2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California
Tasting Notes
Our 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon immediately brings you in with notes of ripe black cherry. On the palate, the first sip transforms the aroma to vibrant red cherry with notes of rich chocolate. Complemented with a touch of oak spice, this wine is balanced and bold from start to finish.
Settled in 1859 and officially incorporated in 1906, Lodi’s first citizens flocked to the area because of the railroad but stayed for agriculture opportunities. From wheat to watermelons, Lodi’s original crops took advantage of the same climate and soil that makes it a prime location for growing high-quality wine grapes today.
The fertile soils are rich in minerals but well-drained and the classic Mediterranean climate with warm afternoons and cool evenings allows wine grapes to develop ripe fruit flavors. Fruit-forward wines with a nice acid balance characterize the quintessential style for which Lodi is known.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Lodi, California
Alcohol: 14.0%
Certification: Sustainable by The Lodi Rules
Winemaker: Karen Birmingham
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California
Case:
12x 2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California
We are generational farmers. Our priority has always been to connect you to the land through wine.For five generations our family has been growing sustainable wine grapes in the Lodi Appellation and in 2006 we opened a winery to showcase our passion for growing wine grapes – because great wine starts in the vineyard. Building on our successes as a farm family, the winery was our first step into crafting wines.
As generational farmers, we know that great wine starts in the vineyard. This philosophy, our focus on sustainability, and experience with our vineyards guide our viticulture decisions within the Lodi and Clarksburg Appellations. With every vintage being unique, we know that dedicating attention to each block delivers the best wine grapes each year. And with each family member dedicated to our winery and vineyards, our love for farm and family lies in each bottle of wine.
Today, we use our distinct advantage of having control over the entire winemaking process - creating wines from our estate vineyards to the final packaged wine using our new, state-of-the-art bottling line. This enables a continuous line of quality from vine to wine.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Alice e-mailed me today with the surprise announcement that wine was coming today for a Wednesday offer. No problem. I didn’t know what kind of wine was coming, but I had already planned on making a Santa Fe meatloaf, rice with tomatoes and a batch of jalapeno corn muffins. Fingers crossed that it would pair well, or even ok, with it.
Brown dropped off the box at 4pm. The surprise wine
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi)
I was not familiar with this wine or winery, but I do love a CS.
Popped the cork, at room temperature, and poured a small amount into a tall bordeaux glass. With a white paper background, I would say the wine was clear with a cranberry color, lighter on the edges and darker in the middle. After a swirl or two, the aroma was cherry-like. The initial flavor profile was definitely cherry-like. Kind of like when you get a bag of dark cherries from the gro, but within that group are dark skinned cherries, as well as redder skinned cherries. Thereafter followed plum and citrus, like orange or tangerine. The tannins were dry on the tongue, but soft. The finish was a little tart. So, I would say there was evidence of young fruit and some acidity. The wine did go well with the meal. Medium complexity and easy to drink.
Fast forward an hour, now I’m picking up softer tannins and a little raspberry. Even one hour later, now there is a chocolate note that has surfaced. This wine has really changed from its opening to the three-hour mark, and all of it was good.
This wine is tasty, easy to drink and one that would be well-received by anyone to whom it would be served. Bottom line, a buy. I’m writing this two hours before the offer, so I’ll post this without knowing the price. I’ll guess it to be somewhere in the $20 retail range.
(I see it’s $99+ for a case. A no-brainer.)
TL;DR: At this price and with the holidays coming - buy this. It’s a screaming deal for a VERY nice everyday drinking wine.
Good morning Casematers!!
I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning by the arrival of the UPS guy with a package needing to be signed for and a small box! Woohoo!! I’m a rat! I’m a rat! (The UPS delivery preceded Alice’s email by about 30 minutes, so I really WAS surprised.)
With no notice and a Garden Club meeting in the evening, I cobbled together a small plate of snacks and gathered the winetasters in my house (the spouse and my whiskey-drinking 22 year old son who has been completely ruined for drinking cheap wine like you’re supposed to in your early 20’s, thanks to me) for a quick sampling.
