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Belle Cousine 2005 Hyde Vineyard, Napa, Wine Notes

Monday, October 26th, 2009 | Wine Tasting Notes | No Comments

In the world of Cabernet, nothing stands out as more recognized (at least in my circle of friends) as a Napa Cabernet. It’s the ‘go-to’ wine for any and all occasions. It’s food-friendly, BIG, fruity, good oak, and most people I know will sip on several glasses all night just for the fun of it.

In my world, I tend towards the European wines, but for the sake of giving everything a chance, I will present to you: Belle Cousine Cabernet from Hyde Vineyards in Napa, CA. It’s a Cabernet / Merlot blend from 2005. I was GREATLY impressed! Rich, velvety, luscious, jammy, chocolaty, black cherry flavors and full of body. This is a big RED! It’s about 14.7% alc. by volume (reminded me of some Zins I’ve tasted out of Lodi) and opens up moderately quickly. It was a good 30-60 minutes before the richness developed out of the alcohol.

While reviewing the new Fall/Winter menu at Cafe Lola, I enjoyed this wine with numerous dishes, including a house-made Gruyere Mac & Cheese that was OUT OF THIS WORLD. The smoky, cheesy flavors and texture of the macaroni made the toasty oak and smokiness gleam from the wine. But, cheese wasn’t the only thing one could sample with this wine. A Braised Lamb Shank and Boeuf Bourguignon accompanied my dinner, both lending to the richness of the dark chocolate flavors, aromas of mocha and earthy tannins.

Restaurant retail places this bottle around $50. A little steep, but delectable and delicious and you certainly won’t be disappointed!

Click here for a list of available retailers.

CHEERS!

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