2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey County
Tasting Notes
Classic Cabernet aromas of ripe dark cherry, blueberry, and vanilla infuse the glass of this rich, ruby wine. Beautifully balanced and elegant on the palate, our Cabernet Sauvignon features supple tannins complemented by flavors of juicy blackberries, savory herbs, and mocha. Medium-bodied and balanced with a lingering black fruit finish, this wine is delicious now and will continue to mature for 3-4 years.
The grapes for this wine are sourced from our estate vineyards in Monterey County. Hand-harvested in the cool morning hours to ensure focused and bright fruit flavors, the grapes were then carefully sorted, destemmed, crushed, and fermented dry in open-top fermenters. The firm cap of skins and seeds that bubbles up and forms on the surface during fermentation was punched down three times per day. This process gives the skins as much contact with the fermenting wine as possible, allowing the extraction of color and phenols from the skins. After a 10-day fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was racked clean for aging with French, American, and Hungarian oak.
Specs
Vintage: 2019
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Monterey County
Alcohol: 13.5%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey County Case:
12x 2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey County
The grapes for our wines are sourced from our estate vineyards in Monterey County, known for foggy mornings and strong afternoon winds. These conditions produce wines of intense varietal character and vivid aromas. The mean annual air temperature is about 60°F and evening coastal fogs in the spring and summer often linger until mid-morning the following day. The result is a longer growing season than other premium areas and wines that are typified by vibrant fruit character and balanced acidity.
It takes a village to make great wine. From the vineyard to winemaking to bottling, we’re lucky to have a seasoned team that brings together many years of collective experience growing and making wine in Monterey County. More than that, they share our common values of sustainability, excellence, and hard work that form the foundation for all we do. We know that making wine is one of the very best jobs in the world, and when you have a team of like-minded people working hard together, anything is possible!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - $30 = 23.07%
Well, Edward Rasiulis, Certified Sommelier, who posts reviews for a few sites north of the border including LCBO says:
For a wine that’s priced at under $16 this is not your typical commercial Cali Cab as it’s not flabby, sweet or high alcohol and it has character. Score: 88/100
Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, vanilla & leather.
Negatives: None. Interesting Point: Sustainably farmed vineyard
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Slow Cooked Prime Rib with Plum Glaze
My Opinion: Recommended. Best Buy. Tasted: Feb 5, 2022
And you thought Mr. Edward was a reach? Well how about quoting Natalie Maclean? Might get banned for this one…ha!
Natalie’s Score: 89/100
From Monterey County wine region in California, Longford Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent value at $20. Produced from sustainably-grown grapes treated to Monterey’s foggy mornings, abundant sunshine and an extended growing season that allows the grapes to ripen fully and evenly. This example is elegant with bright blackberry, cassis, plum, savoury herb, mint, smoky vanilla and toasty oak spice flavours elegant and long on the palate. Very nice. Pair with date night and filet mignon for two. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: roast beef, slow-braised lamb shanks, bison burgers. 10/29/21
To the comment from @rjquillin it does appear that the winery uses that tasting note for every vintage, there is a nonvintage bottle shot with that note in the producer trade area.
Also several retailers note this is a Scheid label/product.
@kaolis Well this seems to be all over Canada, almost left out a Canadian Wine Guy review. On Dec 13, 2021 John Galea posted:
Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some vibrant black fruits, black cherry, blackberry and the like. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice spicy, peppery notes along with some edgy tannins. There’s some tobacco and mocha notes as well. The wine is a bit young, some breathing wouldn’t hurt. It’s quite dry, but not as dry as I would expect with 3g/l … Not a bad cab for the money, but not one of my favs either. I won’t be running back for more, but enjoyed it anyway … I would give it an -88 or so.
Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Monterey County 2019
Received the always welcome email from Alice last Wednesday and the Longford Estate Cab arrived the next day. We had Easter plans to get together with my wife’s sister’s family, almost all of whom enjoy a nice wine, so we thought it would be a treat to make it a group Lab Rat event. The wine didn’t make it out during the actual Easter dinner as there were more than a dozen of us, which would have made it hard to get more than a sip or so, but the seven remaining later in the evening all volunteered to step up. The descriptions below attempt to capture and blend the observations from the group.
Appearance – very nice-looking wine. A clear, but deep, dark red beet color with well-formed legs.
