2010 Casarena Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
(from 80-year-old vines): Good full ruby-red. Blackberry, menthol, licorice and bitter chocolate, plus a whiff of roasted bell pepper. Plush and sweet but lively, offering a better integration of fruit and acidity than the malbec. Very sexy, concentrated wine and a steal for the price. The spicy finish features suave tannins, a hint of menthol and lovely length.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(from 80-year-old vines): Good full ruby-red. Blackberry, menthol, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose, plus a whiff of roasted bell pepper. Plush and sweet but lively, offering very good integration of fruit and acidity. Sexy, concentrated wine and a steal for the price. The spicy finish features suave tannins, a hint of menthol and lovely length.
The unoaked 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is a flavorful, well-balanced, tasty mouthful of wine. Uncomplicated but satisfying, it will provide pleasure for another 3-4 years. It, too, is a very good value. Casarena’s consulting winemaker is the peripatetic Michel Rolland. Aside from a standard quality 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, this is a first-class set of wines. Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (866) 57-STARZ; fax (714) 892-6930; www.southernstarz.com