okiedukie wrote:
Lab rat here, checking in after just getting home from an awesome 15-hour day at the office. (Ugh.) I’ll get my full write-up posted tomorrow morning, but I’ll throw out a Twitter-sized summary for now:
Well balanced and approachable cab. Fruit on the nose (plum & berry); high tannins; decanting helped. Quality matches price point.
It was a wonderful surprise to get the Golden Ticket on Friday. Long-time wooter, fist-time ratter. Life (and by life I mean work) has been insane recently…but you always make time for wine. Even more lucky on getting a Cab! Personal favorite varietal and W.W has shown me some amazing Cabs (Corison, Jocelyn Lonen, to drop same names).
So, I got the Wine Buddy (WB) to come over for a tasting, with some pizza and football. The tasting was more collaborative than anything else, with our notes in general agreement.
Pop and Pour
The wine had a nice deep burgundy color to it. WB noted a “robust” and “fruity” smell to the wine.
On first taste, we both agreed the wine was drier than the smell indicated, as the tannins were very prevalent and leading the charge. I could feel the wine sitting on the sides of my tongue.
I noted there was a fair amount of fruit, but felt muddled and difficult to separate. I could only pick out some blackberry, and made a note of lemon rind.
On the whole, the wine just felt very closed, although not unexpected from a young Cab.
One Hour Decant
Ah, much better! The fruit was finally coming to the front on the palate, matching that nice smell we had been getting. We could both taste the plum and cherry. WB noted some vanilla. The tannins were still prevalent, though, and still leaving that dryness in the mouth.
Unfortunately, it appears that WB and I are both lush pourers, as we were down to about two swigs in the decanter at this point. So, the data ends here.
Summary
On the whole, the Unbridled was one of the more reserved Cabs I had tasted. The wine had a nice balance of fruit and tannin, but nothing in it had that “wow factor” (to borrow a catchphrase). But still very approachable and easy to drink. It was interesting to read the other rat drinking the wine over two days, with the second day showing off the complexity of the wine. I just don’t recall the last time a bottle went unfinished around my place.
For those on the fence, I’d say go for it. The price is about right and may pay off big time with a few years in the cellar.
