Lots of dark and red fruit on the nose, the 19 Cabernet Sauvignon begins with blackberry compote, raspberry jam, mocha, sandalwood, and potpourri. Swirling brings riper fruit and spices, with figs, dark cherry, oak spice, cardamom, and eucalyptus. The mouthfeel has great sweetness and concentration, with remarkable structure and a beautiful acid lift. The oak presentation here is elegant, and the tannins are very fine. The wine finishes long, with the perfect amount of grip. Drink now or in the next 8 years.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Royal Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington
Release Date: December 2022
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cases Produced: 620
2019 Gård Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
90pts-Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
Blueberry jam, crème de violette, clove, white pepper, and oak spice, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Klasse Reserve is intense and layered on the nose. With some time in the glass, darker fruit, mocha, coffee grounds, leather, and sagebrush pop up. The palate is silky and elegant, with a downright soft texture dark chocolate shavings and anise come together seamlessly as an aftertaste. The wine is deeply concentrated, with good structure, smooth tannins, and great acidity. A complex Cabernet Sauvignon that you can drink now or in the next 10 years.
The Grand Klasse Reserve Label
Inspired by the French Grand Cru wines, Gård “Grand Klasse” is our reserve-level program, aptly named in reflection of our Scandinavian heritage. To be designated “Grand Klasse,” each wine must meet strict standards of quality and is blended, bottled and aged with the utmost of care to bring you the very best of our grapes and effort in the bottle.
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Solaksen Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Black cherries, blackberries, fig, white pepper, violets, and stone minerality. Swirling enhances notes of chocolate and barrel toast. The palate expresses red and dark cherries, sweet tobacco, herbs, and brown sugar. This wine shows excellent harmony and great fruit intensity with a medium to full body. Enjoy now or in the next 10 years.
The Vineyard
Solaksen Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 2013- 2015. 1,416-1,462 ft elevation. Row orientation: 25° southwest. South slope. Soil profile: Adkins very fine sandy loam.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington
Vineyard: Solaksen Vineyard
Release Date: October 2024
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cases Produced: 50
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Laura Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
This complex wine opens with a floral bouquet and ripe notes of dark cherry, raspberry jam, and black currants. Swirling brings forth cinnamon, orange peel, slate minerals, and blackberries. The body of this wine is medium to full with a slightly angular mouthfeel and racy acidity, which adds some youthful texture. Flavors of black and red cherries, licorice, black tea, smoke, and cedar show on the palate with gripping tannins and a long finish. Enjoy now or in the next 10 years.
The Vineyard
Laura Lee Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 2008 & 2011. 1,080-1,135 ft elevation. Row orientation: 0° north. Southwest slope. Soil profile: Ekrub fine sand and scoon complex.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington
Vineyard: Laura Lee Vineyard
Release Date: October 2024
Alcohol: 14.6%
Cases Produced: 50
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Scarline Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Figs, prunes, and blackberry jam. The 2019 Scarline Cabernet Collection has a complex and saturated dark fruit core. The wine opens to black licorice, mocha, dark cherries, and sandalwood notes. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied, with coating tannins and vibrant acidity. This outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon finishes long and chalky, with the perfect amount of oak spice and a touch of dried herbs. Enjoy now or in the next 10 years.
The Vineyard
Scarline Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 2003.1,365-1,430 ft elevation. Row orientation: 0° north. South slope. Soil profile: Adkins very fine sandy loam.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington
Vineyard: Scarline Vineyard
Release Date: October 2024
Alcohol: 14.9%
Cases Produced: 50
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Conner Lee
Tasting Notes
Mature black and red fruits, poised and sophisticated with spice and depth. Beautifully textured with fine tannins and a fruit-driven finish.
The Vineyard
Elevation: 1,085-1,164ft, Row orientation: 0° N, Row spacing: 10’ x 4’, Aspect: Gentle south slope, Soil: Loamy fine sand to very fine sandy loam.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington
Vineyard: Connor Lee Vineyard
Release Date: October 2024
Alcohol: 14.7%
Cases Produced: 24
What’s Included
PLEASE NOTE: The 6th bottle may be EITHER the 2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series from Conner Lee Vineyard OR one of the other bottles listed in the offer.
