by Ethan Johnson
November 22, 2008
I remembered that Beth had written an article about Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet and assumed that's what I bought when I saw the fairly ubiquitous (in my neighborhood) logo and orange label. False. This is the "seeds and stems" version of that wine. Let's get on with it, then:
Producer (Vineyard): Avalon
Varietal (Grape type): Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage (Year): 2005
Country: USA (California)
Color: Red
Cost: Inexpensive ($8 USD)
Swirl and Sniff: The color is cherry red, bordering on scarlet depending on the lighting. Sniff-wise, this was something of a one-trick pony. What wasn't alcohol fumes was, mmmm, we'll say plums.
Taste: Incredibly nondescript. Watery on the edges (and half the time, the center). I did detect a squirt of what tasted like granny smith apples, which defies the usual red wine taste profile, but we'll say "tart" for something like cranberries, to stick with red-colored things. Tannic on the finish.
Pairing: I paired this with Corsican Beef Stew. The wine canceled out the food, leaving a watery sensation in its wake. I guess that's better than being all astringent and/or nasty, but what a letdown!
Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):
- Buy three or more bottles for regular enjoyment
- Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
- Ask for when dining out or at a party
- Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
- Politely decline and never drink again, ever
HUGE warning flags waved as I read the back label, which states that this wine was designed to appeal to Cabernet and Merlot drinkers equally. That's like appealing to ice water and single-malt scotch drinkers equally. Pick a style and go with it, please. Putting my "wine sales guy" hat on (I don't actually wear hats at work), I'd tell curious shoppers that it is essentially an entry-level red wine but should not be confused with a more "serious" Cab or Merlot. Looks classier than ye olde Yellow Tail bottle, anyway.
If I see the Napa Cab around, I'll give it a try. But this iteration just isn't where I'm at. Sorry, Avalon.
If you do give this a try, please let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>
(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)
Even though I used a picture of the white-label Avalon in that post, I should have been more explicit in the text that the white label is the must-try wine, not the red/orange label. Please give the white label a try. It's a remarkable wine for the price. I have some very knowledgeable (not snooty, but they could be, because they're really smart about wine) friends and they love that wine, the white-label cab.
Give 'er a whirl, please. Or, a swirl, really.