2005 Dona Paula Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review

A rockstar. Definitely not a coiffer. This wine costs about $20 in Canada and I think it drinks like a wine much more expensive. Bring this one out when you want something rich and tasty. It’s not a really “big” wine, but it’s got all the right moves. One the nose you definitely get the blackberry fruit discussed on the back of the label. Smells like those blackberries that I used to pick late in the summer in Vancouver by the train tracks where I grew up in Kerrisdale.

We decanted this wine and allowed it to open up – for all of 10 short minutes before we got into it (we couldn’t wait). But I did take my time with the first glass. It went into a Riedel tumbler, which allowed for some of the warmth from my hand to bring the temperature up a little faster. Once that happened it really started to open up. The color is a dark ruby – also consistent with the label description. On the palette, what stood out for me was the finish. I love a strong, balanced, lingering finish in the manly reds like cabs. With Pinots, that’s a little harder to achieve. This wine had all those finish qualities that I love. To me this is the wine that I want with a grilled New York steak and my favorite Cesar salad. It tastes like a Cab should – full bodied and strong. I’m going to lay another bottle of this down for a few more years and try it then. I like the packaging too. The heavy textured cotton label feels nice on your finger tips and is classy looking number. The glass is a quite a bit heavier than most of the South American producers. Way to go Argentina! I’m going to have another glass now…

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