What To Drink on Valentine's Day? Kamen 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.

I discovered the Kamen tasting room during our last trip to Sonoma in November.  Tucked into a small space inside the Square, it has a sparsely contemporary but comfortable feel.  The first thing we noticed was the artwork on the walls, custom made prints with large words.  Kind of strange phrases, actually. Our hostess explained that the owner, Robert Kamen, is a screenwriter with credits such as the Karate Kid trilogy, Taken and the Transporter television series.  Ahhhhh, interesting. 

We shared a tasting at the marble counter as our hostess guided us through the wines.  She set us up with imported bottled water, almonds and crackers.  We went for the Signature Flight, starting with a Sauvignon Blanc.  I'm actually not such a fan of white wine but this was nice and light.  Next, we tasted the Syrah.  I'm a big fan of Syrah and I found this one delicious.  We moved on to the Writer's Block, a full bodied blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Petit Syrah.  This one was my husband's favorite.

Finally she poured the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I loved this one.  Very rich, smooth and complex.  It was dense and dark and definitely my pick.  We then got a bonus pour of the 2009 Cab.  They only had a few bottles of this one left and it was easy to see why.  I enjoyed it even more than the 2010.

We decided not to purchase any of the Kamen to take home.  The Writer's Block was the least expensive red at $58 a bottle but the Cabernet was $80 for the 2010 and the 2009 was higher, so we regrettably passed. 

Fast Forward to Valentine's Day.  I did a search for any Kamen wine locally and was thrilled to find a bottle of 2008 (!) at Total Wine for $83.00.  I figured that if we stayed in for dinner and enjoyed the wine at home it was definitely worth the splurge.  I was even able to use a Bevmo coupon for $10.00 off to soften the blow a little.

Was it worth it?  Totally.  It was as perfect a glass of wine as I've had in a while.  At least since November.

Bottom Line:  Splurge and Drink it Down!

St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

My husband and I have many wonderful friends, some of whom were kind enough to bring gifts to a party we had a few months ago in October.  This particular friend shares our taste in big red wines so I was thrilled to receive a bottle of 2010 St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon. 
It' s a fairly popular Cab that can be found at most grocers and markets and even occasionally at Costco.  The 2007 vintage was listed on Wine Enthusiast's list of Best 30 Napa Cabs Under $30 in 2012.
I had never tried St. Supery before as the $35.00 price made me shy away in favor of bottles I knew I was sure to enjoy.  I was definitely intrigued.  Advertised as Big and Bold with a rich purple hue and flavors of blueberry, cassis, vanillin and toast, it is aged in French Oak. 
Bold indeed, this Cab is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 2% Merlot,  Big?  Check.  The alcohol content is 14.4%.

I placed it in my wine refrigerator, patiently waiting for an occasion to try it.  I was tempted to pick up a bottle for just $21.99 at Costco but without having sampled it, wasn't sure.  I nearly put a 2009 vintage in my cart at Fry's, the only one left on the shelf behind a row of 2010 bottles, but moved on as it was priced at $35.99(!).  I'm a sucker for 2009 reds out of Napa and Sonoma, but I held firm. 

Fast forward to February 2014.  We were in the mood for something fairly decent and a little decadent for a Wednesday.  Normally we would go for an Abstract or even a Prisoner (2010, 2009 being loooong gone), but I pulled out the St. Supery Cab.

The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous deep berry color.  I used my Vinturi to open it up a little, then swirled the wine in the glass.  It has some legs, leaving an opaque film on the sides.  Plenty of oak on the nose, tobacco and vanilla-yum!  The first sip was very smooth with loads of spice and tannins.  The next few sips were really nice but I wanted to see what it was like after I let it decant for about a half an hour. 
Wow!  If it was good at 7:30, it was GREAT after 8:00.  I definitely recommend letting this wine decant for 30-60 minutes to get the best flavor.  Complex and structured, it is an impressive Cab.  Definitely a good buy at the Costco price of $21.99 or at the 30% off all bottles at Safeway (with an extra 10% if you buy 6).  Worth $36?  Well, maybe for the 2009 :).

Bottom Line:

Gladly Drink it Down!