Aroma – Blackberry or generic bramble berry with hints of cherry and vanilla.
Taste – quite fruit forward, but not over the top and not necessarily sweet. Tannins were noticeable in a pleasant sort of way. One reviewer thought the wine slightly bitter, while another noted there is a somewhat rugged woodiness to it. All concurred it was an agreeable wine with nothing off-putting about it.
Rather than pull out the remains of the midday Easter meal, we picked up several boxes of assorted pizza and tested how the wine partnered with food. It passed the test. There was enough acidity to handle the fatty cheese and sausage and in fact the food cut back the fruit a bit and left the wine somewhat smoother.
Bottom line – the Longford Estate is a good representation of a nice California Cabernet Sauvignon; it has all the conventional characteristics. Certainly not the best example the state has to offer, but perfectly acceptable. The Rats all said they would be interested in having this wine again, though the price would be the deciding factor if it turns out to be above an unidentified point.
Originally I was going to give Scheid Family wines one more shot based on decent lab rat reviews and encouraging pro reviews from Canada. But I feel burned by my two previous Scheid Family buys, the District 7 Pinot in February 2021 and the Ryder Estate rose in July 2022. In reading through the post-delivery reviews I find reference to other good reviews of wines from this vintner that disappoint once delivered. That plus the $8.33 price point made me re-think hitting the buy button. I wish more Casemates customers would post post-delivery reviews and I commit to doing my part in this regard going forward.
On a more positive note, in reviewing my purchase history at Casemates, I find that I’ve hit the buy button 46 times over two-plus years. Of those, there are only three wines that I regretted buying, the two mentioned plus one I thought was a very well made wine that I simply did not like. Overall, I think Casemates does a great job of offering interesting wines of good quality at incredible prices, and I will continue to be a fan and advocate.
Finally, I hope everyone who buys the current offer has a good experience with the wine and that some will post reviews after delivery. I would very much like to know that I made a mistake in passing on this offer.
@winedan now I’m going to have to count!
(Edited) I had time to check…56 orders since May 2021. Just wow
That doesn’t even include the ones I split when another Casemate ordered.
@winedan we had the opportunity to Rat the District 7 Pinot Noir. We gave it a good review as, when we tasted it with friends and food, it was a pretty straightforward pinot, not complex but enjoyable.
Once we got the case and drank the first bottle with no food or friends, we were a little surprised by it in that we noticed a bit of green pepper in the palate, something we don’t usually look for or associate with the grape.
In any case, we use it as a third or fourth bottle on nights we entertain. By then, nobody is really all that interested in a deep study of what they are drinking.
@lionel47@winedan I am surprised about the negative comments on the District 7 Pinot Noir. We first bought it here a while back and it has since become one of our daily choices. Not for special moments or meals but enjoyable company for week-day dinner.
As you said, “not complex but enjoyable” and consistently so. In fact, we buy it locally at competitive prices.
@kr4@winedan Like I said, it’s a solid wine. I just noticed a hint of green pepper in the finish. I think I have two or three bottles left. Might open one with dinner tonight just to experience it again.
@ttboy23@winedan not sure I’m proud that I bought more than that or ashamed of being a pushover for winedavid’s marketing, but at 74 orders, I’ve helped buy him a few things off Amazon. (Not counting Jon over at RWS) Only one I’ve really disliked, was the one that was aged in bourbon barrels…had several I disliked at first, but went back to it after a few years and loved it (Mustache Cab). I do (once and awhile) give after receipt reviews (several months or a year), but will make an effort to do more often.
@kr4@lionel47 Interesting how controversial a simple little wine can become. When I opened our first bottle of the 2/2021 District 7 offering I thought “Oh no, that’s skunky!” and figured I might have a bad bottle. But after it breathed for two hours it improved, so next bottle I decanted the wine and let it breathe for three hours. That bottle tasted pretty much like I would expect an inexpensive Pinot to taste, so going forward I just opened and decanted the wine mid-afternoon to get it ready for dinner. We finished the case, but thought it required a lot of planning and work for a daily drinker.
@ttboy23@winecaseaholic Agree winedavid is a talented marketer. Several wines come up again on the site for the same or a different vintage. After receipt reviews help in evaluating those offers as well as offerings of other wines from the same vintner. I also will post more after receipt reviews.