6-bottles:
1x 2019 Gård Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
1x 2019 Gård Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
1x 2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series, Laura Lee Vineyard
Gård, meaning “farm” in many of the Scandinavian languages, is a tribute to our family’s Scandinavian heritage and farming tradition. Founded in 2006, Gård Vintners is a family-owned and operated estate winery in the heart of Washington’s Royal Slope AVA, with vineyards on the Royal Slope, wine production in Prosser, tasting rooms in Ellensburg, Walla Walla and Woodinville and Gård Public House restaurant in Royal City.
Our mission at Gård is to capture and bottle the unique characteristics of the land we farm. We humbly craft value-driven, award-winning wines from our sustainable estate vineyards to create lasting memories for our customers. Gård Vintners is dedicated to crafting world-class wines from its sustainably-farmed estate vineyard on the Royal Slope of Washington’s Columbia Valley.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Bottle and stemless glass arrived the afternoon before the launch at midnight. Thank you Alice! Please forgive the grammar and lack of full sentences, trying to get this on paper in time for the offer launch!
My new Covid disclaimer: my senses of taste and smell are not 100% with my latest bout of COVID at the end of Maywhich made me lose my sense of smell and taste again. It was never fully recovered from 2-3 years ago and was wonky at times when some it came back a year later. This time around, I got some of it back already but it comes and goes and is bizarre at times. I sampled this wine on its own with no food, not even cheese.
The understated yet upscale black label indicating the single vineyard and a “Collection Series” moniker may indicate that this Cab may be made from select grapes or blocks from the vineyard, or perhaps it’s the wine making process itself? The composite cork was stained deep purple and pulled fairly easily.
Slight wisps alcohol initially with not much else. Thin legs on the first swirl. some blue fruit aroma after a few minutes, deep and dark black/bing cherry color but translucent when held up to the light.
First taste was soley a hint of blueberry and black plum with alcohol undertones. A few minutes later upon another sip, it was a bit acidic and astringent with a short to medium tannic finish. A few minutes later some violet nuances emerged mid-palate with an earthy tone. Starting out closed up, I was encouraged to see what a little air will do.
The next glass after 2-3 hours was drunk without decanting. It was a little rounder and softer, and exhibited more purple fruit now along with some cherry. Some jammy notes now, the taste reminds me of Carmenère, I wonder if there’s any blended in or if this is 100% Cab. This is not your typical Cabernet! The violets remain. Despite the fruit presence, I would say that this was a dry red. The finish lengthened with some of discernable oak, black pepper, and tannin. There was some sediment so this wasn’t filtered and fined.
This Red impressed me with its different facets, and how it changed. I could see it evolving even further if it was decanted. Upon PnP, I think this will pair well with red grilled meat, I think Lamb would be perfect. With decanting, or just waiting a couple of hours, or even some short term aging, this Red would be fine on its own, and will keep you engaged. I plan to taste again tomorrow before I head out for dinner, and will post an update if I can.
No idea what the price might be, and I would recommend this just on its own merit. There’s something going on here, which I can detect even with my dulled senses.
Much thanks to Alice and David providing me this opportunity to try something different! Believe it or not, this was my first Gard! Cheers!
P.S. I just took a glance at the write-up while scrolling down to post this Rattage, and I see it’s part of a mixed case with very limited production! Very interesting and tempting!
Day 2 afternoon. More fruit on the twirl and sniff, This did not carry over to the first sip however. Less fruit than last night. More of a Cab and less of that Carmenère taste I noted last night (I see this is 100% Cabernet). The tannin showed up early, around mid-palate.The fruit was prominent from the upper palate but not on my tongue (COVID effect perhaps?). Very nice and long oak/tannin on the finish. Less fruit overall with a full mouth feel. Definitely drink completely on the 2nd day. I see this was released earlier this year, so the wine maker did the aging for the consumer! The rattage on the other bottles so far supports that this offer would be a welcomed addition to the cellar for immediate enjoyment!
2019 Gård Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Lawrence Estate Wines Royal Slope
Bottle arrived this afternoon, thanks guys!
