Red Wine: Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, California

88 Points – $16

Dark red with a nose of coffee and blackberry. Mouthful of roasted espresso bean, chocolate, caramel and blackberry.

Hot toasted oak finish. Good Cabernet but young. Could age. I decanted this and it was much better 6 to 24 hours later.

Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Maker: Carnivor Wines

Alcohol: 14%

Rye: Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Blended, Canadian Whisky

90 Points – $33

The color of new oak. Nose if oak and clove. Spicy clove, anise, pepper and apricot fruit mouth. Oily and spicy. Best served neat. (Not a mixer). Given 97.5 points by whisky expert Jim Murray in his 13th Annual Whiskey Bible.

Much better than regular Crown Royal which suffers from a harshness from its corn mash origin. This is more like the more expensive XO Crown Royal.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Blended Canadian Whisky

Alcohol: 45% alcohol

90% rye mash whisky

Region: Canada

 

Red Wine: Tommasi 2013 Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy

92 Points – $27

Ruby red with a nose of cedar and cherry. Raisin, tart cherry and black pepper notes.  Spicy finish.  Good for red meats and cheese.

Ripasso is the unique re-fermentation of Valpoicella Classico Superiore on the warm dried grape skins from which Tommasi Amarone has been pressed.

Tommasi Viticoltori Valpolicella - Ripasso- 2013

Name: Valpolicella Ripasso

Grape: Corvina/Rondinella/Molinara

Region: Veneto, Italy

Maker: Tommasi

Alcohol: 13%

Red Wine: Menage a Trois, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, California

90 Points – $19

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from 3 wine regions. Sonoma, Lake and Napa. Barrel aged in French and American oak. Garnet color with a cedar and dark fruit nose. Dark berry, cedar, leather and chocolate flavors. Long dry finish.

menage a trois cabernet suavignon 2013 - California

Name: Menage a Trois

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Maker: Trinchero Family Estate

Alcohol: 13.5%

Red Wine: Santa Carolina, 2012, Chile – My Second Try

89 Points – $20

My second try of this great Wine.  You can find my first review here http://www.drjimswinereviews.com/entry/red-wine-santa-carolina-2012-chile/

Oak barrel aged for 14 months. Garnet color with cedar, oak and black currant nose. Concentrated flavors of black currant, fig, cedar and bitter chocolate. Long dark finish. Aged. Great for beef.

Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon - Valle Del Maipo 2012 - Chilean Heritage

Name: Santa Carolina

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Chile

Maker: Vina Santa Carolina

Price: $20

Alcohol: 13.8%

Red Wine: Menage a Trois, 2013, California

88 Points – $16

A blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Jammy raspberry and plum nose and blackberry and raspberry flavors. Sweet finish.  Good for grilled meats and chicken dishes.

menage a trois california red wine 2013

Name: Menage a Trois – Folie a Deux

Grape: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: California

Maker: Trinchero Family Estate

Alcohol: 13.5%