Last night we hosted a dinner party for national Call Me a Cab Night. Made up holiday? Sure it is, but why not? We had a lot of fun.
The grape of the evening was Cabernet Sauvignon, so we served several bottles that we had picked up on our travels along with some very Cab-friendly food.
The Wines
As our guests arrived, we started them off with a splash of 2010 Mayacamas Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is a parent grape of Cabernet Sauvignon, so it was a good way to sneak in a refreshing white wine while sticking to our theme.
Next, it was on to the Cabs. All of these wines were blind tasted with bread, crackers, and a selection of cheeses: reserve cheddar, balsamic bellavitano, and feta blended with lemon, basil, and cracked peppercorn.
2006 Brandlin Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Heitz Cellar Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Vincent Arroyo Cabernet Savignon
These Cabs all reflect our preferences -- fruit forward, a little bold, slightly young, with solid tannins that pair well with food or make the wine interesting on its own. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed each of the wines and we had fun comparing the different flavor profiles when we tasted them side by side.
The Food
After our blind tasting, we revealed the wines and poured some more so each person could enjoy their favorite with dinner. Our menu consisted of molasses bourbon marinated tri-tip, scalloped potatoes with asiago cheese, and arugala salad. Dessert consisted of milk chocolate squares and pears topped with blue cheese and honey, both of which went very well with a 2006 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Port.
The Winner
There was no clear-cut favorite and all of the wines were rated very good, but the 2007 Vincent Arroyo drew the most votes as a top pick.