On PNP, I got cherry. Lots of cherry. Not much other than cherry. It wasn’t unpleasant, but definitely fruity. (As would be expected from a Lodi CS.) The first sip - again cherry. It was very soft in the mouth. Tannins were extremely smooth and not drying at all. This is NOT a dry red. And while definitely fruit forward, it was not a jammy fruit bomb. I let it rest for about 30 minutes in the glass, and there was a little less cherry and a little spice or chocolate, which presented as richness. Cherry definitely present, but it was more of a dark, sour cherry rather than a cherry jam.
In tasting with snacks, it was absolutely FABULOUS with a bit of gouda, terrible with the pepperoni (didn’t hold up to the fattiness/spiciness at all), and the dark chocolate was luscious - absolutely a thing of beauty. It actually brought out a bit of oak in the wine that I hadn’t detected before. Not much, but just a hint.
Later in the evening after Garden Club (where I was swilling cheap sauv blanc and eating Swedish Fish) it was still delicious and had lost some of the uber-fruitiness to mellow into a delicious, easy-drinking wine.
DH’s comments: “This is delicious. I want another glass. The aroma is great! Makes me think of cherry pie. Can you get more of this stuff? I really like it.”
DS’s comments: “It’s good and easy to drink but rather one dimensional. I’d drink it again. I think I taste chocolate. Is there chocolate in here? Can I have some more of the pepperoni?” (I agree with the one-dimensional comment.)
DH thought it would be in the $18-$22 range. I guessed $17-$20. DS didn’t care. He doesn’t buy his own wine yet. We agreed that if the CM price was less than $13 we would get at least one case. At this price, I may get 2.
Thanks for the opportunity to rat! And here are some very mediocre photos for your viewing.
I don’t know how you can pass up a case of CS for $100. I’m not on the payroll. Just saying, this is a great qpr. And you’ll never find a grocery store wine that is this good in this price range (think $15 to $20).
@jmdavidson1 ahhh, qpr… a term that says so much and so little at the same time. Historically, our palates have been somewhat similar, so let me ask you this. Would you rather have this or, say, a Pedroncelli cab? Or is there a better comparison?
This offer isn’t available in my state, so my query is strictly for science!
@hscottk without sounding too snobby, I would say this is better than say a Josh, even a Pet’i. Good g, it’s only a hundo for 12. Perfect wine for a time when you host a large group with a less defined palate. I have too much wine, otherwise I’d buy a case for reasons just mentioned.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon - $30 = 23.07%
I poured the one glass that I had saved and sipped while making dinner (creamy porcini cacciatore over polenta, in case you were wondering…)
The little that was left was even better on the second day. Less cherry, more oak and spice. And while I would say that this is definitely a food friendly wine, it was lovely even without food. Although it would have been fantastic with said dinner. Mellow tannins were even MORE mellow. I wish I had saved another glass. (or had been ratted a second bottle. LOL!)
Seriously people, this is the best deal I’ve gotten in a while from casemates. It drinks WAY above it’s price point. Buy a case now. (I bought 2.)
Drinking it right now - disagree that it tastes like a rotmar. For comparison, I just pulled out a bottle of 2018 Slingshot (not my favorite vintage of theirs) Quite confident that I will be liking this one better. This is not super sublime, but I would bring it to a friend’s house without reservation.
So … the 2018 Slingshot has mellowed quite a bit - the rough edges have rounded over time and it is quite delightful. That said, I stand by my assessment of the Ivory and Burt - though I would rate them quite evenly at this point.
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$172.80/Case for 12x 2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California at LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 14 - Tuesday, Nov 15
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon
6 bottles for $64.99 $10.83/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Alice e-mailed me today with the surprise announcement that wine was coming today for a Wednesday offer. No problem. I didn’t know what kind of wine was coming, but I had already planned on making a Santa Fe meatloaf, rice with tomatoes and a batch of jalapeno corn muffins. Fingers crossed that it would pair well, or even ok, with it.
Brown dropped off the box at 4pm. The surprise wine
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi)
I was not familiar with this wine or winery, but I do love a CS.
