The second wine I tasted while planning my Christmas party was the Red Diamond 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State. The wine is actually a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon making up 80%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Merlot 7%, and Syrah 3%.
This is a heavier, more complex wine than the other I tasted, the 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon from Camelot Winery. Licorice and leather aromas dominate the nose, and the wine delivers dark berries and oak to the palate. As compared to the Camelot, this wine has stronger, but still pleasant, tannins, more oak, and more complex flavors. The oak, fruit, and alcohol are well balanced making for a very pleasant wine. At $9.99, it too is an excellent value. I would pair it with more robust dishes than the Camelot, but it is still a very good every day Cabernet Sauvignon. I will definitely buy this wine again.
So what did I pick for the party, the Camelot. Why? I thought that the somewhat lighter style might have a broader appeal to my guests. It didn’t hurt that it was $2.00 less a bottle either…
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