Tasting: Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

 Name: Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $22 

Winery Review: A full-bodied, richly concentrated Californian Cabernet from the Paso Robles region. Aromas of dark berries, spice, mocha and espresso. This wine was aged for 18 months in oak barrels. Enjoy with grilled meats. Natalie Maclean

Realizing this is a really horrendous photo

Personal Thoughts: This is definitely a red that I enjoy. I am finding that I lean more towards reds than whites as I like the more tannic, dry wines. The notes I feel I get are more complex than in whites, and I think that this wine highlights what I like in red wine. It is boldly dry and tannic, without being abrasively bitter. Smelling-wise I get a lot of dark fruits like black cherry or black raspberry, as well as a smooth and rich hint that reminds me almost of olives. Along with the dark fruit flavors I found this wine to be jammy and perhaps a little peppery. It was very dry in my mouth and gave a noticeable sensation on the sides of my tongue. Looking in the wine notes of the CA Cabernets, I am finding that I definitely get some mint notes (Page 89). As someone who cooks meat semi-regularly, I would love to try this wine with a good steak; A full-bodied, richly concentrated Californian Cabernet from the Paso Robles region. Aromas of dark berries, spice, mocha and espresso. This wine was aged for 18 months in oak barrels. Enjoy with grilled meats (Page 88

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Tasting: Josh Merlot

Name: Josh Cellar Merlot

Variety: 100% Merlot

Country: USA

Year: 2020

Price: $18 

Winery Review: Tasty, toasted oak flavors intertwine with plenty of ripe red cherry and blackberry notes in this bold, flavorful and well-balanced wine. One of the best bottles in the Josh lineup. JIM GORDON

Personal Thoughts: As I am developing my taste in reds more, I feel this is a great wine to serve as a barometer against other reds. While definitely on the drier/tannic side, there is a soft, light sweetness over-top of the very boisterous (yet not overpowering) darker, tannic flavor that resembles black cherry (as is the predominant note per Wine Folley, page 131). Wine Folley p132 states that sweet cherry is the predominant flavor for a California merlot, so perhaps that is the slight sweetness that I register. I caught aromas predominantly of raspberry and, unconventionally, buttered popcorn. I feel like there was a slight buttery undertone to the wine, but to me this wine is very predominantly black cherry, and as I hold it on my tongue, it almost gets more tannic and more dramatically black cherry. Overall, this is a wine I can absolutely enjoy and while it may not be a conventional pairing, I found it pleasant to eat with some homemade carbonara. Perhaps next time I would have a sweeter wine to balance the saltiness, but this wine served as a strong palate cleanser with its bolder tannic flavors.