@winedan I don’t post reviews because I am as far from our Lab Rats as you can get. I don’t know wine words and I don’t cook, so my notes are things like “Does that thing where I get mucus in the back of my throat.” and “Surprisingly good with dill pickles.”
It is interesting but not surprising that people react differently to what is, presumably, the same real-world event. (I do not use the word “experience” because that is something that encompasses memory-inflected subjectivity.) Anecdotal commentary is interesting but, without some statistical rigor, it is not definitive. So, the more voices, the better.
2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Monterey County
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $240.00/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, May 1 - Tuesday, May 2
2019 Longford Estate 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
The notes appear to be cut-n-paste from notes posted with a 2017 bottle shot on the producer web site.
Any additional info or confirmation?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2019 Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - $30 = 23.07%
Well, Edward Rasiulis, Certified Sommelier, who posts reviews for a few sites north of the border including LCBO says:
For a wine that’s priced at under $16 this is not your typical commercial Cali Cab as it’s not flabby, sweet or high alcohol and it has character. Score: 88/100
Tasting Note: Opaque ruby in colour with good acidity, a medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dark cherry, blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, plum, cocoa, vanilla & leather.
Negatives: None. Interesting Point: Sustainably farmed vineyard
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Slow Cooked Prime Rib with Plum Glaze
My Opinion: Recommended. Best Buy. Tasted: Feb 5, 2022
And you thought Mr. Edward was a reach? Well how about quoting Natalie Maclean? Might get banned for this one…ha!
Natalie’s Score: 89/100
From Monterey County wine region in California, Longford Estate 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is excellent value at $20. Produced from sustainably-grown grapes treated to Monterey’s foggy mornings, abundant sunshine and an extended growing season that allows the grapes to ripen fully and evenly. This example is elegant with bright blackberry, cassis, plum, savoury herb, mint, smoky vanilla and toasty oak spice flavours elegant and long on the palate. Very nice. Pair with date night and filet mignon for two. Cabernet Sauvignon food pairings: roast beef, slow-braised lamb shanks, bison burgers. 10/29/21
To the comment from @rjquillin it does appear that the winery uses that tasting note for every vintage, there is a nonvintage bottle shot with that note in the producer trade area.
Also several retailers note this is a Scheid label/product.
Happy National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day!
fwiw
@kaolis Well this seems to be all over Canada, almost left out a Canadian Wine Guy review. On Dec 13, 2021 John Galea posted:
Dark in color with a nice black berry nose. On the mid palate the wine displays some vibrant black fruits, black cherry, blackberry and the like. On the medium length finish the wine displays some nice spicy, peppery notes along with some edgy tannins. There’s some tobacco and mocha notes as well. The wine is a bit young, some breathing wouldn’t hurt. It’s quite dry, but not as dry as I would expect with 3g/l … Not a bad cab for the money, but not one of my favs either. I won’t be running back for more, but enjoyed it anyway … I would give it an -88 or so.
Over and out
Longford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Monterey County 2019
Received the always welcome email from Alice last Wednesday and the Longford Estate Cab arrived the next day. We had Easter plans to get together with my wife’s sister’s family, almost all of whom enjoy a nice wine, so we thought it would be a treat to make it a group Lab Rat event. The wine didn’t make it out during the actual Easter dinner as there were more than a dozen of us, which would have made it hard to get more than a sip or so, but the seven remaining later in the evening all volunteered to step up. The descriptions below attempt to capture and blend the observations from the group.
Appearance – very nice-looking wine. A clear, but deep, dark red beet color with well-formed legs.
Aroma – Blackberry or generic bramble berry with hints of cherry and vanilla.
Taste – quite fruit forward, but not over the top and not necessarily sweet. Tannins were noticeable in a pleasant sort of way. One reviewer thought the wine slightly bitter, while another noted there is a somewhat rugged woodiness to it. All concurred it was an agreeable wine with nothing off-putting about it.
Rather than pull out the remains of the midday Easter meal, we picked up several boxes of assorted pizza and tested how the wine partnered with food. It passed the test. There was enough acidity to handle the fatty cheese and sausage and in fact the food cut back the fruit a bit and left the wine somewhat smoother.
