Matthews Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Ripe plum skin, black currants and a sweet and smoky spice. With some air the wine picks up some weight, adding black cherries and spice. The palate is thick but weightless, with great composure and sweet, silky tannins.

FLAVORS

This is a big, opulent wine that presents with a deep ruby color and loads of ripe black fruit— cassis, cherry, currant and plumskin. The barrel notes are not subtle either, with tobacco, truffles, and cedar coming through on both the the nose and palate. But despite all that show, it’s a very composed wine. When contrasted with the sultry, contemplative Matthews Merlo, the Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and showy, but still easy to approach and easy to drink. This wine will hit its prime drinking window at around 5 years and continue to show in its youthful form through 12 or even 14 years.

PAIRINGS

The Cabernet Sauvignon is full­-bodied, high in tannins, and high in acid, making it an excellent candidates for cellaring and a classic companion for grilled meats—steaks, lamb and game. It loves to be paired with with bitter vegetables, such as broccoli rabe or escarole. It’s also a complex wine, which means it’s at its best with simple, honest meals that let it show off all its moves. It will enhance and be enhanced by earthy flavors like mushroom, smoke and roasted tomato. This wine doesn’t need to be the center of attention, but you better believe it will be heard.