November 16, 2018

NINE HATS Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

(Columbia Valley, Washington) $20

While an expensive cabernet sauvignon might be tasty, it will usually always miss the mark when it comes to structure. And if there’s one thing you want in cabernet, it’s definitely structure. Think of structure as a commanding framework—the flying buttresses of a cathedral of fruit. Nine Hats has real cabernet style, dark cassis flavors, and a fine tannic structure. The brand is the invention of Allen Shoup, one of Washington’s most creative wine men. Shoup assembled nine top international winemakers to each make great (expensive) wines with Washington grapes. The cabernet grapes that didn’t make the ultra-top cut went into this baby. So you’re drinking a lot of talent at a fraction of the typical cost. Party season is coming. (14.5% abv)

88 points KM

Available at Nine Hats Wines

Which of the following Bordeaux wines is never sweet?

A. Sauternes

B. Barsac

C. Cadillac

D. Fronsac

Fronsac, from the appellation Fronsac located near Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, is a well-priced dry red wine made from merlot and cabernet franc grapes. But the three others—Sauternes, Barsac, and Cadillac—are all legendary sweet wines made in their eponymous respective appellations. All three appellations are located in the southeast corner of Bordeaux, along the Garonne River. And all three wines are made from grapes that have been attacked, shriveled and concentrated by the so-called “noble rot,” Botrytis cinerea. Those grapes are semillon and sauvignon blanc, sometimes with a little muscadelle added for the floral aromas it imparts to the blend.

Cloudy

Descriptive term, not necessarily negative, for a wine that is not brilliantly clear. A wine can be slightly cloudy because it has not undergone FINING or filtering (See FILTER). Some wines, however, are cloudy as… Continue reading

NINE HATS Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

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