Three Wines for a Jackson

Andrew Jackson likes wine? I am not sure about that one, but if you have a bill with his face on it, you can purchase any three of these wines and they won't leave you feeling green after your first glass.

So, I just bought and tried out these wines. I have only had the Simi before, but it was such a long time ago, that it doesn't count. 

First wine: Simi Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005. This is a great example of a Healdsburg variety of wine. The wines from this region typically have a minerally and grassy taste to the aftertaste of the bouquet. This makes these wines distinctive and exceptionally aromatic. These are my favorite California wines. This Simi is well priced for the quality of the wine. It has a upfront nose of rich fruit and a good warmth followed by that wonderful field flavor. 

Second wine. Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005. Out of the three this was my second favorite. It was rich and full of fruit. This wine was very smooth and had little acidity to it. Very easy to drink. It had a long lingering sweet aftertaste.

Third wine. Amber Knolls Vineyard Est. 75 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005. This wine had a bit more acidity and spiciness to it. It was not a delicate wine, but aimed to be a more powerful cabernet full of oak and tannic acidity. I think this wine needs to mellow about another 3-5 years before it settles down and reaches a mature balance in its bouquet. For now, I would drink this with with spicy dishes and heavy meats.

In the end, I recommend buying a case of the Simi. It's a heck of a deal for the quality of the wine. It could be selling for much more, but don't let them know that. Buy it now before it's rated highly and the price skyrockets.