Varietal:Â 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:Â California – USA
Cost:Â $7 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes:Â Â Â Black pepper notes and berry aromas for this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with blackberry fruit, dark cherries, and a long, lingering finish. Pairs well with New York strip steak, spinach ravioli, or Portobello mushrooms.
My Review:Â This one has been sitting in my rack for a while, and I’m regretting that I took so long to get to it. When I see an inexpensive California Cabernet come my way, I have certain expectations – fruit forward, medium-bodied, and not too dry. With FlipFlop Wines having sent me several samples, I knew they were making nice, approachable wines, but nothing that was going to change the way you looked at a particular grape, which is perfectly fine. Opening up the bottle of 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t change my outlook on the grape, but it may have changed my outlook on inexpensive California Cabernet.
For one, the wine was darker in the glass than I was expecting, with not much light actually making its way through. On the nose I got the black pepper and berry aromas that were advertised, but they seemed more robust than in your usual sub-$10 California Cab, and I wasn’t overwhelmed with an alcohol aroma either.
In my mouth the wine was nothing like I was expecting. Where I was expecting a fruit-forward wine with not much body, I got a fairly dry, fuller-bodied wine that still had berry flavors, but berry that had some character to it, thanks in part to the dark cherry. I took the advice of the bottle and paired it with a New York strip off the grill and I’m glad I did – this was a better than average steak wine. It may be the best value steak wine I’ve ever had.
As I’ve said, this wasn’t the first bottle of FlipFlop wine that I’ve had, but this may actually be the first one that totally surprised me. I’ve had my issues with California Cabernet in the past, but it’s wines like this that are making me look forward to my trip out to San Francisco next month – wines that defy expectations.
If you want to give the 2009 FlipFlop Cabernet Sauvignon a try and can’t find it in your local store, follow this link and you can order it directly from them.
