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Bang for Your Buck Cabernets

Bang for Your Buck Wines (Great Cabernets for under $15)

heart heart = Love at First Sip

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, $14.00: 21,000 cases produced
(95) Finals M=90 F=90

Male: Rich, lush black cherry and black plum layered with tar and licorice front to finish. Good acidity, soft mouthfeel. Lots of oak. Very good structure and finish.

Female: Very ripe fruit in the nose. On the palate brown spices, nutmeg and cinnamon take center stage with wild berry flavors. There are clove notes on the finish.

Madfish 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz Western Australia, $14.00: na cases produced
(93) Limited Finals M=85 F=88

Male: In the glass, the beautiful medium ruby color invites you to enjoy the herbal, black fruit aromas with sweet oak accents. Good balance, firm structure, and rounded tannins make this a very well made wine.

Female: Spicy, minty and crushed fruit aromas deliver gobs of fruit in the mouth. The mint is apparent throughout. Serve with lamb and you won't need any mint jelly! A very appealing wine.

Pedroncelli 2004 Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley, $14.50: 8,000 cases produced
(92) Finals M=88 F=87

Male: Light aromas of black currant and red fruits deliver pure red fruit play (raspberry, red cherry, red currant) in the mouth. Wood, spice, soft alcohol, and high acidity on the palate.

Female: Herbal notes in the nose. Light fruit on entry-cherry, rhubarb pie, anise notes carry through to the finish where you will experience silky tannins. Polished with the right amount of acid.

McWilliams Hanwood Estate 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Southeastern Australia, $12.00: 90000 cases produced
(90) Finals F=87 M=87

Male: A beautiful sapphire color in the glass. Toasty oak aromas with eucalyptus open to a tangy palate of red fruits. The finish is dry finish with notes of licorice and molasses.

Female: In the glass, the wine is deep garnet, purple and translucent with a garnet rim. The nose is many layered...pepper, lavender, chocolate, cherry, meat, dill pickle, charred wood and–a big yum!–raspberry. The palate is chocolate cherry. This wine is well balanced with medium acid and tannin. The oak and alcohol are fully front to back. The long finish is nice.

Cycles Gladiator 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $9.99: 15,000 cases produced
(90) Finals M=87 F=87

Male: The red berry nose carries through on the palate with very nice red fruit elements, finishing with smooth tannins. Very drinkable.

Female: The herbal spicy nose delivers herbaceous flavors on palate with cassis at the core. Light, delicate and balanced.

heart heart = An Affair to Remember

Black Swan 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Southeastern Australia, $8.00: 178000 cases produced
(89) CS,PV Finals M=86 F=86

Male: The nose displays slightly jammy fruit-red cherry with rhubarb. Ripe strawberry black fruit and tar dominate the full, open entry and continues through the considerable length.

Female: Cranberry and ripe cherry start to finish. Not complicated but a nicely made wine.

Jekel Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Arroyo Seco, $14.99: 15,000 cases produced
(88) Finals (limited) M=88 F=81

Male: The nose is quite complex...vivid cassis ith graham cracker and wood spice in the background. There is deep black fruit in uber saturation. The refined tannins stay through the persistent finish.

Female: A soft, pleasant wine displaying lighter red fruit delivered as an earthy, dusty cherry in the mouth. A nicely balanced wine.

Fetzer Valley Oaks 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $8.99: 450,000 cases produced
(88)

Male: Black cherry and caramel on the nose, candied sweet raspberry in the mouth with vanilla notes. Soft and easy to drink.

Female: Roasted coffee and black cherry on the nose and lots of fruit in the mouth and through the finish. Easy drinking wine.

Bonterra Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino County, $14.99: 66,000 cases produced
(87)

Male: Green olive-y nose, follows to the mouth and is enhanced by cherry, cassis mid-palate. The oak is unobtrusive on the finish.

Female: A nicely balanced wine. Spice on the nose with dark fruit on the palate where it is joined by pine accents which detract from the fruit.

Five Rivers 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, $9.99: 60,000 cases produced
(87)

Male: Round plum aromas and flavors with rich, sweet, soft flavors and toasty accents on the finish.

Female: Caramel and plum flavors with lots of tannins. Not sure how well this will age. Needs grilled beef.

Parducci 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino County, $9.99: 10,200 cases produced
(87)

Male: Young fruit on the nose and mouth. Evolving oak elements enhance this wine.

Female: Black cherry aromas lead to black fruit on the palate with coffee and black tea on the finish. Fine tannins.

Bliss Family Vineyards, Estate Bottled 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino, $12.00: 3,000 cases produced
(86)

Male: Spice and oak on the nose delivering light cherry and berry fruit. A simple style. A crowd pleaser.

Female: Cranberry flavors surround a core of ripe cherry with soft tannins and nice acid on the finish.

Bogle Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $11.00: 50,000 cases produced
(86)

Male: Fresh berry liqueur aromas with earth notes. Light bodied palate gushing with fruit.

Female: Blueberry aromas deliver berry flavors onto the palate. Nice mouth feel.

Turning Leaf 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $7.99: 250000 cases produced
(86) 78.9% CS

Male: Medium dark ruby with aromas of blackberry and currant. A clean, medium bodied wine with a soft attack. Slightly astringent mid-palate but finishes with soft tannins.

Female: Black cherry with hints of bell pepper and black pepper aromas. Pure sweet cherry flavors with a touch of tobacco on the short finish.

Frey Organic 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino, $13.25: 8,250 cases produced
(86)

Male: Cherry cough syrup and lychee aromas and flavors. The wine is young and tannic. One of our judges wrote, "I want to cellar this wine to see how it develops."

Female: Aromas of lychee, raisin and orange zest are replicated on the palate with medium acidity. This balanced wine will go well with Asian food.

Sandholdt 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $15.00: 5,000 cases produced
(86)

Male: Plum, cough syrup and cocoa on the nose. Plum and menthol flavors with leather notes, softening on the finish.

Female: Caramel, vanilla, black cherry, and mushroom aromas and flavors. Slightly sweet on mid-palate through the finish.

Rubberneck 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, $13.00: 2,000 cases produced
(86)

Male: A nice fruity nose with perfume notes. The fruit is sweet good fruit. The finish is smooth. The wine has a Syrah-like character.

Female: Dark plum aromas with back tones of vanilla and spice. Dark fruit on the mid-palate. Finishes well, if a bit quickly. Young!

Chumeia 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $14.00: 500 cases produced
(85)

Male: Plum with dill notes in the nose and in the mouth. Lots of tannin on the finish.

Female: Minty cherry on the nose with black fruit accented by eucalyptus on the palate and a cranberry finish.

Stone Creek 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino County, $8.99: 3,214 cases produced
(83)

Male: Currant and blackberry flavors that are consistent with the nose. The acids are a bit high on the short finish.

Female: Earthy, light red fruit with lots of acid and tar notes on the back and finish.

Mirassou Sun 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon California, $12.00: 21369 cases produced
(80) 79% CS

Male: Moderate black currant aromas and flavors. Soft, medium bodied. Easy drinking. A simple, low acid wine.

Female: Beautiful color. The nose is young and light nose. Simple wine.