Master of Wine: CABERNET SAUVIGNON

[@eugenebae]

Nice haircut, Bob. Love the fact that you present everyday, approachable (price-wise) AND widely available wines. Thanks!!!!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Haha! The haircut was the same price as a bottle of Cab from the video! 😂

[@CoFFEEmaTT123]

We need a Konstantine/Bob varietal blind tasting. Let’s make it happen.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

We’ve never met, but that would be fun!

[@minka8047]

What I like about Bob is that he educates and presents value. The Aussie wine drinker figures prominent in his consumer base

[@AnarchoKapital]

And Peter and Patrick!

[@CoFFEEmaTT123]

@@AnarchoKapital the real kings are back!

[@notoverlyacerbic9574]

Off subject but I had to tell you. Some months ago you gave me me advice in regards to the question "As a newly minted wine geek what are some wines/varietals that are must-tries?" One of the things you said was a Willamette Valley pinot noir.. Well I didn't get around to it until just now. Willamette Valley vineyards whole cluster 2022 was what i had,nothing special I am sure in terms of what is out there,just a random grab a my local grocery store.. Beautiful,elegant,refined and focused.. Just a Beautiful expression of the varietal.. Perhaps my favorite wine thus far in my short history.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Good news. Thanks for sharing the story. 🍷

[@Matt_Bykowski]

Thanks for another insightful video, this one about my favorite variety of wine. I really appreciate that you highlight a few specific bottles and note the differences between them. Thanks again.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Hi Matthew, as always thank you for the kind comments. 🍷

[@bradbellomo6896]

Enjoy your channel, but it would be so much better if you had the bottle you were talking about on video. KZbin pops up an advertisement, and then I forget if you are still talking about the same wine from Argentina or moved to the next bottle.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Thanks for the comment. I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll change the camera angle. 🍷

[@jimrusch22]

Thanks for the tip on the Mercer. Very soft tannins and a round smooth taste. Very good value as well. The Chateau St Michelle Indian Wells is similar in taste.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

The Mercer Cab was impressive, one of the top wines I’ve tasted from them.

[@BlindTom61]

I really enjoy the Precision wine that you showed. It is a go-to buy when it's on sale at Costco.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

And Napa Valley Cab for that sort of $ is rare. 🍷

[@BlindTom61]

@bobpaulinskimasterofwine7234 You are right, Bob. It's excellent wine, almost as good as the wine we make up here in Amador County. I'll just be going now... ;- )

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@BlindTom61 I recently had an excellent Barbera from out that way, Myka Cellars.

[@jimrusch22]

I love this wine as well, but it shows it best after aeration.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@jimrusch22Definitely!

[@jaycasbon6703]

Just a sharing on your Treana review - one of our favorite wines and a value at Costco at $25! Treana is produced from one of Paso Robles outstanding winemakers, Austin Hope. A terrific winery with a range of excellent Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Treana is a family favorite!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

It is a terrific winery, with one of the best tasting rooms. Cheers!

[@jonathanlance2166]

Missed your vidoes for about 6 months. Really enjoy CS. Thanks for sharing.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Thanks for the good word. Glad you came back after many months. 🍷

[@alistaircorbishley5881]

Cab Sauv on its own, is a wine I struggle to get along with, despite being a big fan of Medoc wines. I find CS too angular & "pointy". I do keep retrying now and again, but I have never found one that I would go back to again and again. Your video has given me some options to have another taste! Thanks for sharing......

