Today I am tasting the 2005 Sebastiani Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon from California which I found for under $13. The 2001 vintage was one of the best wines I have ever had with an incredible velvety flavor. This Bordeaux blend is 84.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 4.5% Merlot, 2.7% Petite Sirah, 2.2% Petite Verdot, and 1.4% Cabernet Franc. It is aged for 10 months in American Oak.
Color
This wine is a dark red color, not very black.
Aroma
This wine is quite aromatic. The oak/cedar box is present along with lots of dark fruit. I can smell some dark fruit and even black tea, but the oak is a bit too overpowering. I am disappointed by it.
Flavor
Dark fruit such as currant and blackberry are present on the attack. I get some plum in the mid-palate and the finish has some very nice tannins and spice. I really like the ending. It is long and shows pepper and even tobacco notes. Really nice. It will pair well with steak.
Rating
If you are comfortable with quite a bit of oakiness, then I definitely recommend you try this wine. It has quite a bit of complexity on the palate. I rate it at 89 points.
Have you tried any other Sebastiani Cabs?
