Caparone Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Caparone Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 

A replay of this high achieving Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon that #1 son Ryan discovered at his local neighborhood wineshop in Bucktown/Chicago and then ordered a case of the subsequent vintage release from the producer. The producer claimed this 2008 was his best work to date. I must say, I too was very impressed with this high achieving Cabernet from an area not necessarily known or noted for its Bordeaux varietals.

Ryan brought the '07 to our house for Dad's Day dinner when we did a comparison tasting against a young and old Bordeaux.  Tonight, I visited him and Michelle to see recent newborn grand-daughter Marleigh while in the city. I stayed for dinner and Ryan opened this '08 vintage release. I thought this was even better than the 2007.

This is the artwork of father-and-son operation Dave and Marc Caparone. Dave, one of the most experienced winemakers in Paso Robles, has made wine every year since 1973. He founded Caparone Winery in 1979 and focuses on full-bodied red wines made in a classic style. They produce small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Aglianico.

The fruit for this release is sourced from the French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles, located at the eastern edge of the appellation, near the Temblor mountain range.

This is full bodied with dark purple color, it is expressive and vibrant with full forward black and blue berry fruits, almost like a big Aussie Shiraz. A layer of spice and hints of mocha and smoky cassis linger on a clinging tannin finish. True to the intent of the producer, this is a big classic Cabernet: rich, dense and well balanced with great structure, fruit and varietal character;  oak flavor is minimized and the alcohol level is moderate. This is smoother, better balanced and more polished than the '07 we had a while back. This provides great QPR and I went and bought a case for enjoyable easy every day drinking.

RM 90 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1673956

http://www.caparone.com/

Vintage Bordeaux and two upstart 2007's with Grilled Strip Steak Dad's Day Dinner

Vintage Bordeaux Anchors Grilled Strip Steak Dad's Day Dinner

For Dad's Day dinner Linda prepared my favorites - grilled NY Strip Steaks, corn on the cob, whipped potatoes and flour-less chocolate dessert. Ryan brought a intriguing pair of diverse reds that shared the same tasting profile. One, Larose De Gruaud, St Julien Bordeaux prompted me to open the Chateau Talbot for a St Julien terrior comparison tasting. Interestingly, the Gruaud was very similar to and more like the Caparone Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chateau Talbot St Julien Bordeaux 1986

Medium to full bodied, classic left bank aromas and flavors of floral violets, leather, tobacco and slight earthiness, herbs and hint of tar accent the blackberry and black cherry fruits on the lingering full floral moderate tannin finish. Decanted for an hour before drinking, it initially had a bit of barnyard funkiness but this burned off over the course of two hours to reveal its native character. A nice surprise in the staying power of this wine still in its drinking window albeit past its prime and beyond any chance for improvement through further aging, it still has several years of life left.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3373


Larose De Gruaud St Julien Bordeaux 2007

Ryan brought these two 2007 vintage bottles to share/taste. The St. Julien Bordeaux prompted me to pull the Chateau Talbot for a terrior comparison tasting. When I bought these back in the eighties, I considered Talbot as a poor man's Gruaud Larose. It certainly presented itself like a big hitter tonight!

While the Larose De Gruaud is a lesser second label of legendary Gruaud Larose, this wine resembled the Caparone moreso than its 'cousin' the Talbot, aside the difference in vintages. I say cousin because back in those days, both were properties whose wines were marketed by the Cordier enterprise and labeled as such. Today, Chateau Talbot is still owned by the two daughters of Jean Cordier, earlier patriarch of the company,

Not to be confused with their second label Sarget De Gruaud Larose, this wine is sourced from younger vines not considered ready for premier use in the first and second labels.

This was especially fun to taste this with Ryan following our encounter with Gruaud Larose winemaker David Launey when we taste their vintage release at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Producers' 2010 Release Tasting in Chicago back in January.

Both the Caparone and the Larose De Gruaud presented big firm predominant gripping bramble dark black fruit flavors accented by a layer of creosote tar and smoke giving way to black cherry, tobacco, leather and lingering firm tannins. A bit austere on the finish.

These are two great pizza or barbecue wines. Both provide good QPR - Quality Price Ratio's at their sub $20 price points. .

RM 87 points.  

Caparone Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Ryan's notes from Cellartracker on the Caparone:

I'm very impressed... what a bargain. very interesting wine. I don't have lot of experience with Paso Robles, but now I'm very intrigued.

This reminded me a 2001 Gruaud Larose I drank a couple months ago. when I closed my eyes, i was envisioning that wine. keep in mind, this was 20% the cost!

Color - showed some moderate bricking, which was really concerning upon pouring it. i'm wondering if this wine may have been flawed in a strange way that actually improved it.

Nose - earthy and kinda musty, with smoke and leather.

Mouth - smoky, with tar and leather, and red fruit. as mentioned above with the GL similarity, it tasted a lot like a 15 year old St. Julien. drank over several hours and after about 3 hours it starting showing another layer of fruit that was really nice.

I'm going to buy a couple more bottle today. I'm very curious to try this again.

RRM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=909120