Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  It has been a great week so far…I received my text book for my French Wine Society’s Champagne Master-Level program! I have been pouring over the pages, looking at maps, remembering my week touring around Champagne in 2013, and, I must admit, getting a little thirsty for a glass of sparkle!

Onto the wine of the week which is Wente Vineyard‘s ‘Southern Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.  I am a fan of this winery – the first generation came to California from Germany and planted grape vines.  Over 130 years later, the Wente family builds solidly upon their reputation, year after year, producing sustainable estate grown wines.

In the glass, ‘Southern Hills’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a nice deep ruby red with aromas of cigar box, coffee, mocha, ripe plum and black cherry – a beautiful smell indeed.  On the palate, it has some nice acidity, 13.5% alcohol so not a ‘hot’ overbearing wine and medium silky tannins.  This is not a ‘big’ Cabernet Sauvignon and I am thrilled.  It is restrained and elegant with a nice finish. The flavour profile mirrors the aromas here with loads of lovely plum and cherry fruit along side a mocha-coffee spice.  This is a food friendly wine – thank you!

The grapes for this Cabernet Sauvignon are estate sourced from the Livermore Valley just outside of San Fransisco.  The retail price at the B.C. Liquor stores is $19.99.  I have paid more money for poorer quality Cabernet Sauvignon and I am delighted to have a ‘go-to’ on hand when the need arises.  (Just today I was at Dundarave Wine Cellar and they had their Wente Vineyard ‘Charles Wetmore’ 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon on sale from $35.99 to $25.99 and I hear it is superb…)

I paired the ‘Southern Hills’ wine with a seared pork tenderloin and it was excellent.  This is a definite ‘Hell Yes’ wine from Wente Vineyards of San Fransisco.

Are you getting ready for Valentine’s Day?  What will you be drinking?  Do tell!

Enjoy!

XO
C