Had to be a little creative to get additional input today. Went to my in-laws for a PNP right after picking it up from UPS, had just a small sip to taste. Aroma was nice, not too much alcohol, sip was blackberries, but a bit tart and a little what’s the word, astringent? It was the middle of the afternoon so I left a glass and a half with my in-laws for tasting later. Then took the bottle home with me. My mother-in-law said that it was much more pleasant in the evening, a little sweeter, with some tannins lingering.
I had a bit with dinner, I’ve been doing carnivore so no extravagant meals anymore for now. It was just okay with sirloin and butter, however it was outstanding with a small bit of everything bagel cheddar cheese from trader Joe’s. I will repeat it was outstanding with this particular cheese. Now it is 1:17 in the morning, and because I’m taking one for the team, I’m having another glass. It’s good, not great to me by itself. I’m sure it would be great with many other tasty foods that I am not eating presently.
Side note, as seen above in the picture of the bottle, the label does not match the listed labels. I don’t know that that matters, but my label says Royal slope on the bottom where the pictured bottle in the listing does not have that. Probably not a big deal.
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a rat. This is a solid selection.
My Lab Rat package arrived at my doorstep the other day and I was truly giddy about the bottle that I pulled out of the box!! It was a bottle of Gard - a 2019 Gard Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet SauvignonI. The last time I got to Lab Rat one of their incredible wines, I fell in love with Gard! Thank you, Alice!
I instantly thought… what am I making for dinner? With this Reserve Cabernet, am I going to grill a tomahawk steak or going for braised short ribs? Oh and what’s for dessert?
And you know what, the Gard Klasse Reserve deserves to be thought of that way! From the moment it hits the glass, the wine reveals an intense and layered bouquet of berry jam and a bit of graphite that captivates the senses. Seeing the velvety ruby red color, I chose wait an hour before taking that first taste. Definitely decant this one.
On the palate, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers an exceptional silky smooth texture. It’s very dry with a bit of oak, offering a medium level of tannins. I love the interplay of that berry jam, with a mixture of plum, but leaving me at the end of what I felt was mocha.
Gard’s Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably approachable. Whether you choose to enjoy it now or cellar it for the next decade, it promises to evolve beautifully. The Gard Grand Klasse 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is not your everyday sipping wine. Treat this beautiful lady with respect and pair it with the perfect meal. It’s perfect timing to grab the 6 or 12, you’ll be all ready for the holidays.
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Scarline Vineyard
Thank you, Alice, for our last-minute surprise wine! I received an email on Monday that a wine was coming to us. The wine was delivered on Tuesday afternoon and I quickly put it in the wine fridge to rest and cool down before dinner. We were surprised with: Gard Vintners 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Scarline Collection Series from Lawrence Vineyards Royal Slope. Due to the variety of wine, I needed to make a quick dinner pivot and decided on hanger steak, roasted yellow squash, and orange peppers with roasted potatoes.
When my husband got home from work we opened the bottle and took a small sip. The wine had cooled nicely and was at about 65 degrees give or take a degree or two. The color was a beautiful garnet and the nose presented with oak, cherry, and chocolate. The first sip was very nice, velvety with dark red fruit: cherry, plums, and a hint of berry. We waited to sip again until we sat with our dinner. The taste and feel did not change much. Please note that the wine was only able to rest a few hours from the long journey from the West Coast to South Florida. As the wine sat open a bit more oak came forward, but the fruit remained the star of the show.
We saved a glass to have with dessert, dark Belgium truffles. Pairing the wine with the truffles really allowed the hint of chocolate to come out. This wine was very enjoyable, from the first sip to the last glass. I would be curious to see how different it would taste if we had a few days to let it rest properly. If you like a bold cabernet sauvignon then this bottle is a winner. We really enjoyed this bottle.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Gård Vintners Cabernet Collection - $60 = 18.75%
I have to let this one noodle in my brain before I hit the buy, simply due to storage space.
After that mystery case a year ago, Gård has become one of our favorite wineries, sneaking in with Ped and SH. The quality of this juice blew us away, and im hankering with major FOMO here.
@chipgreen@kaolis It says 2 of each, but CL maybe not. I ordered early, hoping to get some C L. But early ordering screwed with me with the mystery mags. It’s a crap shoot. Also got 4 of the same on the chard offer.
