2018 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
Divvy-Up
80 Points
Tasting Notes
91 Pts, The Tasting Panel
The 2018 Ballard Lane Cabernet Sauvignon is influenced by the warm days and cool nights of the interior valleys of Paso Robles and Southern Monterey County. The wine shows primary aromas of boysenberry, raspberry, cassis and ripe cherry with hints of Paso Robles dust and baking spices. The palate brings broad, ripe black and red berry fruit, balanced with richness and finesse on the mid-palate, and finishing with round tannins.
Comments
This is my first time as a Previewer but not my first time writing up a bottle of wine. Thank you Divy-Up for this opportunity. I tasted this Cabernet over two days. First day with smoked pork ribs and fresh corn salad. The second day with a taco salad made with Flannery beef Berserker blend hamburger. Even given the day apart and the different meals, the Cabernet tasted the same both days. There is no “nose” to speak of. First taste is cranberry followed by marionberry. There are no “legs” in the glass. The aftertaste is like having a drink of pure cranberry juice, kind of sour, but not in a bad way. This wine is meant to be consumed now. It is not the best Cabernet I have ever had, nor it is the worse. If you bring this wine to a party, it should be served after the more expensive wines are consumed. I liked the taste, just wish it had a longer finish. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for the review parakeet and the pairing descriptions. Definitely need to upgrade my meal planning. Sounds delicious...
Deep plum in the glass, opaque, with violet edges. Inviting nose with bramble fruit and some spice; almost like raspberry leaf and freshly cut logs. Very fruity on the palate, slightly sweet. Mostly raspberry, medium body, short finish. Tannic grip is in the background, but it asserts itself on repeated sips. No perceptible oak.
My wife said “it smells like raspberry jam, raisins, and fresh cut oak. Not as fruity on the palate as the nose suggests, tastes like raisins or ‘earthy fruit’”. She said that “the palate is muted, tastes like oak but not vanilla. Good ‘medium acidity’ that isn’t sharp but provides a solid backbone to the wine. The wine is on the thinner side and easy to drink.” She thought that it would hold up to food but liked that it didn’t *need* food.
Overall, it is a well-made, easy to drink crowd-pleaser. It would fit in well at a party or backyard barbecue, with enough stuffing to handle roast pork or chicken. Happy to answer further questions if you have them. Thanks to Alice and the WCC crew for giving me the chance to sample this bottle and to Ballard lane for the quality juice. Salut!
Apparently there are no secrets online. Salut @lizard_1623173369895 and thanks for the helpful review
Thank you for the informative PrevView. Sounds like my kind of cab. :)
I had the opportunity to also sample this (thanks @lizard_1623173369895 for sharing while things grilled) and I would agree. I would only differ from his assessment in that I didn't get raspberry on the palate, just on the nose.
I'm impressed you found me @DrHellKnow! I was attempting to start a new digital life, hiding under the pseudonym @lizard_1623173369895!
You're going to have to hide a little harder than this! 😂
It's hard to hide on the internet.
Thanks for chiming in.