Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon - $12.99

Wine Details

Price:	$12.99
Producer:	Louis Martini
Region:	Sonoma County
Varietal:	Cabernet Sauvignon
Container Size:	750 ML
Flavors:

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Product Description

The 2006 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from several of Sonoma County’s most prestigious appellations and blended seamlessly to bring together the unique characteristics of each, creating a superbly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine offers many layers, featuring aromas and flavors of red cherry, blackberry and fresh sage with an underlying dry creek dustiness. Subtle herbal notes are complemented by additional layers of chocolate and vanilla, resulting in a complex, yet easy drinking, wine. Winemaker Notes: The grapes were harvested at optimal ripeness during September and October, then de-stemmed but not crushed upon arrival at the winery, leaving 20% - 30% whole berries in the fermenter. This process retains the grape's varietal character and minimizes bitter tannin extraction in the wine. Extended skin contact occurred for an average of 6–8 days for maximum extraction of color and flavor. A variety of yeast strains were used to ensure the development of desired flavor and aroma characteristics and 100% of the wine completed malolactic fermentation.
For more than 75 years, the Martini family winemakers have crafted world-class Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the exceptional vineyards of Sonoma and Napa counties. Louis M. Martini embodied a simple, honest premise: The best grapes make the best wines. Today, Michael Martini, third-generation winemaker carries on this tradition at the historic winery in Napa Valley with his range of unforgettable Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Expert Ratings

Vintage	Source	Flavors
2004	WineAndSpirits
2004	WineSpectator	cherry, oak
2004	CGCW
2003	CGCW
2003	WineEnthusiast	cherries
2002	CGCW
2002	WineSpectator	orange
2002	WineAndSpirits	cherry, earth, sour
2002	CGCW
2001	WineSpectator	earthy, plum

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Food Pairings

Category	Pairing
Cheese	Blue Cheese
Red Meat	Beef, Pork Chops, Lamb, Grilled or Roast Leg, Grilled or Broiled Chops or Rack of Lamb, Veal, Veal Carpaccio, Game, Farmed Venison, Buffalo, Pate or Liver, Variety Meats or Organ Meats, Liver
Poultry & Eggs	Duck Confit
Vegetables	Corn, Roasted, Mushrooms, Caramelized Shallots, Potatoes, Sauteed Potatoes
Sauces	Red Wine Sauce
Herbs & Spices	Basil
Poultry & Eggs	Quail stuffed with Swiss Chard & Italian Sausage

Wine Terms

Name	Value
Cabernet Sauvignon	(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.
Sonoma	Like its neighbor Napa, Sonoma is a small area filled with independent wineries and characterized by microclimates that vary according to the topography. The coolest parts of Sonoma are the fog-filled south, where the grape varieties are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Northwards up the valley the climate warms and provides a good base for Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. In general Sonoma wines are less dramatically flavorful than those of Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon is relatively soft, with blackcurrant fruit, minty and eucalyptus perfume, and some soft buttery oak. Zinfandel ranges from soft and gulpable to massive bramble and pepper styles. Chardonnay is rich and juicy, especially from the Russian River, and Sauvignon Blanc can be zingy and grassy. Most Sonoma wines have a freshness and a soft edge which makes them very suitable for drinking on their own, however they partner well with strongly flavored fish and meat dishes. The old-style Zinfandels are delicious with spicy cuisine.
United States	Wineries exist in all fifty states, but the most predominant (and best) wine comes from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State, with New York gaining a foothold in the industry. American wines make up about 75% of all wine sales in the US. The appellation system uses the term AVA (American Viticultural Area) to determine where wines were produced, but grape varieties can be planted anywhere in the country. American wineries generally use varietal labeling, and government regulations require that the variety on the label must make up at least 75% of the blend (in Oregon it’s 90%). The words reserve, special selection, private reserve, classic, and so on have no legal definition in the US. Some wineries use these terms to indicate their better wines; others use the words as a marketing tool to move lower quality wines off the shelf.
California	California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.