Parker tweets, we taste.

WINE TALK
1

From a retailer email blast.
If this guy is willing to say so, we must be willing to do a boardwide tasting of this wine. Be ready for the weekend of 22nd ,23rd & the 24th of November.

Robert Parker tweeted “Best Cabernet in the world for $17.00…"
and we have it on sale for $13.99 by the bottle, $12.99 BY THE CASE!!
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Reg. $17.99 Sale $13.99 By the Case $12.99
From the exceptional vineyards of Sonoma and Napa counties, the Martini family winemakers have crafted world-class Cabernet Sauvignon wines for over 75 years. Louis M. Martini embodied a simple, honest premise: The best grapes make the best wines. Carrying on the tradition, third-generation winemaker Michael Martini has created a range of unforgettable Cabernet Sauvignons at the historic Napa Valley winery.

The grapes for our 2011 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon were primarily selected from some of our most renowned vineyards in the county. We looked to Stefani Ranch and Frei Brothers Ranch in the Dry Creek Valley and Barrelli Creek Ranch in the Alexander Valley to provide a distinctive expression of Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. We used a mix of machine- and hand-harvesting, which allowed us to pick at the optimal time for each vineyard. The mild growing season of 2011 gave our grapes the opportunity to ripen without over producing sugar.-Winemaker Notes

2

OMG this wine is terrible!!! Wow.

I recommended it to a friend looking for a $15 ish wine, as other vintages seemed pretty good, but 2011’s version is quite bad, and I was embarrassed I recommended it.

3

seem to recall this from quite a while back. also iirc there are 2 wines by martini very close in name and you have to make sure to get the one rp is talikng about.

4

yes, they make both a Napa and a Sonoma bottling. The Napa is a bit more expensive, still around $20. I usually prefer the Sonoma.

5

Parker has lost it.

6

IIRC the Sonoma County is usually ~$10 at Costco. In some years it’s pretty good, for the price.

7

yet another example of why one should not drink and tweet.

8

Perhaps Martini hacked into Bob’s Twitter account. I just received an email blast from a local retailer and they were raving about this wine. I guess don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

9

I remember McManis Cabernet well. it sucked.

10

+1

11

My thoughts exactly.

12

When did he have it?

13

FIFY

14

i’d be curious to know how many people here who think parker has lost it, think he ever “had” it?

15

Poor use of English, he meant to say “The best Cabernet for 17 bucks that you can buy in the world”.

I think I’d rather have a few beers than drink it though

16

I agree that’s what he meant, but I still think he’s lost it.

17

In this general cost range Martini makes Alexander Valley, Napa Valley and the Somoma Coast. You can usually pick up the SC for as little as $9-$10 but $13 is petty common. For the money, I think it’s a pretty decent cab…remember $9-$13 grocery store wine and the RMP score is sure to boost the sales among the 95% of non wine geeks. I prefer the Alexander Valley if I’m stuck with those choices.

18

Yeah, but how many points did Darth Pointer give it?

19

i’d be curious to know how many people here who think parker has lost it, think he ever “had” it?

Probably the same number who have, like Parker, tasted tens of thousands of wines over 40 years.

He does seem to tweet and post while in elevated spirits though.

20

I’ve had this wine in past years and thought it was fine. But honestly, what is out there in in the sub $15 level for California Cab. Slim pickings, right?