2012 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon

We'd never heard of this wine until we saw it on an LCBO* Twitter account a few night ago (@TorontoVino to be precise). The idea of a Cabernet varietal made from a blend of Sonoma & Napa grapes is intriguing. We figured, since we're in Sonoma, we should try to find a bottle. As chance would have it, we stumbled across it on a trip to the grocery store just a couple of days later.

This is a solid California Cabernet, and is absolutely a good value for the price (~$18). We weren't blown away, but that's OK. It comes down to personal preference. This bottle has a lot more vanilla than we typically look for. And, ultimately, we prefer a drier, earthier Cab with a heavier emphasis on dark fruits. With that said, on to our tasting notes!

Stewed cherries & dark chocolate on the nose. If you've ever had cherry soup, you'll know what we mean. Cherries, vanilla extract & a bit of prunes on the tongue, with heavy amounts of black pepper on the finish. The vanilla extract is often the dominant flavor. It's a nice dark violet in color. Medium body with smooth, mild tannins. This wine was ready to drink as soon as we opened the bottle, and we didn't noticed much change after letting it breathe for a while. We paired it with a roasted chicken, kale & green lentils. A really nice fit.