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@rjquillin Well I’m assuming casemates made some sort of accommodation for the screw up. Or was it just Sorry Charlie have a nice day enjoy what we sent?
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@msten@rjquillin So I’m confused. What was the date of the Iron Horse order that got screwed up? And WD made it right immediately or only after seeing this today?
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Laura Lee Vineyard
We received the wine earlier today—thanks Alice, WCC, and everyone! Given that the sale is going on right now, rather than waiting to write up the review tonight, we are now going to live blog it as we drink it over dinner…
We had eagerly awaited the wine yesterday, but alas in the afternoon UPS said it wouldn’t arrive until today, which it did early afternoon. Immediately into the wine fridge it went at 60 degrees, and by the time we pulled it out, it had chilled for about 3 hours. Now onto the initial pop and pour - dark purple, slightly hazy, very aromatic (dark fruit, pomegranate per the 7 yo), medium body, dry, perhaps red cherry flavored.
That was about an hour ago, before we started making dinner. Fruits are still prominent, as is earthiness, but more mineral now. No bell pepper at all, and very little astringency. The tannins are fairly rounded, well balanced.
In looking at our wine notes, we previously ordered the 2017 Gård Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, Royal Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington. In comparison, that one was also dark, but ruby colored and clear. It was aromatic with boysenberry jam, blueberry pie (including the crust!), off-dry, medium-full bodied, fresh acidity, medium soft tannins, with good balance and a sweet smell but somehow dry taste. We thought that one was excellent, although best drank all on the first day.
For the current (Laura Lee 2019) wine, we’re having it with ribeye, mashed potatoes, and asparagus au gratin (the last two courtesy our neighbor). It’s a big wine, and requires big food. Developing some sweeter, honey-floral aromas now, though that may be in view of the rest of the meal. It’s also smoothing out texture-wise, much silkier than before. Tiny bit of bell pepper is making its way through now.
Scratch the bell pepper, it’s more vanilla/oak. There’s a point of disagreement now. Jenny thinks that the wine requires food; I think that it would be great on its own. (Because I control the keyboard, my explanation is that the fruit/floral elements stand on their own, and the finish is sufficiently rounded.) That said, no question that this is a fine steak wine.
I continue to be impressed with the texture of this wine. It’s silk sheets. “Velvet,” the term I’d usually use here, doesn’t seem quite right—there’s a cooling aspect about it too. The flavors have not diminished.
Last taste test is with random cheeses we have lying around. We have an indeterminate Brie and a Tilsit (a washed rind German cheese). Honestly it’s not the best pairing, but I don’t think this says much. Kalamata olives, though, are a good match. Generally, though I’d drink this wine with the main course.
I have to go pick up the older kid from sports, and am now handing the computer over to Jenny for final thoughts…
Excellent - I have the last say! I suppose it’s acceptable as a sipping wine, but it is quite strong and you’d have to take very small sips, possibly with long stretches in between. It’s very robust, pairs very well with hearty foods, and overall is a great wine with a nice balanced flavor profile. We’ve gotten more into the pinots recently, and if we weren’t absolutely packed to the brim already with bottles, we’d definitely be in for some. Alas I’m not sure we have any space left right now (the Iron Horse just arrived!), but as always thank you so much @WCCWineGirl and everyone at Casemates for giving us the opportunity to rat - highlight of the rainy week!
Well…I waited all day for UPS who kept updating me with changing delivery times and at 7:18pm UPS they let me know that my wine will be delivered tomorrow by 7pm.
However, sealed the deal for me, I’m not taking a chance and ordering this. SC was not on the ship to list before, thought I’d try it. But seems to be more than a few issues with mixed cases here.
@kaolis not quite sure what you mean. There was a packing error with the iron horse offer and sounds like WD made it as right as possible without turning it into a financial disaster on his end.
I’m not in on that one, though, but any errors I’ve had over the last 15 years have been resolved to my satisfaction.
I love their wine and while they are worth the increase from my previous purchases from them, unfortunately, at this time, medical expenses trump me pushing the button.
Gard Vintners Conner Lee 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lawrence Vineyard Walla Walla Washington
UPS delayed my delivery until today so I am very late getting this review out.
