Rebel Wine “The Show” Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

California, USA
Alcohol: 13.9%
Available in government ($18.99) and private stores

Rebel Wine is a joint venture between the Three Thieves (Charles Bieler, Joel Gott, and Roger Scommenga ) and Trinchero Wines (owner of Sutter Home and other brands). Their goal is to “liberate premium wine” and the packaging of their wines – including this one – is anything but conventional. (Check out their Web site to see the whole line-up: http://www.threethieves.com/index.html#1)

The Show is a big wine, no question. It starts with the eye catching label and then the bottle (heavy barely describes it!). Then there’s the nose: big, ripe, and lush sprang to mind, with lots of jammy red fruit and spices (cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg), plus some vanilla and violets. The boldness carries on into your mouth, where the strong fruit and spice flavours are balanced by the acid and soft tannins. The finish is smooth, medium long, and clean. While I couldn’t find the exact blend, the wine is roughly 80% Cabernet Sauvignon (multiple regions), and the rest is combination of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Sirah, and Petit Verdot.

This is a nicely priced, enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon that is more “wine fun” than “wine geeky”. It’s a strongly flavoured wine, so should be matched with similar foods (boldly flavoured sauces and grilled meats, instead of white fish or cream sauces).

Mission Hill Family Estate Five Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot 2006

Okanagan Valley VQA, BC
Alcohol: 12.5%
Available in government ($18.99) and private stores (including Mission Hill stores), and at the winery

Mission Hill might be the largest entirely-within BC winery and makes everything from inexpensive wines (blended from imported and BC grapes) using several different labels, through to the ultra-super premium Oculus (a Bordeaux inspired wine).

The Five Vineyards line is Mission Hill’s entry-level 100% BC line-up. The 2006 Cabernet-Merlot is a blend of Merlot (48%), Cabernet Sauvignon (37%), and Cabernet Franc (15%). It has a dark ruby red colour, with purple tones. The nose has notes of rich, ripe dark fruit (plums, blackberries, and dark cherries). The ripe fruit flavours continue onto the palate, with the addition of some spices (including cloves). The flavours, soft tannins, and medium acid combine with a lingering finish to produce a pleasant wine that is easy to enjoy.

This is a wine that shows that some of the advantages of being a large (in BC terms) winery: it’s well priced against other BC wines, widely available, and delivers. It is a wine that is enjoyable on its own, but also works well with a variety of foods (including the ubiquitous red meats, pastas, and cheeses). It’s a fitting entry point for such a well known winery.

Wine Matters! Blog Missing In Action

Missing due to inaction would probably be more accurate! I couldn’t control the computer problems that put me off-line for almost two weeks, but the subsequence lack of posts is entirely my fault. Bad habits are often so much easier to cultivate than the good variety, and I apologize for the gap in posts.

I’m back on track now, so I thank you for your patience and sticking with the Wine Matters! Blog.

And now, back to the wine.