Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives
So here is my wine review for the week of April 3rd, 2005...
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Description: Cabernet when young (any cab less than 5 years from the label is young) can be strong, bitter, filled with tannins. They can also be overly simple (almost too smooth) and thin. As a Cab ages it hopefully gains body, texture and rich fullness. Sterling has always been a solid mid-level red wine producer that makes good to very good wines and every now and then stumbles into a fantastic wine.
How to Get it: I found this bottle at Sam's Club in March, 2005. You can get it at the winery in Napa, most grocery stores, wine specialty shops and most Beverages & More.
How Much: At Sam's, I paid $18 per bottle. It is generally a $20 bottle in stores, $30-45 in restaurants.
My Thoughts: This is a very simple, not complex young cabernet. At times it tastes almost too thin and lacking in body, but overall that translates to an easy-to-drink young cabernet. It has more fruit and berry flavors than "bigger" cabs, but it is not a fruity wine. It smells nicely of brandy but has faint vanilla flavors on the tongue and is a very nice, easy to drink wine.
Overall Score: I would recommend drinking it now, rather than waiting to see it mature. It's easy and simple now, which is a hard combination to find in a young cabernet, usually they are simple and bitter. This is a good Cab for merlot lovers to try. On my 5 vine scale, I give this wine 3 ½ vines.
Sterling Cabernet 2001 = 
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