Stan The Wine Man

♫  On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … ten Six-A-Prongs, nine La Joyta, eight Ruther Ranch, seven Saviah Cellars, six StoneCap cab … ♪ Five LAAY E’Cole ♪… Four San Juan Vineyards, three Mount Veeder, two Buried Canes and a cab from Paso Robleez.  ♫

2006 Six Prong Cellar Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills, Washington … $14.99

I started leaping when I found out this cab was still available to buy. Hopefully you have a savvy wine buyer in your area who latched on to some of this. The price is down from twenty-five bucks in December making it one of the best bargains in cab I have seen in recent memory.

Aromas of sweet red currants, cherries, mocha and white pepper. Black currants and spice on the front of the palate with notes of chocolate and tobacco leaf flowing across the mid-palate into a finish with some tar hits, spice and wood. Seamless and only slightly thin on the back of the mid. This is a killer cab for the price and if you can find it, stock up. I know I did.  91 points

♫  On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … Nine La Jota, eight Rutherford Ranch, seven Saviah Cellars, six StoneCap Cab … ♪ Five LAAY E’Cole ♪ … Four San Juan Vineyards, three Mount Veeder, Two Buried Canes and a cab from Paso Robleez.  ♫

2005 La Jota Vineyards  Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, California … $42.99

You will definitely make the ladies dance if you bring this cab to the party. Aromas of perfumed cedar, char, tobacco leaf and black currants. Sweet tannins with a bright core of currants and tobacco leaf. Wood notes come through on the mid-palate leading into a delicious finish of currants, wood and spice. Excellent balance, and very youthful. I would have no problem drinking this now, especially with a beef dish, but it will age nicely over the next ten years. A little over my normal budget but hey; it’s Christmas, and it’s worth the price!  93 points

♫  On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … Eight Rutherford Ranch, seven Saviah Cellars, six StoneCap cab … ♪  Five LAAAY E’Cole  ♪ … Four San Juan Vineyards, three Mount Veeder, two Buried Canes and a cab from Paso Robleez.  ♫

2009 Rutherford Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, California … $16.99

I would like to find some maids who can milk out this kind of juice from Napa Valley for this price. On the nose, notes of red plums, cherries, currants and toasty wood. Nice structure on the palate layered with flavors of mocha, vanilla and anise. Red currant and cherry notes come through on the mid-palate with blueberry coming through on the backside. A little tannic grip on a medium to long finish. For under  twenty bucks you get a serious little cab that is quite drinkable now and will improve over the next three to five years. And guess what? It will go nicely with Prime Rib!  89+ points

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

2009 Saviah Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla, Washington …$19.99

Aromas of perfumed mint, tobacco leaf and hits of vanilla. Round and plush up front with notes of black currants, tar and tobacco. Silky smooth yet structured tannins with  a nice spice hit on the mid-palate leading into a finish of spice, blackberries, tar notes and currants which hang in the mouth. I can see this baby washing down my prime rib on Christmas day or being enjoyed with friends all by itself. The price on it for the month of December is stupid, so snap some up before it goes back to the regular price of $31.99.   94 points