2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon, California
Tasting Notes
This wine expresses medium brick red color and displays bright cherry and rich cocoa notes up front. The palate is rich with a sweet core of fruit - ripe cherry, cassis, and wild strawberries. The wine finishes with soft tannins and enough grip to have an excellent balance with the acid and alcohol levels. The smooth texture sings of varietal Cabernet elegance with a mid-palate of juicy raspberry coulis with cherry vanilla on the back end.
Winemaking Notes
These Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown in Lodi California which is East of San Francisco by 70 miles and 20 miles south of Clarksburg in the Sacramento Delta area. Lodi is a little warmer than the delta based on its inland location, but its coastal proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area receives some of the cool breezes in the afternoon from the San Francisco Bay. Because of this cooling effect, the grapes hang onto much of their natural acidity. We harvest the grapes in the middle of the night by machine while cold and deliver the fruit early at the winery. We destem the grapes directly into the fermentation tank for cold soaking. After 72 hours of cold soaking the grapes in the fermentation tank, the wine is then inoculated with yeast and the primary fermentation begins at 50 degrees F. The wine is fermented in tank cold for about 10 days and at the end of 14 days on the skin, we drain and press the tank. Finally, the wine is then transferred into neutral French oak for the remainder of fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was inoculated for malolactic fermentation and then sulfured when dry. The wine ages in barrel for 14 months before bottling.
Sierra Del Mar describes the cycle and flow of water in California. Rain and snowfall in the Sierra Mountains flow into the below waterways (the Sacramento Delta) which feeds the irrigation of our grapes.
Food Pairings
This wine pairs well with grilled bone-in pork chops or thick-cut cowboy steaks served with a seasoned wild mushroom sautéed and Brussels sprouts slow-cooked in butter and balsamic.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: California
Alcohol: 13.94%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon, California Case:
12x 2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon, California
Owners: Richard Bruno (Vinum), Chris Condos & Suzanne Hagins (Horse & Plow)
Founded: 1997
Location: Napa, CA
Vinum Cellars specializes in world-class wines made not just by hand, but with heart. As a steadfast advocates of sustainable practices, we collaborate exclusively with farmers who follow sustainable farming methods, ensuring that the vineyards yield the finest fruit through environmentally conscious techniques.
Vinum Cellars was founded in 1997 by first generation, California family winemakers Richard Bruno and Chris Condos in the Napa Valley financing their dream on credit cards. Their focus was then, and remains searching California’s coastal vineyards and special microclimates in search of the best vineyards grown by the state’s best growers. The long-term partners consider their humble roots in the development of products and mandate that each wine offer considerable high quality-to-price ratio. What this means is each wine is literally hand crafted from single vineyards and made with a small lot philosophy. From Coastal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Vinum makes varietal wines from single vineyards and appellations throughout California.
The result is a portfolio of exquisite, eco-friendly wines that not only please the palate but also exemplify our unwavering passion for the art of winemaking and the well-being of our planet.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY, PR
2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon
6 bottles for $69.99 $11.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $109.99 $9.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Before I start, just to give some background, I drink a lot of reds. Primarily Italian varietals like Sangiovese, Barbera and Zins (tons of Zins).
This was a mild cab that was jammy upon first taste but not too thick. I tasted cherries. I’m not great with differentiating fruit flavors. I didn’t taste much earthiness or pepper. There weren’t a lot of tanins which was nice. I don’t really like big, bold cabs and this was not one of those. The alcohol content was on the lighter side too so this made for a nice weekday drink. Since I drink Zins, I always try to check the alcohol content because some are pretty high. I had planned to drink this over the weekend but ended up going out so drank it Mon/Tue and it was great for a weekday.
Night two it held up pretty well. A little smoother and the jam wasn’t as strong but nicely drinkable!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon - $30 = 21.42%
First off thanks once again to Alice and Casemates for the opportunity to be a labrat for this wine. And of course for the always appreciated Casemates glass that was included with the bottle.
Wine arrived last Thursday but due to scheduling only got the opportunity to taste last night. Opened about an hour before dinner and let sit in the bottle. First taste impressions before dinner yielded a pretty cherry/raspberry type nose and more of the same on the palate. Also was surprised by the balance of the wine. Definitely some tannins at the back end but in a good way which allowed my wife and I to enjoy the wine with no food.
Dinner was grilled strip steaks and sherry vinegar roasted brussel sprouts and peppers. At this point the wine seemed to have opened up somewhat and as my wife said had an extremely smooth mouthfeel. I agreed. And while the cherry was there we both definitely noticed chocolate flavors as well. All in all very happy with the food pairing.
Seeing the retail price of the wine I figured case price would put it around $10 here give or take a few dollars. Honestly at that price it is an excellent bargain. Always amazed at the quality of wine Casemates is able to provide at that price point. There is simply no way to my mind that you could go to your local grocery store or liquor store and beat the value on this wine.
And one last note. While I mentioned the tannins earlier in our opinion while you could keep the wine cellared for a few years it is drinking so well now having it on hand for a daily drinker seems the better option.
2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon, California
Tasting Notes
Winemaking Notes
Food Pairings
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$240/Case for 12x 2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon, California at Vinum Cellars
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY, PR
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Oct 16 - Wednesday, Oct 18
2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon
6 bottles for $69.99 $11.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $109.99 $9.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
LabRat here!
Before I start, just to give some background, I drink a lot of reds. Primarily Italian varietals like Sangiovese, Barbera and Zins (tons of Zins).
This was a mild cab that was jammy upon first taste but not too thick. I tasted cherries. I’m not great with differentiating fruit flavors. I didn’t taste much earthiness or pepper. There weren’t a lot of tanins which was nice. I don’t really like big, bold cabs and this was not one of those. The alcohol content was on the lighter side too so this made for a nice weekday drink. Since I drink Zins, I always try to check the alcohol content because some are pretty high. I had planned to drink this over the weekend but ended up going out so drank it Mon/Tue and it was great for a weekday.
Night two it held up pretty well. A little smoother and the jam wasn’t as strong but nicely drinkable!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Sierra Del Mar Cabernet Sauvingon - $30 = 21.42%
First off thanks once again to Alice and Casemates for the opportunity to be a labrat for this wine. And of course for the always appreciated Casemates glass that was included with the bottle.
Wine arrived last Thursday but due to scheduling only got the opportunity to taste last night. Opened about an hour before dinner and let sit in the bottle. First taste impressions before dinner yielded a pretty cherry/raspberry type nose and more of the same on the palate. Also was surprised by the balance of the wine. Definitely some tannins at the back end but in a good way which allowed my wife and I to enjoy the wine with no food.
Dinner was grilled strip steaks and sherry vinegar roasted brussel sprouts and peppers. At this point the wine seemed to have opened up somewhat and as my wife said had an extremely smooth mouthfeel. I agreed. And while the cherry was there we both definitely noticed chocolate flavors as well. All in all very happy with the food pairing.
Seeing the retail price of the wine I figured case price would put it around $10 here give or take a few dollars. Honestly at that price it is an excellent bargain. Always amazed at the quality of wine Casemates is able to provide at that price point. There is simply no way to my mind that you could go to your local grocery store or liquor store and beat the value on this wine.
And one last note. While I mentioned the tannins earlier in our opinion while you could keep the wine cellared for a few years it is drinking so well now having it on hand for a daily drinker seems the better option.
Nice notes!
/giphy obtainable-racy-meal
