I just love Cabernet Sauvignon. I especially love Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon! In fact a bottle
of high quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon may be my most favorite wine in the world. The only
problem is, that most of these high quality Cabernets sell for $30.00 to $150.00 per bottle. I have a little
secret that I have kept for more than a year now. I know of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that
can compete with those high priced editions, and it sells for less than $30.00 per bottle! This wine is the
2005 B Side Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
In 2004 Don Sabastiani and his two sons established the Three Loose Screws Wine Company, and began
to produce some high quality, value priced wines. When they decided to produce a higher end wine, they
turned to the east side of the Napa Valley, rather than the western side, where many top end Cabernets are
grown. Because he is an older man, like myself, Don decided to call this wine, B Side, reminecient of the
old 45 rpm records which had the hit song on the "A" side and a lessor known song on the flip or "B" side.
Once in awhile the "B" side song became the bigger hit, as was the case a couple of times with the Beatles.
The B Side Cabernet is that hit on the flip side of the record, or the other side of the Napa Valley.
The "Wine Enthusiast" scored this one a 91 and said: "This dark brick red colored wine has classic
Bordeaux aromas of currant and ripe plum with pencil lead and earthy, clay notes followed by scents of
new leather and black olives. The palate is very supple with a core of cassis and black cherry fruit,
layered with hints of wild strawberry and yellow plum. The finish is silky with refined French oak flavors
intermingled with vanilla and subtle oak char.
I like this wine so much, that I would have to up the score to about 94! It is robust and intense with gobs
of black cherry and currant flavors, which seem to get bigger and bigger, the further down in the glass you
go. The tannins are very prevelant, but not overly aggressive, and they combine with the heavy fruit to
produce an overwhelming but clean finish which sails on forever!
If you like steak and Cabernet Sauvignon as much as I do, you need to fire up the grill and toss on a New
York Strip or a ten ounce fillet, and you had better have at least two bottles, if anyone else is having dinner
with you, or you won't want to share this teriffic Cabernet if you have only one bottle! score 94
price range - $20 - $30
Norm
