Review of Parducci True Grit Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

Ah, Cabernet Sauvignon… Is there any other grape in the world that produces such muscular and interesting wines? Well, sure there are, but Cab is the granddaddy of all that is tannic and full-bodied! When I think about super premium Cabernet Sauvignon, my mind automatically drifts to Pauillac, Bordeaux, and northern California. Of course it is my opinion, but these spots to me are where Cabernet can really find itself. Wines that are powerful, rich, intense, and sometimes mind-blowing tend to rock and roll from these two regions of the world. Napa Valley has truly established itself as a dominant force in northern California, but let us not forget what lies north of Sonoma County, a true jewel of a wine region, Mendocino County.

The wine up for review is a wine representing not only a winery with great history, but one that happens to be the oldest winery in Mendocino County as a matter of fact. They produce a line of wines that also represents the True Grit Texas mentality. The Parducci family migrated from Tuscany to northern California to launch Parducci in 1932 in Ukiah, California. The Thornhill family of Texas, led by proprietor Tim Thornhill, runs the show at Parducci these days and the Thornhill family sought out to embrace the rugged north of California to produce focused, fearlessly distinct wines and I personally think it shows in the character of their product.

On to the vino shall we?! Entombed in typical fashion, this wine sleeps in a Bordeaux style bottle endeared with a classically clean label. Nothing over the top, just a get it done sort of label with style and with the heart of a native Texan. Removing the cork immediately reveals green and mentholated notes, which I happen to really, really love. Even before pouring the wine in the glass, I already knew this wine was going to suit my tastes. In the glass the wine pours a deep ruby with a slightly lighter rim. The nose is quite layered for such a youthful wine showcasing notes of black currant, black cherries, vegetal notes, bell pepper, and menthol. The palate is similar, but offers up nuances of flamboyant black fruits, coffee bean, mint, and the mouthfeel is quite dusty, which is a complement to the True Grit namesake. This wine ends with a fairly long and supple finish on the back palate.

Specifications:

Parducci True Grit Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 vintage
Winemaker: Bob Swain
Appellation: Mendocino County, California, select vineyards
Grape varieties: 99.75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0.25% Petit Verdot
Barrels: 16 months in 15% new French oak, 7% new American oak, 78% neutral barrels
Clarity/brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no evidence of gas or sediment
Tannins: High
Acidity: Medium
Alcohol: Medium plus
Finish: Medium plus
Alcohol by volume: 14.5%
pH: 3.69
Retail price: $30.00

This is a truly a Cab Sauv for the diverse palate. If you’re seeking a powerful fruit and tannin bomb from the Napa Valley floor, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. This wine shows interesting depth and concentration, but with less muscle and more fragrant green and mentholated notes. The Carménère lovers out there will be drooling at the very first swirl of a glass of this stuff! The price point for a wine of this caliber is quite fair, at a suggested retail price of just $30.00.

My honest thoughts are buy it and drink it now for a youthful and complex wine. Cellar it for a later date to coax softer components from the evolving liquid abyss. I personally prefer a little more muscle in my Cabs, but this wine is very drinkable and offers enough substance to really get you thinking. It gets an A+ in my book for quality and balance, with a swath of complexity to swim though as you geek out and savor every drop of this wine.

Be sure and swing by the Parducci website http://www.parducci.com to scan their selection and order your own bottles of True Grit!

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.