A TALE OF TWO CABS (OF MOTION PICTURES AND ROCK STARS)

Wines have this uncanny knack of evoking all kinds of various visions and recollections in me, whether it be a hint of the homemade blueberry pies my Grandma would make me for my birthdays as a kid, or hiding in between the rows of tomato vines in my Dad’s garden. I am more wow’d by wines that can transport me to some strangely sublime place and time from childhood, or one of those wickedly fun points in my life - you know, the ones we dare not tell anyone on earth (except maybe in Confession). Recently I tried two very different Cabernet Sauvignons from two different areas. The first was the Layer Cake Cabernet Sauvignon California 2009 (Grade=Outstanding). Layer Cake makes me think of the Daniel Craig shoot-em-up of the same name, especially the part where Michael Gambon schools him on what his life of crime amounts to in a pretty descriptive monologue. Getting back to the wine, this latest add for Layer Cake winemaker Jayson Woodbridge (of Hundred Acre acclaim) is a smooth, rich red full of cherries, blackberries, dark plums, violets and dried tobacco, with a touch of lead pencil, chocolate, coffee and mineral underpinnings. It finishes long and lush, and is sure to be a crowdpleaser.

The other Cabernet I am definitely a bit more excited about – the Arizona Stronghold Dala Cabernet Sauvignon Cochise County 2009 (Grade=Outstanding). This Cab is from vigneron Eric Glomski and rock star turned vigneron Maynard James Keenan (of Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer fame). I have been geeked about anything involving Maynard since I first caught their “Sober” video on MTV nearly 20 years ago. Emulating the Left Bank Bordeaux of a St. Estephe or St. Julien, this full-bodied Cab shows off black currant, blackberry, cedar, mineral and hints of black pepper, with undertones of mint, wet stone, dried herbs and cigar box. Displaying much more character of origin, this will definitely find its way back to my house, again and again.