Popped the cork, at room temperature, and poured a small amount into a tall bordeaux glass. With a white paper background, I would say the wine was clear with a cranberry color, lighter on the edges and darker in the middle. After a swirl or two, the aroma was cherry-like. The initial flavor profile was definitely cherry-like. Kind of like when you get a bag of dark cherries from the gro, but within that group are dark skinned cherries, as well as redder skinned cherries. Thereafter followed plum and citrus, like orange or tangerine. The tannins were dry on the tongue, but soft. The finish was a little tart. So, I would say there was evidence of young fruit and some acidity. The wine did go well with the meal. Medium complexity and easy to drink.
Fast forward an hour, now I’m picking up softer tannins and a little raspberry. Even one hour later, now there is a chocolate note that has surfaced. This wine has really changed from its opening to the three-hour mark, and all of it was good.
This wine is tasty, easy to drink and one that would be well-received by anyone to whom it would be served. Bottom line, a buy. I’m writing this two hours before the offer, so I’ll post this without knowing the price. I’ll guess it to be somewhere in the $20 retail range.
(I see it’s $99+ for a case. A no-brainer.)
@jmdavidson1
Weren’t you on the '18 rpm tour?
We did a stop at Lang…
A fairly scripted presentation and tasting iirc.
@rjquillin Not on that tour, just the earlier ones.
TL;DR: At this price and with the holidays coming - buy this. It’s a screaming deal for a VERY nice everyday drinking wine.
Good morning Casematers!!
I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning by the arrival of the UPS guy with a package needing to be signed for and a small box! Woohoo!! I’m a rat! I’m a rat! (The UPS delivery preceded Alice’s email by about 30 minutes, so I really WAS surprised.)
With no notice and a Garden Club meeting in the evening, I cobbled together a small plate of snacks and gathered the winetasters in my house (the spouse and my whiskey-drinking 22 year old son who has been completely ruined for drinking cheap wine like you’re supposed to in your early 20’s, thanks to me) for a quick sampling.
On PNP, I got cherry. Lots of cherry. Not much other than cherry. It wasn’t unpleasant, but definitely fruity. (As would be expected from a Lodi CS.) The first sip - again cherry. It was very soft in the mouth. Tannins were extremely smooth and not drying at all. This is NOT a dry red. And while definitely fruit forward, it was not a jammy fruit bomb. I let it rest for about 30 minutes in the glass, and there was a little less cherry and a little spice or chocolate, which presented as richness. Cherry definitely present, but it was more of a dark, sour cherry rather than a cherry jam.
In tasting with snacks, it was absolutely FABULOUS with a bit of gouda, terrible with the pepperoni (didn’t hold up to the fattiness/spiciness at all), and the dark chocolate was luscious - absolutely a thing of beauty. It actually brought out a bit of oak in the wine that I hadn’t detected before. Not much, but just a hint.
Later in the evening after Garden Club (where I was swilling cheap sauv blanc and eating Swedish Fish) it was still delicious and had lost some of the uber-fruitiness to mellow into a delicious, easy-drinking wine.
DH’s comments: “This is delicious. I want another glass. The aroma is great! Makes me think of cherry pie. Can you get more of this stuff? I really like it.”
DS’s comments: “It’s good and easy to drink but rather one dimensional. I’d drink it again. I think I taste chocolate. Is there chocolate in here? Can I have some more of the pepperoni?” (I agree with the one-dimensional comment.)
DH thought it would be in the $18-$22 range. I guessed $17-$20. DS didn’t care. He doesn’t buy his own wine yet. We agreed that if the CM price was less than $13 we would get at least one case. At this price, I may get 2.
Thanks for the opportunity to rat! And here are some very mediocre photos for your viewing.
I’ve put my money where my (ahem) mouth is.
/giphy cruel-wailing-trick
Wow…some really positive reviews. And at this case price! I might “need” to buy some.
@TimW I wouldn’t gift this wine to a wine “snob”, it’s not special enough, but it’s a fabulous party wine, holiday dinner wine, or Tuesday night wine.
@TimW @veevandyke I concur completely.
@jmdavidson1 @veevandyke thanks to both of you for the info!
This seems like a no brainer for the holidays coming up. In for a case.
