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February Virtual Tasting 2012 Saviah Cellars THE JACK Cabernet Sauvignon @Saviah

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The February Virtual Tasting

Featured this month was the Saviah Cellars 2012 The Jack Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley. This wine retails for $18 and is widely available. The tasting took place on twitter, Thursday, February 26th, from 7-8 pm Pacific.

What you needed to participate in this virtual tasting:
1. Buy this month’s wine from the winery or a local retailer
2. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8 pm Pacific on the specified date using the hashtag #saviah. For those on Twitter, follow @wawinereport.

Check Washington Wine Report for future virtual tastings.

We discussed aromas, flavors, label design, price, availability and general thoughts. Most participants rated this wine a "BUY" after an hour of tasting and tweeting, especially at the price.

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Tasting Notes 2012 Saviah Cellars THE JACK

Color: Ruby purple.
Nose: Cherry, sharpened pencil.
Palate: Fruit, dark plum, cherry, brambly, coffee, smooooth, only a little tingle.

After 15 minutes: Focused with enjoyable dark fruit and dark finish. Black cherry, pepper, brown sugar, light tobacco on the nose. Like.

After 30 minutes: Tannin showed, fine tannin on the tongue, nice tingle too. Some dark fruit, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, fine tannin, slightly bitter on the finish. Would be fantastic with lightly seasoned steak of course. Started to open up after 35 minutes with earthy dark nose, some violets and cherry cordial, chocolate on the palate, grippy on gums, bigger and less bitter on the finish.

At 1 hour: Some herbaceous flavors mid-palate, fruit focused to the front, smoky meatiness (I liked), salt, light soil, dry cherry, good grip on gums, acid present, bitter coffee into finish. Came together.

At 3 hours: Heavier, more concentrated, dark fruit, cherry, savory, dark chocolate, wow, very good and an enjoyable finish. 

At 4 hours: Silky, dry, dark cherry, smoky, vanilla, tea, chocolate. My speed. Showed well.

Day two: Inky purple color. Big time fruit and coffee/chocolate on the  nose, blackberry, blueberry, lovers breath, floral, white pepper, cherry - gorgeous. Dark and luscious, blueberry, blackberry, tar, cola, orange, tobacco, round mid-palate with pleasant weight, super fine tannin, graphite coating on the finish. Hint of heat. Drink me. Thankful I saved enough for two glasses.

Thoughts: 2012 featured near perfect growing conditions according to many Washington growers and winemakers. The 2012 vintage is starting to show well. Definitely less fruit that some of the tasters did not appreciate. Most of us rated this wine a "Buy." Still developing in bottle, decant if you drink now, suspect this will improve in bottle as it showed well at the 3-4 hour window. Fantastic on the second day, even with a little heat. Terrific value. Recommended.

Another fun and engaging wine tasting with friends. Thank you Sean!

Blend: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
Vineyards: Baachus Vineyard, Elephant Mountain Vineyard, Lonesome Springs Vineyard, Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Mirage Vineyard, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Seven Hills Vineyard
Closure: Screw Cap
ABV: 14.3%
Richard Funk, Winemaker/Owner
Production: 3,659 cases
SRP: $18
Paid: $16.99

Saviah Cellars
1979 J B George Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Phone: (509) 522-2181
www.saviahcellars.com

In 2000, Saviah Cellars was established and produced its first commercial vintage of just 300 cases. Today the winery produces 18,000 cases. Add them to your list.

Cheers!

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