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Let me know if you find something that hits the mark. Thanks for commenting. 🍷

[@carlcadregari7768]

Thank you. Always appreciate your posts. And finding good cab sauv in those prices is fantastic.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Hi Carl, thank you for the good word. 🍷

[@jameswingad3212]

Living in Germany we get very few wines from the New World so videos like these are great to find out what else is out there and there are certainly some names here I´ll be searching out when I go home. Washington is definitely a region I´d love to taste more from.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Hello James, WA You s definitely worth searching out when you’re back in the States. 🍷

[@mauricioalvarez204]

Great video, this Monday I wanted to drink a cab so I bought a local one (Bolivia) that I'll drink this weekend, from the samaipata valley, it is the northest region in the country but it is the coldest, located at 1800m (5900 ft) in the elbow of the andes, the wine has 12,7% ABV, it will be the first red that I drink with such low ABV, it is supposed to be more like an old World rather than a new World style.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

That’s very interesting. Please comment back after you try the wine. Cheers! 🍷

[@mauricioalvarez204]

@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine I had drunk the wine last night, was different, when I drink cabs, normally I drink Chilean, but this wine was different, the wine had zero Fruit notes, had a distinctive spiced notes, specially black pepper, leather, dark chocolate, had a strong menthol character, with a very nice acidity with medium tannins, the bottle didnt say if it was aged in oak, but I didnt noticed any oak influence, the vintage was 2021. It was different compared to any other cabs I had before.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@mauricioalvarez204Your description fits an older wine, not a 2021. Very interesting, I’m guessing this is a high altitude vineyard, that can tap down the fruit character.

[@CoFFEEmaTT123]

I always assume that baking spice comes from barrel treatment, which would not be place-specific. Do you think the WA spice characteristic is inherent to the area, or regional barrel habits/preferences?

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

I think it’s a bit of both, but I’ve had unoaked wines from WA that displayed baking spice.

[@briand2614]

I texted my sister about the Bleasdale, she lives outside of Toronto. It just so happened she was driving home and was going to pass an LCBO. 40 minutes later she had bottle in hand at $21.95CND($16USD). Seems like a good value. I'm curious to hear her take on it. Myself I'm interested in the Altaland.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Good timing! She likely picked up the 2020, at least that’s what I saw a couple of months ago at the LCBO on King St in Toronto.

[@briand2614]

@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine yep. 2020.

[@andrewyarosh1809]

Most engaging. Thanks! To to inject the “B” word, but what has baffled me since the ascendence of CS out side of “the place that shan’t be named is “Why?.” As in “Why insist on making 100% (or 100%-ish) CS, when the grape plays so much better as part of a team?” It’s as if producers in all these places went to western France and tasted the great wines from the Gironde estuary and said, “Nah. We know better. We don’t need no stinkin’ Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec or Carmenière.”

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Thanks. You’re spot on correct. 100% Cab is not the norm for the benchmark standard of the world, the “B” word place! That said, consider that in many places around the world, small amounts of “other” grape varieties are allowed, usually 15% to 25%, yet the wine can still be labeled as a single variety. Your point is not discussed often enough! Cheers. 🍷

[@lauracanna2201]

I guess the last wine you tried would probably be my favourite 😊 your neighbour's dog seems so sweet ❤😍😍

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Since you’re a Zin fan, the last wine would likely be a good fit for you. The dog’s name is Yogi. 🍷

[@lauracanna2201]

@bobpaulinskimasterofwine7234 was it YOUR cup of tea, though? 🤣

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@lauracanna2201 My faves, the Salta and Washington Cabs.

[@mahyarabab6164]

Thank you Bob.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Thanks for the good word.

[@mickeylee2624]

Great comparative discussion! Speaking of Mercer Bros, how is it in relation to Columbia Crest's H3 CS? I found the latter to be a very balanced expression of the grape. While on the topic of Washington State, I got a 2018 Col Solare CS because I had a positive first impression of Chateau Ste. Michelle. Would love to hear your insights on it!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Thank you. Mercer Bros is quite similar to the H3 CS. If you like one, you’ll likely be a fan of both. As for Col Solare, in February, I had a flight cancellation out of central Washington. Ended up spending a day in Red Mountain, visited Col Solare (a pic is in the video). The wines are excellent. The CS has plenty of extraction, depth, weight, fine balance. The oak integration is very good. Also, the vineyard yields are quite low, which is always a good sign. The Syrah is one of the best as well, almost Rhône like in character. As for Ste Michelle, I find the quality varies and with the recent ownership change, the future is uncertain. Cheers! 🍷