Alice- thank you! We just got back from Bordeaux where we sampled many red wines and I was longing for a California Cabernet by the end of the week. While this is a Washington Cabernet - I am not complaining!!!
It was interesting to note that the wine was 60% Merlot | 20% Cabernet Franc | 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and tasted like many of the young Bordeaux wines we sampled.
Color:Deep Red
Sniff: Straberries or raspberries, fruity with a hint of cocoa and botanicals. The wine did not have the deep, rich sometimes jammy aroma of some Cabernets.
First sip: Wow! Lots of depth and licorice/flint and alcohol (14.8)
Finish: Long.
We decanted and let it sit an hour before we went back to it.
We paired it with TJ’s olive bread and some mushroom brie - nothing more because I must post something before the next Casemates offering.
Wonderful bottle of wine!
Wish I could get a case of this wine alone.
It is not a sipper - it needs a food pairing and something as simple bread and cheese would be fine.
There are many layers to this wine. Its smooth, complex, nice mouth feel and the decanting helped soften the alcohol.
OK- pushing send and heading back to enjoy another glass of wine!
2019 Gård Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
92pts-International Wine Report/Jeremy Young
Tasting Notes
Specs
2019 Gård Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
90pts-Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
The Grand Klasse Reserve Label
Specs
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Solaksen Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Specs
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Laura Lee Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Specs
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Scarline Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Specs
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Conner Lee
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Specs
What’s Included
PLEASE NOTE: The 6th bottle may be EITHER the 2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series from Conner Lee Vineyard OR one of the other bottles listed in the offer.
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $660/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Oct 21 - Tuesday, Oct 22
Gård Vintners Cabernet Collection
6 bottles for $159.99 $26.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $259.99 $21.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2019 Gård Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Gård Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series, Laura Lee
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series, Scarline
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series, Solaksen
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series, Conner Lee
Fun Fact: The 2019 Gard Collection Series was just released and is making its debut right here on Casemates!
2019 Gard Solaksen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle and stemless glass arrived the afternoon before the launch at midnight. Thank you Alice! Please forgive the grammar and lack of full sentences, trying to get this on paper in time for the offer launch!
My new Covid disclaimer: my senses of taste and smell are not 100% with my latest bout of COVID at the end of Maywhich made me lose my sense of smell and taste again. It was never fully recovered from 2-3 years ago and was wonky at times when some it came back a year later. This time around, I got some of it back already but it comes and goes and is bizarre at times. I sampled this wine on its own with no food, not even cheese.
The understated yet upscale black label indicating the single vineyard and a “Collection Series” moniker may indicate that this Cab may be made from select grapes or blocks from the vineyard, or perhaps it’s the wine making process itself? The composite cork was stained deep purple and pulled fairly easily.
Slight wisps alcohol initially with not much else. Thin legs on the first swirl. some blue fruit aroma after a few minutes, deep and dark black/bing cherry color but translucent when held up to the light.
First taste was soley a hint of blueberry and black plum with alcohol undertones. A few minutes later upon another sip, it was a bit acidic and astringent with a short to medium tannic finish. A few minutes later some violet nuances emerged mid-palate with an earthy tone. Starting out closed up, I was encouraged to see what a little air will do.
The next glass after 2-3 hours was drunk without decanting. It was a little rounder and softer, and exhibited more purple fruit now along with some cherry. Some jammy notes now, the taste reminds me of Carmenère, I wonder if there’s any blended in or if this is 100% Cab. This is not your typical Cabernet! The violets remain. Despite the fruit presence, I would say that this was a dry red. The finish lengthened with some of discernable oak, black pepper, and tannin. There was some sediment so this wasn’t filtered and fined.
This Red impressed me with its different facets, and how it changed. I could see it evolving even further if it was decanted. Upon PnP, I think this will pair well with red grilled meat, I think Lamb would be perfect. With decanting, or just waiting a couple of hours, or even some short term aging, this Red would be fine on its own, and will keep you engaged. I plan to taste again tomorrow before I head out for dinner, and will post an update if I can.
No idea what the price might be, and I would recommend this just on its own merit. There’s something going on here, which I can detect even with my dulled senses.
Much thanks to Alice and David providing me this opportunity to try something different! Believe it or not, this was my first Gard! Cheers!