/giphy cowardly-howling-bugbear
Thanks for the reviews, Lab Rats. I’m in for a case.
/giphy jumpy-grimy-griffon
I don’t know how you can pass up a case of CS for $100. I’m not on the payroll. Just saying, this is a great qpr. And you’ll never find a grocery store wine that is this good in this price range (think $15 to $20).
@jmdavidson1 ahhh, qpr… a term that says so much and so little at the same time. Historically, our palates have been somewhat similar, so let me ask you this. Would you rather have this or, say, a Pedroncelli cab? Or is there a better comparison?
This offer isn’t available in my state, so my query is strictly for science!
@hscottk without sounding too snobby, I would say this is better than say a Josh, even a Pet’i. Good g, it’s only a hundo for 12. Perfect wine for a time when you host a large group with a less defined palate. I have too much wine, otherwise I’d buy a case for reasons just mentioned.
@hscottk btw, just opened a Nicholas Cole Reserve 2006…amazing!!!
@hscottk @jmdavidson1
oh man loved that wine! Ran out a few years ago 
Great work holding on to those
@hscottk @ScottW58 there’s always Corliss, just saying.
@hscottk @jmdavidson1
Ha! I have one on deck
@hscottk @ScottW58 thanks for making me laugh.
/giphy jumpy-stunned-prank
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2020 Ivory & Burt Cabernet Sauvignon - $30 = 23.07%
Thanks for the review…felt compelled to pick up a couple cases, you know holidays and all…
Ok, rats, you sold me…in for a case for the holidays!
/giphy melancholy-vicious-nerd
/labarat
Quick second day update from last night:
I poured the one glass that I had saved and sipped while making dinner (creamy porcini cacciatore over polenta, in case you were wondering…)
The little that was left was even better on the second day. Less cherry, more oak and spice. And while I would say that this is definitely a food friendly wine, it was lovely even without food. Although it would have been fantastic with said dinner. Mellow tannins were even MORE mellow. I wish I had saved another glass. (or had been ratted a second bottle. LOL!)
Seriously people, this is the best deal I’ve gotten in a while from casemates. It drinks WAY above it’s price point. Buy a case now. (I bought 2.)
Thanks for positive notes. Why not?
/giphy rabid-revolting-monster
@KNmeh7 How seasonal!
@KNmeh7 thank you
/giphy rotting-nighttime-screamer
/giphy ashen-bellicose-scream
Can’t take the peer pressure…
/giphy viscous-supernatural-horror
/giphy abominable-nauseous-wig
Ok fine….
/giphy rotting-morose-druid
Curse you, my good Rats!
/giphy costumed-paranormal-cloak
I felt a little channeling of my dearly beloved father: “A deal like this i I just couldn’t leave it in the store.”
And I didn’t ……!!
UPS dropped off a case yesterday, and another in transit… looks like the storage is going to be pretty full for winter. Appreciate the rattage!
/giphy superstitious-sickened-monster
Y’all wore me down!
/giphy torrid-depraved-lich
Y’all wore me down!
/giphy torrid-depraved-lich
Wine was just delivered. Can’t wait to pop a cork tonight!
@dgbickle I’m confident that you’ll enjoy it. Great qpr!!!
Unfortunately, this wine is not so great. Tastes like run of the mill Australian red, kind of yuck!
Drinking it right now - disagree that it tastes like a rotmar. For comparison, I just pulled out a bottle of 2018 Slingshot (not my favorite vintage of theirs) Quite confident that I will be liking this one better. This is not super sublime, but I would bring it to a friend’s house without reservation.
So … the 2018 Slingshot has mellowed quite a bit - the rough edges have rounded over time and it is quite delightful. That said, I stand by my assessment of the Ivory and Burt - though I would rate them quite evenly at this point.
To those that purchased…it’s $100/case! I found it to be quite tasty, particularly for this price bracket.
@jmdavidson1 I concur. Perhaps another opportunity coming up later?
@jmdavidson1 @Mark_L @dawnlac thanks for the feedback. zin on tonight!
Funny, I am having same thought as I drink it tonight. Nice nightly drinker. Great QPR.