Yep, I’m absolutely aware that we’ve leapt into summer but, dammit, we’re gonna talk about a couple big, chewy cabernet sauvignons this week!
In recently thinking about solid wine pairings for barbecue and hamburgers, some of my personal favourites include dry rosés, pinot noirs and Gamays.
But there’s nothing that says going bigger and bolder can’t fit the bill.
When chatting about various grape varieties, there are two aspects of cabernets that I find can give people pause. The first is that some find them to vegetal-tasting, particularly with bitter, green bell pepper notes.
Trust me, I am so not fond of those styles of cabernet either; green bell peppers are pretty much the only food I despise. I have a theory that only red and yellow peppers are meant to be eaten, but I’ve had a tough time influencing many others on this. I’m only half kidding.
So in saying that, you can bet that any wine I recommend isn’t going to exhibit those traits. The second issue, more of a myth really, is that in order to get a good bottle of cabernet, you’re gonna have to fork over a lot of dough. This is absolutely not the case. Let’s go right ahead and smash that myth with these two bottles that punch well above their weight.
Montes Limited Selection 2012 Cabernet Carmenere | Colchagua Valley, Chile | $19.99 | BC Liquor Stores
This Chilean kick-ass value is boosted with a little Carmenere which adds a good dash of dark chocolate and mint to the cabernet’s currants and forest floor character. Montes’ wines generally have a characteristic finesse and polish to them, this one totally following suit. What I particularly adore here is the wine’s freshness; basil and rosemary keep things perky while some juicy mocha notes finish things off. A charmer that’ll hit a multitude of meaty dishes well, serve it with a slight chill to elevate its liveliness.
Francis Ford Coppola’s Diamond Ivory 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon | California, U.S.A. | $25 | BC Liquor Stores
Not to worry, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery isn’t just some celebrity vanity project, the wines here are the real deal. This one compiles fruit from various appellations including El Dorado and Paso Robles. The acidity keeps all of that fruit fresh, and there’s a smidge of milk chocolate to add a touch of decadence on the finish. I was quite surprised that it’s a mere 13.5 per cent alcohol, on the palate it does seem like a bigger, heavier wine – but no matter, it’s nice to know a couple glasses won’t leave you exhausted. The tannins have a nice little grip to ‘em as well, so feel free to throw some steaks on the grill-a little char won’t hurt things one bit.
For both of these wines, a good decanting will bring out some of the more subtler nuances, but it’s not necessary to enjoy both of their full-flavoured personas. Enjoy!
