In today’s world of competent industrial winemaking, when you raid the bottom shelf at the supermarket looking for gems you run into lots of ordinary. This screams ordinary.
Modest aromas of generic berry, bell pepper and hazelnuts with earth undertones. For the price it is interesting enough but the nose is marred by the bell pepper which, in a Cabernet, is a sign of under-ripe grapes. The medium- bodied palate adds vanilla and cocoa notes but the lack of fruit intensity is not sufficient to balance the tart, sour acidity on the finish. The absence of tannins leaves a wine with little structure. A drinkable everyday wine that doesn’t give a lot of pleasure.
But finding pleasure in the ordinary is the way of happiness. Listening to Bono’s lovely paean to Ordinary Love will make this wine taste like Petrus.
Score: 82
Price: $8
Alc: 13.5
Exploring the Philosophy of Food and Wine 