2004 Andretti Selections Cabernet Sauvignon

This wasn’t a planned wine tasting so I don’t have a number of images, but I did get some other reviews while we where tasting it.

2004 Andretti Selections Cabernet sauvignonWe had dinner in a nice Italian restaurant here in town (Napa) that has bucked the chain feel, and have come away gathering a large following, the name of this restaurant is Fillipi’s. One thing they had done was gfet a good selection of Napa Valley wines (which shouldn’t be surprising… but is) at reasonable prices. Generally when you go to a restaurant you end up getting raped on the price of wine, so it was nice to get home and find it had only been upcharged about $5-6.

Now for a $20-30 bottle of wine you expect certain things. It should taste good, be smooth and taste good. Well they hit all the points. The 2004 Andretti Selections Cabernet Sauvignon has a nice fuity flavor without leaving a bitter taste. A smooth complextion that went extemely well with the Italian food, and a full body that you come to expect from good Napa Wine. For the price I won’t be stocking a lot of it in my cellar ($20 isn’t bad for good wine, but more then the wife will let me spend on numerous bottles), but it was one of the cheaper wines at the restaurant, so will be my choice when dining there again. Over all I would have no problem suggesting this wine to anyone wanting a nice fruity Cab to go with an Italian Dinner.

2004 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection

2004 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection - Label View 2004 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Private Selection - Bottle View

Every once in a great while you run across a great wine that you note to yourself to always buy.  You may want it for parties, dinners or dates.  But you know you’ll want to remember it.  Well for the money this has to be one of the best wines I’ve gotten.  I think I paid $7 for it a couple months ago at Trader Joes.  I’ve had Mondavis Coastal before but this is MUCH better.  With a nice smooth taste and a Cab Taste that taste expensive, but isn’t.  Taste wise it’s an atypical Cabernet, but with a smooth taste that really works well for casual drinking.  I didn’t have this with any dinner, so I can’t attest at the time how it blends with certain foods, but it works.

Again I had Karen have a glass (didn’t share too much, was too good) and all I got was “This is really GOOD.”   So if you like cabs, and want a good wine to keep around for dinners and parties.  Then this is a good wine for you.  Its not expensive and can afford to be able to get multiple bottles of it.