Happy Spring Everyone!
The vernal equinox, which marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, was right on time this year. However, it seems as if Mother Nature still has some winter left on her plate and she is taking her time with it! While I would ordinarily be thinking about a lighter red or maybe even a rosé for this post, there is obviously some time left for a larger-styled red wine before it gets too warm.
With that in mind, I want to introduce you to a wine that is both a delicious everyday drinker and a remarkable bargain—Sean Minor Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016. The Four Bears is a value-oriented line of wines named as a tribute to Sean’s four children, but make no mistake—these wines deliver on quality and the Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception.
Instead of being a decent porch-pounder, I found the Four Bears Cabernet Sauvignon to be a wine that I wanted to savor; and it rewarded my patience with a constantly evolving taste profile. In fact, I found it downright uncommon for a wine that costs less than $15.00 to be this interesting.
When I inspected the bottle, I noticed the pleasantly low alcohol content of 13.5% ABV. This is especially notable as the wine is from Paso Robles, an AVA known for warm temperatures and ripe fruit.
In the glass, the wine had a deep garnet hue, with definite notes of cassis, a pleasant herbal quality, and a hint of truffle on the nose. However, it evolved in thirty or so minutes, with much of the herbal and truffle notes being replaced by violet and plum.
Upon my initial taste, I got cassis, of course, with the slight herbal quality, dark cherry, and dark chocolate. Later, as the wine opened, I detected additional notes of blackberry and plum. It had a medium-to-long, fairly complex finish.
Sean Minor has truly hit the ball out of the park with this one. I recommend that you stop by O’Bryan’s Wine and Spirits and try it for yourself. We have a very nice covered patio, which is enclosed and heated during the cold months, where you can relax after work and enjoy a glass. I hope to see you there!
Frank