Bordeaux Versus California Cabernet Challenge

Tonight we have our first challenge show of 2025.

Bordeaux is home to some of the world’s most famous and expensive wines. Bordeaux wines are blends made mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However, additional grape varieties can include Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot, and Malbec in small amounts. According to the Oxford Companion to Wine, four new red wine grape varieties were approved for Bordeaux in 2021.

We will compare the Bordeaux blend to a Cabernet Sauvignon from California.  

Tonight, we are enjoying a California Cabernet and a Bordeaux Blend:

1. 2018 Tribute Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was purchased from Costco for $9.99, and comes from Livermore, California. It received a 90 rating from the Wine Enthusiast. Packed with black fruit flavors and robust in texture, this full-bodied wine offers oodles of blackberries and black cherries that are lightly accented with cinnamon and vanilla. It's moderately tannic and well balanced.
2. 2019 Chateau de Marsan. This wine was also purchased from Costco for $7.99. The wine comes from the Lestiac-sur-Garonne district in Cadillac and is made up of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet. It is aged 12 months in French oak barrels. Reverse Wine Snob says: Dark fruit, coffee, a little earthiness and some Asian spice. Smooth and juicy. Opens up after a couple of hours. Wine Enthusiast gave the wine a rating of 91.

Next week we will taste two wines from Greece:

1. Merastri Red Wine from Crete. This is a three-wine blend
2. Merastri White Wine from Crete. Four-wine blend.