Purchased at BevMo in Los AngelesMy photos are back and hopefully to stay (I have an slightly easier system now)

Regular Price - $7.99

Sale Price - $5.99

Alcohol - 13.5%

We're back with a fresh review after a great vacation in Temecula wine country (more can be read about that here).  This cabernet, Challis Lane, is promised by Wilfred Wong to be a 90 point wine for the sale price of 6 dollars.  This is a very, very high review for such an affordable wine.  I attend to give this wine my full attention ;)

Pop and Pour

On the Nose - Beef jerky, plum, cassis (aka currant), a little bit of yeast and soy sauce

It's not a 90 pointer, but there is something tasty about this wine.  It has some sweet, yet tart flavors that make me want to take another sip.  The beef jerky/steak fragrance is so appealing and very apparent on the nose.  There is less of it in the mouth, but I can taste it a little along with some tart plums and some slightly bitter raspberries.  The wine is pretty light for a cabernet, but not too much so.  It is pretty smooth with no apparent tannins.  This could be mistaken for a merlot any day, I think.

After an Hour

On the Nose - Beef steak/jerky, raspberry, plum, spice

The same tart flavors of plum and raspberries linger.  There is a fair bit of oak in this wine, which is why it is so sweet as well as being tart.  I would say this wine is actually a little too sweet, for my palate at least.  But, the spicy berry flavors are nice, even though they're a bit simple.

Summary - 87 points

I think this is a pretty decent Cabernet for the price.  Many people will like this for the sweetness, but the acid will allow it to pair very well with pizza and barbeque.  The meatiness on the nose is very nice and will allow the wine to pair very well with, say, a sirloin.  A great everyday wine.

Kind of a generic cork, but a nice design still