[@mickeylee2624]

Thank you for sharing your insights,@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine ! Since it is a 2018, I am not sure of when to pop it open... I am developing some appreciation for wines with some age (recently opened 2015 a CS and Merlot) but do enjoy these varieties young. Regarding CSM, I totally understand your concern as I thoroughly enjoyed their 2021 Dry Riesling (absolutely enjoyable but even more so thanks to its QPR) but was truly saddened by how disappointing the corresponding 2022 was due to its excessive sweetness... looks like I will have to wait and see how things go... :(

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@mickeylee2624 Hi Mickey, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I've been on a long haul flight. While I very much enjoy aged wine, too often I keep the wines longer than I should. I suggest not over thinking trying to hit it on at the peak. Open your aged wines a bit before the anticipated peak, then air out the wine as needed.

[@mickeylee2624]

No worries,@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine! I really appreciate your taking the time to responding. Considering my dining companion prefers younger wines at this stage of our wine journey, I will definitely be listening to your advice!🙏🙏🙏

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@mickeylee2624Most prefer younger wines, fresher and bright styles. Also, keep in mind few wines are meant for aging. Be selective.

[@elliotthall5543]

I didn't get any of these today, but I did get a bottle of cab, Juggernaut Hillside Cab, from Clarksville, Ca. I have no idea what any of that should mean about the wine, but it tastes good, so thanks for the idea.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

It all worked out. Cheers. 🍷

[@juanmanuelmunozhernandez7032]

I get the feeling that this video was a bit more technical than usual! I personally like technical as you know, but I think it's also valuable and engaging when the style ranges a bit back and forth this way, hope that's food for thought. I have a difficult relationship with Cab, as I struggle to identify it in blind tasting. I used to think it was always an inky wine, very black fruity, always pyrazines, and that can't be farther from the truth. I've had a couple of Cabs with a clear red fruit character, varying in colour depth. Not the easiest grape to identify after all! The tobacco leaf and the elegant smoky and earthy tertiaries are what eventually give it away for me. As for the tannic structure, I really need to study that. I've got "Beyond Flavour" by Nick Jackson, but so far I haven't made too much sense out of it, which I think it has. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the pup's company, and have a nice holiday!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Perhaps a bit more technical than most. Some upcoming videos will feature interviews and tastings for some back and forth discussion. Sounds like Cab Sauv is a place to focus on. In any education program, it’ll be a major topic. Focus on the classics, it’ll provide a sound foundation.

[@juanmanuelmunozhernandez7032]

@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine Those plans for upcoming videos sound like juicy content to discuss. Thanks for the good work, Bob! Cheers!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

@@juanmanuelmunozhernandez7032 As always, your comments are much appreciated.

[@jacob9540]

Crazy that 13.5% is considered mid-range alcohol today!

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

So true. I have some old bottles from classic regions, many are 12%.

[@prccap]

We picked up two bottles of Precision last year, at Costco. That was easily one of the worst wine we drank. It was an easy “Never buy again”

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Is it possible that you had an off bottle? Could it have been the 2020? It showed smoke taint from the Napa fire. The ‘22 is solid for a base level Napa Valley Cab.

[@prccap]

@@bobpaulinskimasterofwine it was the 2020 and both bottles were horrible. Them even being allowed to be released will keep me from ever buying from them again

[@83juancpt]

Interestingly no Stellenbosch or South African Cab . Come now, the South African wine industry celebrated it's 300 year anniversary not to long ago

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

You raise a good point. It’s just that when I bought the wines for the video, the SA offering was very limited. I’ll post a South African only video in the not too distant future. 🍷

[@peterwolf8092]

yes, more dog please 😂

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

Haha! 🐕

[@hantusmostert]

Everyone in family plus my friends would never buy a Red Wine under screwcap.

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

I’m curious, why is that?

[@UncleHoCM]

🙂

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

👍

[@UncleHoCM]

🙂

[@bobpaulinskimasterofwine]

🍷