Knocks to the Black Box?

Name: Black Box - Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Sauvignon

Country/Region: Chile 

Year/Price: NV, $5 (500ml)

Critique Review: Deep cherry color and slight oak on the nose. Low expectations but this aligned well with my taste buds. Berry forward cab that is nice with my rib eye. A very simple wine, red berries, low tannin and white pepper, but enjoyable enough.

Reference Flavors: Black Cherry, Black Currant, Plum, Cedar, Spice, Vanilla, Oak, Caramel, Raspberry

My Review: This Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby red with noticeable viscosity. On the nose, I picked up black currant, a little plum, and some cedar spice. The taste is rich and smooth, with dark fruit flavors and a slightly dry, tannic finish. It’s got a decent structure, but it’s still easy enough to drink.

I had this with country-style chicken tenders and honey mustard, which actually worked pretty well. The wine’s dark fruit and oak flavors contrasted nicely with the crispy, salty breading, and the sweetness of the honey mustard balanced out some of the tannins. It might not be the perfect pairing, but for a budget-friendly Cab, it held up fine with a casual meal... for the price, no knocks to black box!