• "Wine of the Week"
• Cabernets and Blends
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• Other Reds
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Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives

So here is my wine review for the week of April 17th, 2006...

Jewel Cabernet 2002

Description: Full disclosure; I am a Napa snob. I have tried French, Australian, Spanish and "local" wines and I can't find anything that compares to the Napa Valley when it comes to what I like. Jewel is a Lodi winery producing a variety of wines in our area.

How to Get it: Have a radio show and have the owners of the winery drop off the wine to you for review. Or you can just contact them at www.jewelwine.com.

How Much: It's about $10 per bottle .

My Thoughts: The label claims this cabernet is "filled with aromas of cassis… that lead to rich flavors of dark berry fruit and toasted oak. It is complex with many layers… and a long finish.." I say, "not so much," although I don't think this is a bad wine at all. The wine is definitely filled with fruit, most notably, as the label says, dark berry flavors. However, I find the overall body of the wine to be rather simple for a cabernet with a smooth, easy finish. There is little bite (and I sense no oak), but there are pleasant underlying flavors of vanilla.


Overall Score: This is one of those cabs that I often mention is a great cab for a merlot lover. This cab does not present the tannins and dryness of a big red so it is a fairly pleasant, easy drink. The flavors are good, if somewhat simple and to be honest, for $10 this is a great bottle of wine. Stack it against $40 Napa cabs and this has no chance, but as a Tuesday night drinker, this is a sure fire winner for the price. 4 vines

Jewel Cabernet 2002 =