Wine Wednesday: Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’re looking for a Cabernet Sauvignon to try, then look no further than Conn Creek’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Bill and Kathy Collins bought 54 acres of Zinfandel vines in northern Napa Valley in 1968 and brought the grapes to their friend’s basement in Los Altos where they created one of the great classics of the seventies, according to Robert Parker (he’s a leading wine critic!). In 1979, Bill Collins and his crew built the Conn Creek Winery in the Rutherford appellation. In what was perhaps the first “green” winery building in Napa Valley, they installed 12”-thick walls made of styrofoam, steel mesh, gunite and a total of 20,000 corks. This energy-efficient design–ground-breaking for its time–drew the attention of architects from all over the world. Variations on this type of construction have been used in buildings and wineries worldwide ever since.

Now that you can feel good about drinking wine from a “green” winery building, let’s talk about the actual taste of this incredible Cab. The first words that came to my mind were smooth, balanced, and fruity. There aren’t any tannins and the taste doesn’t stick with you, nor is there a tartness. This Cabernet Sauvignon is delicious and your taste buds will thank you for drinking it! 

From the winemakers, “Initial aromas of red fruits recede to reveal mixed dark berries, cassis, Moroccan spices and vanilla. The fruits carry into the flavors and are framed with hints of cocoa and anise. The generous fruit envelopes finely textured tannins leading to a soft yet fresh finish.” 

Retailing for around $30, this bottle hits the mark by far!