Jimmy Trent

i felt depressed when I wrote it, but damn it’s going to be an awesome night when i uncork a wine i’ve had for 20 yrs with my child and talk life. can’t wait!
Hendrik

These were great shows. None of these wines are on my list, but I highly enjoyed the shows. Don’t think that just because you have so many shows you are getting stale. Quite the contrary. I have watched for a long time and never get tired. I am always amazed at your creativity and look forward (trully) to seeing them. Tonight I was looking forward to Travaglini 2001. I saw your episode 2003 Travaglini and you didn’t like it. Then I remembered you hate chocolate covered cherries but they are tops for me. Interestingly enough you point out blackberries on this show as too prolific. I thought for me it has been a bonanza. Thanks for your experience, although I guess our palettes not the same.

How about doing a show about Greek wines. That’s my current jag. I found out that I love Aghiorghitiko.
Anonymous

QOTD: NEED, NEED, NEED to get back into some Southern Rhone!!!
Anonymous

qotd: I just picked up http://winelibrary.com/wines/26597-Riondo+Prosecco+750ML at Wine Library this afternoon!
lisaupnorth

Spot on with the reviews today. We had the KJ not too long ago and it was great.

We went out to eat tonight and I had an Italian Barbera that was tasty with filet mignon. I’m also looking forward to opening a Kaesler (Australian) shiraz sometime soon.