No Wine Glasses In The ‘Jumpy’.
On last weekend’s agenda was not one, but two children’s birthday parties. Part one was on Saturday, when my buddy Fernando’s little girl Jade turned five. My wife and I pulled up around 2, to find a large, inflatable ‘jumpy’ in the driveway and several small children zipping around the yard. The theme was “Jade’s Hawaiian Birthday” so plastic leis were everywhere and there was lots of Hawaiian food in big banquet/caterer’s tins. I walked in with a bottle of wine. Fernando already had one open…
As the kid’s bounced and the mothers talked about car seats, Fernando and I sat on his deck, clinked our glasses and watched the sun slowly sink in the Western sky. I had picked up an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon for $12.99, and didn’t really expect much. It was the 2006 Cannonball California Cabernet Sauvignon, and boy was I in for a surprise.
Aside from having a really cool label, the Cannonball cab delivers on so many levels (although Cannonballs are not allowed in the jumpy either).
Apparently winemaker Dennis Hill and the folks at Cannonball are “…dead serious about spreading our love and passion for wine by offering great wines at great prices.” The label says it’s a “California” wine; by not sticking to just one area (Sonoma or Paso Robles etc), he has “…the flexibility to build upon the powerful taste profile consistently with the “best available” approach.” Most of the fruit comes from Mendicino County, and the blend is 77% Cabernet, 15% Petite Sirah, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Syrah.
I have to say, the result is a really approachable Cab that doesn’t have the typical low-price, heavy handed wine-making qualities that I expected. Lots of fresh, sweet berries on the nose, and a burst of cherries and raspberries on the palate with hints of pepper (probably from the Syrah), caramel and chocolate. Nice, smooth tannins and a long finish. A fantastic Saturday afternoon drink with catered Hawaiian food, or all by itself.
For $12.99? I ‘took the plunge’, went back and bought half a case (apologies for bad diving pun).
