Quilceda Creek Palengat 2016 Horse Heaven Hills, Washington State

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

This is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend from Washington State.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, spices, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, black pepper, light vegetables, earth and licorice.

Feels like a Napa Cabernet with light age. Showing great complexity already.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Very yummy now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

This is a fabulous Cabernet.

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged in new French oak barrels for 20 months.

94 points.

$120.

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Bodegas El Lagar de Isilla Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Spain

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a short purplish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, blueberries, black plums, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, dark coffee, chocolates, light earth, eucalyptus, light cola and black pepper.

Full bodied and elegant with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, chocolates, coffee, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, herbs, light earth, black tea and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Ribera Del Duero. Very unique for this region.

This 6-year-old is showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel. Rich yet elegant. Fruit forward and smooth.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show its elegance and complexity, so take your time and be patient.

A great wine to share with friends and talk about. Thank you Pillar and José for sharing this with me.

Good by itself and will pair very nicely with the traditional grilled baby lamb dish.

Feels like a Napa Cabernet with a lot of Old World influence. Interesting stuff. Definitely not what I expected from this region, but this is gorgeous.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.

A tiny production of only 600 bottles. This is bottle number 212. Aged in French Oak barrels for 20 months.

15% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$75.

Faust Wines The Pact Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Napa Valley, California

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Pretty color of dark ruby with a nice reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, bell pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates, peppercorn, herbs and black tea.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking nicely, but still very young. Showing lots of vegetable and earth notes, which I did not expect.

Needs at least 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and still a little unbalanced. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

This Single Vineyard is complex, with a soft mouthfeel. Has good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

I had the 2015 a couple of years ago, and loved it.

Needed a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Robert Parker 93 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

A good wine to pair with lamb dishes.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$125.

Domaine de Gachet Lalande de Pomerol 2012, Bordeaux, France

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black and red fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, oak, light vanilla, spices and black pepper.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and cranberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot blend from Bordeaux. I’ve had different vintages of this wine, and it is very consistent.

This 11 year old needs 2 hours to open up properly, so be patient.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with grilled meats.

A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$40.

Faust Wines The Pact Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Napa Valley, California

Pretty color of dark ruby with a nice reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, bell pepper, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates, peppercorn, herbs and black tea.

This 4 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking nicely, but still very young. Showing lots of vegetable and earth notes, which I did not expect.

Needs at least 5 years in the bottle to mature properly, and still a little unbalanced.

I had the 2015 a couple of years ago, and loved it.

This Single Vineyard is complex, with a soft mouthfeel. Has good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

Needed a few hours to open up properly, so be patient.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Robert Parker 93 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

A good wine to pair with lamb dishes.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$125.

Selene Wines Chester Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2016, California

This is a delicious Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley.

Fruit forward with nice complexity and a strong nose.

Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, chocolates, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead and leather.

Dry and fruity on the palate with medium acidity and long legs.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Feels like a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon right out of the bottle. Only after a couple of hours, it brings out more earth and vegetable notes.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and entertaining.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

Or Haganuz Winery Namura Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Israel

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish /brick rim.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity.

Dry and fruit forward with great complexity.

Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, light vanilla, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs, diet cola, peppercorn and light green vegetables.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries

This 9 year old Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon is peaking now, and is drinking beautifully. Will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Rich and extracted. Spicy and entertaining.

After 30 minutes in the glass, tannins come out to play. Gets better after 3 hours, when tannins soften up a bit.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a great sipping wine. Really gorgeous now.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with a nice piece of steak.

Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels. Kosher and vegan. A small production of only 4,000 bottles. This is bottle number 569. Not Mevushal.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$65.

Schrader Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Napa Valley, California

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with a pretty nose.

Showing black fruits with cedar, light vanilla, leather, spices, earth, cola, chocolates, tobacco, coffee, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Fruit forward, rich and extracted. Spicy and interesting.

A great wine from a great vintage, and a great Vineyard. What a combination. Tasty and tangy. Just Delicious.

Robert Parker 98 points.

Needed 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Aged in 100% new oak barrels for 20 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$400.

Vega Sicilia Unico Tinto 2010, Ribera Del Duero, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, cedar, vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, herbs Mediterranean spices, light earth, black pepper, chocolates and dark coffee. What a gorgeous nose this is.

Medium plus to full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, leather, vanilla, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn, coffee, light cola, eucalyptus, herbs and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a beautiful wine from Ribera Del Duero. Soft and smooth. Rich and elegant. Fruit forward with lots of earth and chocolate notes.

This 13 year old is still young, and showing great complexity at this point.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime. So much better after 3 hours of airtime, and definitely worth the wait.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Robert Parker 97 points.

Loved the nose at this point. Feels like a high end Napa Cabernet with some age. So interesting.

Thank you Enrique for sharing this jem with me.

A blend of 94% Tempranillo and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French and American oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

98 points.

$500.

Vega Sicilia Unico Tinto 2010, Ribera Del Duero, Spain

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, cedar, vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, herbs Mediterranean spices, light earth, black pepper, chocolates and dark coffee. What a gorgeous nose this is.

Medium plus to full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, cedar, leather, vanilla, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn, coffee, light cola, eucalyptus, herbs and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a beautiful wine from Ribera Del Duero. Soft and smooth. Rich and elegant. Fruit forward with lots of earth and chocolate notes.

This 13 year old is still young, and showing great complexity at this point.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime. So much better after 3 hours of airtime, and definitely worth the wait.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Robert Parker 97 points.

Loved the nose at this point. Feels like a high end Napa Cabernet with some age. So interesting.

Thank you Enrique for sharing this jem with me.

A blend of 94% Tempranillo and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French and American oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

98 points.

$500.