Apothic Cab Cabernet Sauvignon
Apothic Cab is Apothic’s take on the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal.
While they have others that have Cab in the blend, this is their first wine that’s labeled as Cabernet Sauvignon only.
Keep reading to find out why I think it’s actually a blend…
By the way, I’ve reviewed many of the other Apothic Wines. Such as:
Apothic White (Their white wine blend.)
Apothic Red (Apothic’s first wine.)
Apothic Dark (A mysterious red blend with a novel taste.)
Apothic Crush (Another red blend, which I liked better than Apothic Dark.)
Apothic Rose (Apothic’s entry into Rose.)
Apothic Brew (A coffee infused red blend that some are saying is becoming hard to find.)
Apothic Inferno (Their trendy Bourbon barrel red wine.)
Apothic Cab Cabernet Sauvignon Review
From the bottle:
Immerse your senses in this smooth Cabernet. Hints of jammy dark fruit and aromas of vanilla blend with a silky smooth texture that boldly lingers on the palate.
And, SPOILER ALERT, the bottle label notes are spot on.
I tasted the 2019 vintage of Apothic Cab Cabernet Sauvignon.
Appearance
Apothic Cab poured pretty dark for a Cabernet.
Some light did shine through, but overall it looked like a Zin / Cab blend would look.
Legs were very slow to fall and close spaced.
Aroma
The wine’s aroma was medium in intensity with a definite hint of vanilla.
I also picked up some initial, very light, gumdrop spice when I first opened the bottle. It quickly faded.
Additionally, there was little to no burn of alcohol in the nose.
Apothic Cab Cabernet Sauvignon alcohol content 13.9% by volume, per the bottle.
Overall, a pleasant and not too “in your face” aroma, which I guess is what I was expecting.
Taste
On the palate, I sensed notes of caramel and vanilla that sat along with the jammy dark red fruits you’d expect from this wine.
I also noted a hint of mocha mousse.
While certainly on the sweeter side, I wouldn’t call it a sugar bomb. But almost…
Overall, very tasty and much more refined than other Apothic wines I’ve tasted.
Mouthfeel and Tannins
Mouthfeel was quite smooth and silky.
Tannins were pretty much impossible to find. Which caused me to wonder if maybe there was some extra filtration that occurred with this wine.
Finish
Not surprisingly, Apothic Cab finished long and smooth.
My Overall Opinion of Apothic Cab
Overall, I found this wine to be very enjoyable. It may even be my favorite Apothic wine so far.
I can see that Apothic went for a more refined red with Apothic Cab and I can appreciate that.
It’s difficult to find the “official” varietal compositions for Apothic wines, but I can tell this is definitely not a straight Cabernet Sauvignon.
It’s more of a “twist” on Cabernet Sauvignon, as they go on to say on the bottle label.
Most likely it’s a blend that’s primarily Cab. Perhaps 80%. But I would guess also Merlot, Zinfandel, and/or Syrah.
It’s just too jammy to be a straight Cab.
What it is though, is a smooth sipper that I believe will appeal to many. Especially given the just under $10.00 price tag.
Apothic Cab Cabernet Sauvignon price $9.99.
Food Pairing
Like most Cabernet Sauvignon or Cab blends, Apothic Cab will pair well with any roasted or grilled red meats.
It would also play nicely as a silky fireside sipper on its own.
Enjoy!
It is a Modesto sweet plonk. I poured it out and opened a good wine. Pairs well with Pop Tarts.
What the heck is “gumdrop spice”?
Think of it like anise or licorice, with a bit of candy-like sweetness to the aroma.
I too sampled the Apothic Cabernet (AP hereinafter) and I must say you were spot on in your sense of the brew. I believe the blend is perhaps 15% Merlot and then a third type such as Zinfandel. The wine is just not a total Cab as I was expecting.
I also thought the price point under $10 is quite a value given the quality of the wine but I am presently studying the South American Cabernets and I must say prices are getting pushed down meaning $10 can get you a very good deal.
I do appreciate your approach an look forward to future reviews.
Hey Keith, thanks for the thoughtful comment, I appreciate it!
Ya, you may be on to something with your thoughts of it being 15% Merlot. Definitely not a total Cab, as you said.
There’s a lot of great value in the South American wines, including the Cabs. You’re smart to be studying those.
I’m glad to hear you like my approach! I have no plans to stop reviewing wines, so future reviews are on their way…
Cheers good sir!
Jon
I think you need new reading glasses. The alcohol contest is 13.5% not the 13.9% you stated in your article. However I appreciate what you wrote and I think everybody makes mistakes and that’s a minor one.
Thanks for the comment, Stanley!
What vintage are you looking at? I was looking at the 2019. It’s possible the alcohol content is different in later vintages.
Or, like you said, I need new reading glasses!
Cheers!
Jon