I’ve been wanting to get some Washington State wine on this site and I finally have my first with this Washington State Cabernet from Red Diamond.
Red Diamond is still a relatively new brand to see on the shelves. They released their first wine, a Merlot, in 2003 and they now have four varietals available: Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The Cabernet is the first one I’ve tried from this producer and I’m quite impressed.
From time to time I comment on the marketing behind the wines that I taste and I have to say that I love the packaging design from Red Diamond. It quickly caught my eye and now stands out every time I pass it on the shelf. It has a very bold and masculine look. And it’s masculine in a modern, Generation X kind of way—it’s not an old man/Hemingway masculine. The artwork has a dramatic, tribal tattoo style. And the label is printed with a raised ink technique that gives it an embossed feel. It’s a simple yet bold look, and an nontraditional design for a wine label—fitting for a wine as bold as this one.
Enough about the label, let’s get on to the tasting notes. The wine has a deep, rich ruby color. The nose features cherry cola, vanilla, blackberry and tobacco. The palate is rich with intense jammy blackberry, cherry and dark chocolate. It is silky smooth with a toasted oak finish and sufficient acidity.
After I take my notes often I like to see what the producer put in their notes and I usually find their notes to be total bullshit, but the notes for this one actually came it surprisingly close to my own: “Aromas of black cherry, blackberries, liqueur and hints of tobacco and smoke precede a rich, silky palate of cherry, chocolate and black fruits with a touch of toasty oak on the finish.”
I gave it an 89 and at $8.99 that makes this a great deal. I’d say enjoy it now as I expect the price on this one to creep up over the next few years if they can maintain this level of quality.
Wine: Red Diamond
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 89
Price Paid: $8.99
I spotted some 05 Red Diamond CS on 2/23/08 on sale for $5.99. Although I was tempted to buy two bottles (based on Tim’s 89 rating above and the low price), I, nevetheless, curbed my enthusiasm. Boy, am I glad I did. Unfortunately, what I got had apparently started turning to vinegar. In fairness to the wine maker, I believe this wine had not been stored properly, had probably sat too long in too much sun and heat and showed signs of being cooked. I went back to the vendor on this one and got a fair offer from him to try another one, recive a credit or receive a refund–my choice. I went with a credit against a purchase I was making anyway.