For the Big Five-0: 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon

Not long after we started this blog a friend of ours who also has a blog told us to talk to him about blogging when we hit our 100th post.  Its not 100, but we're now officially halfway there.  So for this post we wanted a special wine, and we were willing to splurge a bit on it.  So I ran out to Jones Liquor and picked up a bottle of Altamura's 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.

We had a cork from an Altamura Cab in the corks we keep around for decorative purposes for a while.  Neither Pris nor I could remember the wine or where exactly we had it, but we kept the cork and that meant we enjoyed it.  Most likely it was from a birthday party for my dad, something my brother bought or brought.  Pris did some research and decided we needed another crack at this wine since we're taking notes now.

In a word: incredible.  Magnificent or superb may also work.  This is an amazing wine.  It starts with a delicious fruit nose that is a wonder of subtle nuance.  Its not as bold as most Napa Cabs, but it has all the notes of dark fruit you'd expect in a Cab with a touch of espresso mixed in.  On the palate this wine is all smooth elegance. Full ripe flavors of cherry, cassis, and dark berry meld for a mellow study in near perfection.  The tannins are so soft and well rounded that you won't even realized you've finished your sip until is long gone.

This is not a big bold California Cab.  But it is a fantastic and delicious wine.  Like with almost all the best wines Pris and I kept pouring glass after glass until most of the bottle was gone.  We probably could have finished it, but I had work and I would have been a denied an excellent refresher before writing this post.

We're not the only ones that think the 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon is and incredible wine.  Its rated 96 points by Wine Spectator, and listed as #5 in the top 100 wines of 2010.  Similarly, The Wine Advocate ranks this Cab at 95 points.

You can pair the Altamura with pretty much anything its so mellow and versatile.  We went with the usual Sunday Steak.  Or, you may just want to drink this wine on its own and savor its incredible flavors all on their own.

The 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon isn't cheap as it runs about $86 a bottle (I did say it was a splurge).  I got ours at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, and you can find it online for a comparable price.  For more information on the Altamura Winery you can visit:  http://www.altamura.com/