THE 12 CABS OF CHRISTMAS … DAY 6.

♫  “On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … six StoneCap cab … ♪ Five LAAAY-E’Cole ♪… Four San Juan Vineyards, three Mount Veeder, two Buried Canes and a cab from Paso Robleez.”  ♫

2009 StoneCap Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Columbia Valley, Washington … $7.99

Eight bucks and this baby delivers an awesome cab… No kidding. On the nose, notes of vanilla, mocha, red currants and blackberries. Nice concentration of dark fruits up front with hits of spice. Creamy on the palate with a little char action on the backside. Hits of tobacco leaf and mocha on a slightly thin finish with some nice spice notes lingering on the sides of the mouth. A really nice effort and easy on the pocketbook.  88 points

2008 L’Ecole No 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla, Washington … $34.99

This cab definitely deserves to be in this longer phrase of the song. There is a lot going on with this juice. A little stink action on the nose with tobacco leaf and oak notes coming through. The aromas seem a little subdued. On the palate this wine bursts out into a glorious song. Meaty and solid with a core of dark fruit that is quite complex. Plums up front with hits of white pepper. Very dense from start to finish with a nice tannic grip on the backside. The finish features an array of flavors. Tobacco leaf, cocoa, chocolate and spice that goes on and on. 94 points

2008 San Juan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington … $18.99

I am very proud of our local winery here on San Juan Island. Chris Primus has established his fingerprint on the wines and many have received gold medals in some prestigious competitions. Although I like Chris, I try to keep my tasting objectivity in place. This cab is a nice effort and deserves our attention in December.

Toasty black olives and black currants with dusty tannins come through on the nose. Notes of oak and black currants with hits of green bell peppers on smooth refined tannins. Light hits of tobacco leaf and mocha on a finish that lingers with some subtle white pepper and spice. What appeals to me about this cab, is that it is smooth enough to drink all by itself yet structured enough to compliment something like, let’s say… prime rib.  91 points

2008 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon  Napa Valley, California … $26.99

Anytime someone wants to give me three of these, I would be more then happy to accept. This is a beauty!

Sultry aromas of black currants and blackberries with hits of perfumed cedar and tobacco leaf. Very smooth and deep on the palate with delicious notes of chocolate and tobacco leaf backed by underlying red currant and spice. This baby is seamless on the palate flowing effortlessly into a long, long finish of cocoa and tobacco leaf with hits of tannins and subtle spice notes.  94 points

2008 Buried Cane Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington … $13.99

What a nice treat, and the exact opposite in style of the Justin. Aromas of green beans, mocha, blackberries and hits of mint. Old school on the palate with notes of green beans, cherry juice and anise. Interesting bittersweet chocolate notes come through on the mid-palate with hints of red currants. The finish is soft and pleasing. This is a great cab to match up with beef and a nice switch from the fruit forward versions that are all over the market. Each has a place and this one belongs with a meal.  89+ points

2009 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, California … $24.99

What a nice treat for December. Aromas of black currants and blackberries with a little hit of alcohol.  Big and lush on the palate showing off it’s California love handles. Notes of black cherries, black currants and spice flow across the palate seamlessly. Nice hits of black tea, chocolate, tobacco leaf and white pepper on the medium to long finish. This baby is ready to drink, and should get you in the mood for cab immediately. If you can decant this a little before you imbibe, it would be helpful.  90 points.

Since we are halfway through the 12 cabs of Christmas, I thought a recap of the reviews would be in order. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man