Tasting -- Rex-Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy February! For this week, I tried Rex-Goliath's Giant 47 Pound Rooster Cabernet Sauvignon with my boyfriend. He knew I was taking this wine class so he picked up a bottle for our homemade Valentine's Day dinner. Now let's see how he did...

Name of the Wine: Rex-Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Country/Region Origin: United States (California)

Vintage Year: I think 2020

Price: $7-$15 range

Wine Critic Review: According to Vivino.com, this bottle received a 3.2 out of 5 star rating. Many people rated the wine to be bold, dry, a little tannic, and in-between soft and acidic. Most people got oaky, red fruit, and black fruit notes. One reviewer said "Sometimes you buy an item simply because it's cheap, and end up being surprised by it. Count this as one of those times... Medium ruby in color, with a nose of cherry and raspberry. The body is fairly thin, but that's not unexpected at this price point. Flavors of cherry and prune, with a very slight chemical astringent quality. Drinks more like a blend than a cabernet. The finish is short to medium. All in all, treat this one as a budget-conscious "I just want to drink some wine tonight" choice and enjoy."

https://www.vivino.com/US/en/rex-goliath-cabernet-sauvignon/w/15265

The company describes the wine as "'Our star grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, is the king of all reds. We think its a perfect fit for His Royal Majesty. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium- to full-bodied wine with juicy blackberry, sweet plum, and pepper spice flavors. Great for informal gatherings such as picnics, casual get-togethers, or Tuesday night dinners or bold enough to impress the most discerning critics. This regal wine is ready to be paired with herb-roasted beef, leg of lamb, Brie, cheddar, or chocolate. - Mark Ferguson, Winemaker At the turn of the century, HRM His Royal Majesty Rex Goliath was a treasured circus attraction. Weighing in at 47lbs, Rex was billed as the Worlds Largest Rooster. Our wines are a tribute to Rexs larger than life personality with big, fruit-forward flavors sure to please."

Wine Folly: Cabernet Sauvignon Characteristics

"FRUIT: black cherry, black currant and blackberry OTHER: black pepper, tobacco, licorice, vanilla and violet
OAK: Yes. Usually 9-18 months French oak. Some American & Hungarian oak
TANNIN: Medium (+)
ACIDITY: Medium (+)
ABV: 13.5-15.5%

COMMON SYNONYMS: In France, Bordeaux wines often blend with Cab. In Italy, it’s common to see Supertuscan wines containing Cab. In Spain, Priorat wines often use Cab.
OTHER NAMES (rare):
Bouchet, Bouche, Petit-Bouchet, Petit-Cabernet, Petit-Vidure, Vidure, Sauvignon Rouge

Since Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in a wide range of climates and regions throughout the world it has varied flavors. Fundamentally speaking, Cab is a full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavors and savory tastes from black pepper to bell pepper." -- 112

My Review: This wine was definitely bold! It was very dry and I quickly found out my boyfriend does not enjoy dry wines. I mostly tasted flavors of blackberry and blueberry. For a cheaper wine, I thought it was well-balanced with some tannic components. I would definitely drink this again but I would pair it with a different food. 

We made penne alla vodka, which is a very creamy, rich sauce with pasta. I felt as if the wine overpowered the flavors from the pasta dish and I could definitely see how this might pair better with a piece of steak or lamb. I feel like our dish of penna alla vodka would've paired better with a lighter, more acidic red wine or a white Sauvignon Blanc.