Alamos Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Steve Kubota rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

I had the pleasure of sitting down with winemaker Felipe Stahlschmidt and brand ambassador Tatiana Nessier for a private wine tasting session. Alamos currently has five wines available in Canada and this wine review is the third in the series.

Most of the wines crafted by Alamos come from the vineyards located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. These vineyards are not all at the same elevation but are situated between 3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. The combination of high altitude and arid dessert conditions help produce concentrated berries or “fruit” with fuller expressions in flavour. The soils comprised mainly of alluvial and silt make up important parts of the terroir add layers of depth and minerality to the wine.

The 2013 vintage began with a cooler growing season that led to wines with heightened bright acidity, lower sugar levels and intense aromatics. Cooler temperatures at harvest allowed the vineyards and winemakers hang their fruit a little longer than normal. With excellent acidity and tannin structure, wines from this vintage will offer consumers enjoy the wine now and for a few years longer than normal.

The Alamos 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a prime example of this good fortune. The fruit was hand-harvested, destemmed and crushed. The must was chilled and cold-soaked for three days prior to fermentation to extract as much colour, tannins and flavour possible. The wine was fermenting in upright and conical tanks at 85F and some as long as eight-days. Half the wine was aged in French and American oak prior to bottling.

This is a dark ruby, full-bodied, flavourful red that exhibited a full finish. The wine opens with cherries and plum aromas and a hint of peppers in the background. I found stewed plum and dried cherries on the pallet. The balance between French and American oak shows well here adding vanilla and spice with chewy but not too grippy tannins on the finish.

This is an outstanding grilled meat wine… I suggest trying it with a lean Buffalo bacon blue cheese burger and onion rings. This wine is meant to be enjoyed now and best before 2019.

Wine tasted on May 12th 2015

Brent Gushowaty rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Eye:
Ruby rim, medium depth

Nose:
Fresh, juicy red fruit. Cedar, medium intensity.

Palate:
Medium intensity blackcurrant, dark fruits. Fairly simple but long, balanced and has approachable tannins.


Value Rating: 90

Other Information:
Spent six months in French and American oak.

Date Tasted: May 12, 2015


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Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

A great value wine! Red currant, strawberry, cassis, oak and spice on the palate and also on the nose. Medium tannin, slightly grippy. A great steak wine.

Shelley Harris rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A wine filled with sweet berry, sugar and spice aromas and tastes. Would love to sip when served with a platter of strong cheeses, such as a smoked cheddar or Gorgonzola.

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Cassis, wth a bit of mint and vegetal aroma, with a taste that's big, round dark fruit. There are some round tanins and the finish is tannic currant and cherry.

Jane Staples rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Ripe strawberries and blueberries on the nose, ripe berry palate with mint, baking spice and oak. Enjoy with steak.