Varietal: Blended Red Wine (55% Cabernet Sauvignon; 14% Malbec; 8% Cabernet Franc; 8% Petit Verdot; 7% Tannat; 5% Merlot; 3% Petite Sirah)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $22 (SRP)
Deep red color with aromas of cherry, anise, dried herbs, and tobacco. Â Flavors of blackberry, caramel, and subtle notes of coffee with a lingering finish and firm tannins. Â Pairs well with lamb steaks, beef carpaccio, cheddar cheese potatoes gratin.
Recommendations: When I got this wine, I was instantly interested in it thanks to the blend. Â I’m a fan of most of the grapes in this wine as a single varietal, so I was hopeful that they would blend together well. Â As the tasting notes for this wine recommended pairing it with lamb, it took me a few weeks to finally open this, as I had never cooked lamb before and was slowly but surely psyching myself up to do just that. Â This weekend I did just that.
The wine was a beautiful deep red in the glass, and I got aromas of cherry and a hint of tobacco on the nose. Â Flavors of blackberry were most prevalent to me, but what really impressed me was the smoothness of the wine. Â At least in my opinion I cooked the lamb just right (we learned that my wife is not a fan of lamb this weekend), and the flavor of the wine was a nice compliment to both the flavor and the texture of the lamb. Â I know that sounds weird, but the blend of the wine lent itself to a nice smooth wine that was bold and subtle all at once. Â It’s confusing, but it is what it is.
As with all wines, the true test for me is whether it’s enjoyable after the food is gone, and I did like this wine after I had finished my lamb steak (and admittedly a portion of my wife’s). Â The nice bold flavor of the Cabernet Sauvignon was tempered by the Petit Verdot (which is quickly becoming my favorite blending grape), Petite Sirah, and Merlot.
I know that around the holidays a lot of people will eat lamb, and if you’re one of those people this is certainly a wine worth checking out to pair with your holiday meals. Â If you can’t find the Blackstone Sonoma Reserve Rubric at your local store and want to give it a try, you can click here and get it.