P.S. I just took a glance at the write-up while scrolling down to post this Rattage, and I see it’s part of a mixed case with very limited production! Very interesting and tempting!
I’m guessing the Conner Lee Vineyard bottles will be included on a first come first serve basis, or perhaps it will be random?
Day 2 afternoon. More fruit on the twirl and sniff, This did not carry over to the first sip however. Less fruit than last night. More of a Cab and less of that Carmenère taste I noted last night (I see this is 100% Cabernet). The tannin showed up early, around mid-palate.The fruit was prominent from the upper palate but not on my tongue (COVID effect perhaps?). Very nice and long oak/tannin on the finish. Less fruit overall with a full mouth feel. Definitely drink completely on the 2nd day. I see this was released earlier this year, so the wine maker did the aging for the consumer! The rattage on the other bottles so far supports that this offer would be a welcomed addition to the cellar for immediate enjoyment!
I ratted a Gard 2019 CS on 01/05/2024. That was delicious. We’re in for a case, just based on past experience.
2019 Gård Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon Lawrence Estate Wines Royal Slope
Bottle arrived this afternoon, thanks guys!
Had to be a little creative to get additional input today. Went to my in-laws for a PNP right after picking it up from UPS, had just a small sip to taste. Aroma was nice, not too much alcohol, sip was blackberries, but a bit tart and a little what’s the word, astringent? It was the middle of the afternoon so I left a glass and a half with my in-laws for tasting later. Then took the bottle home with me. My mother-in-law said that it was much more pleasant in the evening, a little sweeter, with some tannins lingering.
I had a bit with dinner, I’ve been doing carnivore so no extravagant meals anymore for now. It was just okay with sirloin and butter, however it was outstanding with a small bit of everything bagel cheddar cheese from trader Joe’s. I will repeat it was outstanding with this particular cheese. Now it is 1:17 in the morning, and because I’m taking one for the team, I’m having another glass. It’s good, not great to me by itself. I’m sure it would be great with many other tasty foods that I am not eating presently.
Side note, as seen above in the picture of the bottle, the label does not match the listed labels. I don’t know that that matters, but my label says Royal slope on the bottom where the pictured bottle in the listing does not have that. Probably not a big deal.
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a rat. This is a solid selection.
2019 Gård Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
My Lab Rat package arrived at my doorstep the other day and I was truly giddy about the bottle that I pulled out of the box!! It was a bottle of Gard - a 2019 Gard Grand Klasse Reserve Cabernet SauvignonI. The last time I got to Lab Rat one of their incredible wines, I fell in love with Gard! Thank you, Alice!
I instantly thought… what am I making for dinner? With this Reserve Cabernet, am I going to grill a tomahawk steak or going for braised short ribs? Oh and what’s for dessert?
And you know what, the Gard Klasse Reserve deserves to be thought of that way! From the moment it hits the glass, the wine reveals an intense and layered bouquet of berry jam and a bit of graphite that captivates the senses. Seeing the velvety ruby red color, I chose wait an hour before taking that first taste. Definitely decant this one.
On the palate, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon delivers an exceptional silky smooth texture. It’s very dry with a bit of oak, offering a medium level of tannins. I love the interplay of that berry jam, with a mixture of plum, but leaving me at the end of what I felt was mocha.
Gard’s Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably approachable. Whether you choose to enjoy it now or cellar it for the next decade, it promises to evolve beautifully. The Gard Grand Klasse 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is not your everyday sipping wine. Treat this beautiful lady with respect and pair it with the perfect meal. It’s perfect timing to grab the 6 or 12, you’ll be all ready for the holidays.
Oh… I went Tomahawk on the grill!
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Scarline Vineyard
Thank you, Alice, for our last-minute surprise wine! I received an email on Monday that a wine was coming to us. The wine was delivered on Tuesday afternoon and I quickly put it in the wine fridge to rest and cool down before dinner. We were surprised with: Gard Vintners 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Scarline Collection Series from Lawrence Vineyards Royal Slope. Due to the variety of wine, I needed to make a quick dinner pivot and decided on hanger steak, roasted yellow squash, and orange peppers with roasted potatoes.
