Tuesday night was the Call me a Cab wine tasting night in Bel Air. It consisted of five wines, Chateau Saintengey Bordeaux (white), Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose, Mercedes Eguren Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, and Twenty Rows Cabernet Sauvignon.

The first wine of the evening was the Chateau Saintengey Bordeaux 2007. It fits the Cab theme, eventhough it is a Sauvignon Blanc because Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc are the parent grapes that created the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. This version of the bordeaux is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon grapes. The wine tasted like most Sauvignon Blancs, grassy with a touch of grapefruit juice and lemon zest, crisp light wine, high in acid. Sauvignon blanc is not one of my favorite grapes most days, for me its best on a warm day in the sun, or with crab dishes.

Next we tried the Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2008 from South Africa. This wine was a rose version of the Cabernet Sauvignon, (the grape skins were pulled out early in the wine making process to create a pink wine). This wine is unlike the famous rose White Zinfandel, it is not sweet. It smelled of strawberry and cherries, it has the flavors of berries, cherries, and a spicy peppery end that lingers for a little after drinking.

Next was the Mercedes Eguren, Spain 2006 (link to notes for a different year IN ENGLISH). Some of the Mercedes Egurin wines are served at the Mercedes factory in Stuttgart, Germany when customers come to look at the cars. The wine had a predominant berry flavor, a bit stronger blackberry flavor then strawberry, with a hint of cherry.

The fourth wine was Columbia Crest 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, USA. On the nose you could smell cherries and berries. Flavor strawberry, cherry, tannic (drier finish) hint of cocoa at end.

Finally was the Twenty Rows 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, California. Flavor of dark fruits like blackberries, currants and smokey, balance of acid and tannins, to create some moisture and dryness on the palate. Personal favorite of the night, but also after having 5 wines with a few topping off refills.