Bottom line – the Longford Estate is a good representation of a nice California Cabernet Sauvignon; it has all the conventional characteristics. Certainly not the best example the state has to offer, but perfectly acceptable. The Rats all said they would be interested in having this wine again, though the price would be the deciding factor if it turns out to be above an unidentified point.
Sounds like a decent cellar defender to me
I am passing on this offer with comments.
Originally I was going to give Scheid Family wines one more shot based on decent lab rat reviews and encouraging pro reviews from Canada. But I feel burned by my two previous Scheid Family buys, the District 7 Pinot in February 2021 and the Ryder Estate rose in July 2022. In reading through the post-delivery reviews I find reference to other good reviews of wines from this vintner that disappoint once delivered. That plus the $8.33 price point made me re-think hitting the buy button. I wish more Casemates customers would post post-delivery reviews and I commit to doing my part in this regard going forward.
On a more positive note, in reviewing my purchase history at Casemates, I find that I’ve hit the buy button 46 times over two-plus years. Of those, there are only three wines that I regretted buying, the two mentioned plus one I thought was a very well made wine that I simply did not like. Overall, I think Casemates does a great job of offering interesting wines of good quality at incredible prices, and I will continue to be a fan and advocate.
Finally, I hope everyone who buys the current offer has a good experience with the wine and that some will post reviews after delivery. I would very much like to know that I made a mistake in passing on this offer.
@winedan now I’m going to have to count!
(Edited) I had time to check…56 orders since May 2021. Just wow
That doesn’t even include the ones I split when another Casemate ordered.
@ttboy23 It’s a bit sobering when you review the numbers, isn’t it?
@winedan well said
@winedan we had the opportunity to Rat the District 7 Pinot Noir. We gave it a good review as, when we tasted it with friends and food, it was a pretty straightforward pinot, not complex but enjoyable.
Once we got the case and drank the first bottle with no food or friends, we were a little surprised by it in that we noticed a bit of green pepper in the palate, something we don’t usually look for or associate with the grape.
In any case, we use it as a third or fourth bottle on nights we entertain. By then, nobody is really all that interested in a deep study of what they are drinking.
@lionel47 @winedan I am surprised about the negative comments on the District 7 Pinot Noir. We first bought it here a while back and it has since become one of our daily choices. Not for special moments or meals but enjoyable company for week-day dinner.
As you said, “not complex but enjoyable” and consistently so. In fact, we buy it locally at competitive prices.
@kr4 @winedan Like I said, it’s a solid wine. I just noticed a hint of green pepper in the finish. I think I have two or three bottles left. Might open one with dinner tonight just to experience it again.
@ttboy23 @winedan not sure I’m proud that I bought more than that or ashamed of being a pushover for winedavid’s marketing, but at 74 orders, I’ve helped buy him a few things off Amazon. (Not counting Jon over at RWS) Only one I’ve really disliked, was the one that was aged in bourbon barrels…had several I disliked at first, but went back to it after a few years and loved it (Mustache Cab). I do (once and awhile) give after receipt reviews (several months or a year), but will make an effort to do more often.
@kr4 @lionel47 Interesting how controversial a simple little wine can become. When I opened our first bottle of the 2/2021 District 7 offering I thought “Oh no, that’s skunky!” and figured I might have a bad bottle. But after it breathed for two hours it improved, so next bottle I decanted the wine and let it breathe for three hours. That bottle tasted pretty much like I would expect an inexpensive Pinot to taste, so going forward I just opened and decanted the wine mid-afternoon to get it ready for dinner. We finished the case, but thought it required a lot of planning and work for a daily drinker.
@ttboy23 @winecaseaholic Agree winedavid is a talented marketer. Several wines come up again on the site for the same or a different vintage. After receipt reviews help in evaluating those offers as well as offerings of other wines from the same vintner. I also will post more after receipt reviews.
@winedan I don’t post reviews because I am as far from our Lab Rats as you can get. I don’t know wine words and I don’t cook, so my notes are things like “Does that thing where I get mucus in the back of my throat.” and “Surprisingly good with dill pickles.”
It is interesting but not surprising that people react differently to what is, presumably, the same real-world event. (I do not use the word “experience” because that is something that encompasses memory-inflected subjectivity.) Anecdotal commentary is interesting but, without some statistical rigor, it is not definitive. So, the more voices, the better.