SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!

Today’s wine is so special that we issued this special alert! With a QPR that is through the roof, this stunning wine easily outperforms other, higher-priced wines

SAVINGS ALERT!

Clever spies stock up on the best wines. When they buy 6 or more bottles of today’s delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, they will be rewarded with Free Ground Shipping, but only if they enter secret savings code CABSPY at checkout.

Mission Codename: Yee Haw!

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Galante Vineyards in California’s beautiful Carmel Valley and procure an ample allotment their fabled Red Rose Hill Cab for our Operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Galante Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2003 Red Rose Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Greg Vita

Backgrounder: Our Operatives know that we are huge fans of Galante wines. We have featured two of their wines previously, but today’s wine gets our vote is the Galante wine with the best QPR (Quality to Price Ratio). For the price, this is one of the best values that we have ever presented for a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. And, its incredibly delicious! Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and his mission report below to learn more about this superior Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deeply concentrated ruby red to burgundy in color with a fast and bouncy surface that settle quickly when swirled. Incredibly, this wine leaves behind two levels of tightly packed legs – on about an inch above the other – that take a long time to emerge before they creep down the glass

Smell – Rich layers of aromas rush deeply into your nose as you inhale black cherry, sandalwood, fresh dark red rose, blackberry, soft licorice, cowboy campfire, toasted oak, and a hint of spice

Feel – Soft and medium round up front, slightly grippy the mid palate, then mouth coating the mouth with medium tannins at the side of the tongue and back of the mouth

Taste – DELICIOUS with layers of brightly distinct flavors of cherry, red currant, rose petal, red plum, and the softest hint of grape bazooka. Don’t get me wrong with that last flavor, this wine is bright and delivious, but its also rich and not at all overly sweet

Finish – A big, rich and bright finish across the entire palate, with flavors that taper off slowly, leaving a slight velvety dryness

Conclusion – I am VERY excited about this fantastic wine, which exhibits the sophistication of a Napa Cab, with none of the pretention sometimes associated with high-falutin’ examples from the north. This is a bright, delicious and fun wine to drink. Its acidity makes it a perfect companion for most foods you throw at it – no need to worry about the wine overpowering your meals as overly-rich cabs may do. From its big, original, aromatics, to its bright velvet mouthfeel, rich flavors and big finish, this is a wine that I give big, BIG, ‘ups’ to. And, at our special price the already-great QPRis now through the roof!

Mission Report:

note: be sure to read the following in your best cowboy voice

Howdy Pardners! Agent Red here, reportin’ back from the range.

During a recent mission to infiltrate the notorious Galante Gang_, I was known simply as ’_*Red*’.

Why me? Well, match up my love for great red wines with the time I spent playing Cowboys and Indians as a child – and it was only natural that Central Command should chose me for this mission.

It had been rumored that Galante produced some of the best Cabernets in the state so I was sent to investigate. I arrived at the Galante Ranch where I was greeted by Cowboy Winemaker, Jack Galante. I told Jack right off that I was new in town and wanted to join his Gang. He looked somewhat skeptical when he noticed my shiny penny loafers, but after he sized me up, he invited me in for a tasting. (Note to self: Pay better attention to my disguises!)

Jack poured me a glass of his Cabernet Sauvignon (shouldn’t he serve it in a tin cup?). What struck me first was this wine didn’t have the overpowering aromas of chili pepper usually found in the Cabs of the Monterey region. Rather, I found sandalwood, oak, cherry, currant and rose. This is an aromatic wine that’s not afraid to boast about its character.

After some very skillful cowboy style sniffing and yelling “YEE-HAW!”, I went in for a taste. I was impressed. This is a very bright and flavorful wine that has a big mouth feel, with medium tannins and big tastes of cherry and berry.

I think that Jack was impressed with my cowboy manner. At least I think that’s why he was looking at me in that way. And, no, that’s not a Brokeback reference. Jack is all man.

This wine certainly gets my personal recommendation and I’m pretty sure that we’ll feature other Galante wines here in the future. Pair it with free range gourmet like pan-seared baked beans, cactus fritters or even a fine tumbleweed stew.

For a real Cowboy Cabernet that can be served with real cuisine, you should pick up a bottle or two. This is a wine that is ready to drink now, but could peak in just a few years.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Galante Estate Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.