When my husband got home from work we opened the bottle and took a small sip. The wine had cooled nicely and was at about 65 degrees give or take a degree or two. The color was a beautiful garnet and the nose presented with oak, cherry, and chocolate. The first sip was very nice, velvety with dark red fruit: cherry, plums, and a hint of berry. We waited to sip again until we sat with our dinner. The taste and feel did not change much. Please note that the wine was only able to rest a few hours from the long journey from the West Coast to South Florida. As the wine sat open a bit more oak came forward, but the fruit remained the star of the show.
We saved a glass to have with dessert, dark Belgium truffles. Pairing the wine with the truffles really allowed the hint of chocolate to come out. This wine was very enjoyable, from the first sip to the last glass. I would be curious to see how different it would taste if we had a few days to let it rest properly. If you like a bold cabernet sauvignon then this bottle is a winner. We really enjoyed this bottle.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Gård Vintners Cabernet Collection - $60 = 18.75%
A number of these wines were part of the Gård Vintners Mystery Red Wines offered on 10/21/2023, but being a mystery offer there were no rats. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was offered on 1/5/2024 with rats.
I have to let this one noodle in my brain before I hit the buy, simply due to storage space.
After that mystery case a year ago, Gård has become one of our favorite wineries, sneaking in with Ped and SH. The quality of this juice blew us away, and im hankering with major FOMO here.
Alas our bottle isn’t arriving until later this afternoon, so we’ll be posting our review in the evening with the PnP impressions!
The maybe two bottles of Connor or maybe not and end up with a random four of another… hmmm
@kaolis
Or 12 of the same bottle but different from the 12 of the same bottle some else received.*
*see Iron Horse Chardonnay offer
@chipgreen which offer are you speaking of sir? Are you suggesting that one could end up with a solid case of the same wine on this offer?
@chipgreen @kaolis It says 2 of each, but CL maybe not. I ordered early, hoping to get some C L. But early ordering screwed with me with the mystery mags. It’s a crap shoot. Also got 4 of the same on the chard offer.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @rjquillin Well I’m assuming casemates made some sort of accommodation for the screw up. Or was it just Sorry Charlie have a nice day enjoy what we sent?
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @kaolis @rjquillin The response was exceedingly generous, far beyond any reasonable expectation.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @msten @rjquillin So I’m confused. What was the date of the Iron Horse order that got screwed up? And WD made it right immediately or only after seeing this today?
Waiting for the UPS person to deliver my bottle. I hope to report back by 7pm CST as I am not a day drinker!
2019 Gård Cabernet Collection Series - Laura Lee Vineyard
We received the wine earlier today—thanks Alice, WCC, and everyone! Given that the sale is going on right now, rather than waiting to write up the review tonight, we are now going to live blog it as we drink it over dinner…
We had eagerly awaited the wine yesterday, but alas in the afternoon UPS said it wouldn’t arrive until today, which it did early afternoon. Immediately into the wine fridge it went at 60 degrees, and by the time we pulled it out, it had chilled for about 3 hours. Now onto the initial pop and pour - dark purple, slightly hazy, very aromatic (dark fruit, pomegranate per the 7 yo), medium body, dry, perhaps red cherry flavored.
That was about an hour ago, before we started making dinner. Fruits are still prominent, as is earthiness, but more mineral now. No bell pepper at all, and very little astringency. The tannins are fairly rounded, well balanced.
Photo taken when the bottle was first opened:
In looking at our wine notes, we previously ordered the 2017 Gård Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, Royal Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington. In comparison, that one was also dark, but ruby colored and clear. It was aromatic with boysenberry jam, blueberry pie (including the crust!), off-dry, medium-full bodied, fresh acidity, medium soft tannins, with good balance and a sweet smell but somehow dry taste. We thought that one was excellent, although best drank all on the first day.
For the current (Laura Lee 2019) wine, we’re having it with ribeye, mashed potatoes, and asparagus au gratin (the last two courtesy our neighbor). It’s a big wine, and requires big food. Developing some sweeter, honey-floral aromas now, though that may be in view of the rest of the meal. It’s also smoothing out texture-wise, much silkier than before. Tiny bit of bell pepper is making its way through now.
