cabernet sauvignon

Last Thursday night, I had some friends over for a quick dinner. I forgot to purchase wine and asked Katie, one of my guests, if she could bring a bottle. Always one to oblige her hostess, she showed up with a magnum of Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon. She purchased the super-sized bottle for only $8 at a nearby liquor store, so we were a little worried it was going to be horrible.

Surprisingly, it was a wonderful, light, moderately priced wine excellent for a work night. A food friendly red with soft plum flavors and a smooth, rich finish, this wine paired perfectly with the cheesy butternut squash lasagna I served. The bottle was the ideal amount for five people to have a few glasses each. If you are looking for a budget red to serve at an upcoming party, I highly recommend this bottle.

Source

PartySugar mentioned that we were fortunate enough to meet Michael Chiarello last week - she also mentioned that we got to taste the wines from the Napastyle Wine Club. What she didn't mention was that one of the wines really stood out from the rest. I even had to take a picture of the bottle and remind myself to look it up when we got back. The wine was a 2004 Ars Nova from Tandem winery in Spain's Yerri Valley. It was a smooth rustic red blend consisting of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. According to Napastyle's website the "Fancypants Adjectives" (their wording!) associated with the wine are "dry and lean with cherries, violets and cedar hints." I couldn't have agreed more. It had a nice fruity taste, reminded me a bit of chocolate and was incredibly smooth. And although it could be consumed perfectly on its own, I want to get my hands on a bottle to pair with grilled lamb chops!

Contact your local wine merchant to locate a bottle of your own, or order it online at Oddbins (UK) for £9.49.