Tried the Mantra 75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon at Tannins (wine bar/restaurant in San Juan Capistrano). I have tried it several times before and still think of it as the poor mans' Silver Oak (Alexander Valley). Luscious, sexy fruit, a supple wine with nice body and with enough character to keep you thinking. The fruit comes 75% from Alexander Valley (for the sexiness) and 25% from Dry Creek Valley to give it some complexity. Lots of black fruit (blackberries and such). A very pretty wine. Don't go into it, expecting a carbon copy of Silver Oak, it is not quite as syrupy, but then again you are paying $22 instead of $70.
4 comments:
Hmmm, from the label, can we assume it was the 2003? I think the 2004 has a black label...FYI: The '04 got 89 pts from Robert Parker, Jr...I'll add this to my list-to-try!
Hola Chad!
Our store sells two different wines by Mantra... and both are cabs. The black label which you are speaking of is their Sonoma cab and sells for $19.95. Their Alexander Valley cab is the one with the Silver Label. I have not tried the Sonoma cab, but according from reviews from our wine staff, you are much better off paying three bucks extra for a much better cab.
There aren't a lot of Sonoma Cabs that I really like...Sonoma Chards, Zins, and Pinots, yes, but not their Cabs.....
Many of my friends really like Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab over their Napa Cab, but, again, I prefer their Napa...
I went to a Silver Oak vertical tasting 2 years ago that Silver Oak sponsored for Hi-Time at the Napa Rose. Was awesome. We tried several years of their Napa and Alexander Valley cabs. I tended to favor the Alexander Valley. Different strokes for different folks is the moral to the story.
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