Scratch the bell pepper, it’s more vanilla/oak. There’s a point of disagreement now. Jenny thinks that the wine requires food; I think that it would be great on its own. (Because I control the keyboard, my explanation is that the fruit/floral elements stand on their own, and the finish is sufficiently rounded.) That said, no question that this is a fine steak wine.
Differing opinions continue. I think that it’s vanilla/oak, she thinks it’s bell pepper. Who is right? You decide, debate at 11 PM Eastern
I continue to be impressed with the texture of this wine. It’s silk sheets. “Velvet,” the term I’d usually use here, doesn’t seem quite right—there’s a cooling aspect about it too. The flavors have not diminished.
Last taste test is with random cheeses we have lying around. We have an indeterminate Brie and a Tilsit (a washed rind German cheese). Honestly it’s not the best pairing, but I don’t think this says much. Kalamata olives, though, are a good match. Generally, though I’d drink this wine with the main course.
I have to go pick up the older kid from sports, and am now handing the computer over to Jenny for final thoughts…
Excellent - I have the last say! I suppose it’s acceptable as a sipping wine, but it is quite strong and you’d have to take very small sips, possibly with long stretches in between. It’s very robust, pairs very well with hearty foods, and overall is a great wine with a nice balanced flavor profile. We’ve gotten more into the pinots recently, and if we weren’t absolutely packed to the brim already with bottles, we’d definitely be in for some. Alas I’m not sure we have any space left right now (the Iron Horse just arrived!), but as always thank you so much @WCCWineGirl and everyone at Casemates for giving us the opportunity to rat - highlight of the rainy week!
Second case just ordered (thank you WD for the Iron Horse resolution).
@jmdavidson1 yea, this is such a great offer. Tell your friends. Imo
@Winedavid49 The 2nd case was for my friends.
@jmdavidson1 @Winedavid49
Now, to see how the pack goes…
That was a tough one.
Well…I waited all day for UPS who kept updating me with changing delivery times and at 7:18pm UPS they let me know that my wine will be delivered tomorrow by 7pm.
Ahhh so this was the f up…why the whispering?
https://casemates.com/forum/topics/iron-horse-vineyards-chardonnay-selections
However, sealed the deal for me, I’m not taking a chance and ordering this. SC was not on the ship to list before, thought I’d try it. But seems to be more than a few issues with mixed cases here.
@kaolis not quite sure what you mean. There was a packing error with the iron horse offer and sounds like WD made it as right as possible without turning it into a financial disaster on his end.
I’m not in on that one, though, but any errors I’ve had over the last 15 years have been resolved to my satisfaction.
I love their wine and while they are worth the increase from my previous purchases from them, unfortunately, at this time, medical expenses trump me pushing the button.
@danandlisa Hope all is well. Prayers
Dang, Was just about to pull the trigger and order again and no NJ, realized I had it shipped to Florida last winter.
@forlich Ship it to FL again!
@mrn1 it would make for a very interesting order. I’m outside the USA at the moment and would have to ship it to my neighbor in FL
Gard Vintners Conner Lee 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lawrence Vineyard Walla Walla Washington
UPS delayed my delivery until today so I am very late getting this review out.
Alice- thank you! We just got back from Bordeaux where we sampled many red wines and I was longing for a California Cabernet by the end of the week. While this is a Washington Cabernet - I am not complaining!!!
It was interesting to note that the wine was 60% Merlot | 20% Cabernet Franc | 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and tasted like many of the young Bordeaux wines we sampled.
Color:Deep Red
Sniff: Straberries or raspberries, fruity with a hint of cocoa and botanicals. The wine did not have the deep, rich sometimes jammy aroma of some Cabernets.
First sip: Wow! Lots of depth and licorice/flint and alcohol (14.8)
Finish: Long.
We decanted and let it sit an hour before we went back to it.
We paired it with TJ’s olive bread and some mushroom brie - nothing more because I must post something before the next Casemates offering.
Wonderful bottle of wine!
Wish I could get a case of this wine alone.
It is not a sipper - it needs a food pairing and something as simple bread and cheese would be fine.
There are many layers to this wine. Its smooth, complex, nice mouth feel and the decanting helped soften the alcohol.
OK- pushing send and heading back to enjoy another glass of wine!
/giphy serious-gritty-tiramisu
