For August, I took more of a “drink less, drink better” approach to wine. Perfect timing too, with Enowine’s Icon wine tasting of some well regarded Cabernet blends. So, it’s a good time to get to know “good” Cabernet blends a little better.

Up first was the Rustenberg John X Merriman 2003.

This time it’s the Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California (available from O’Brien’s wine for €27).

Why Clos du Val?

I had just finished George Taber’s Judgment of Paris, an account of how, in 1976, wines made by some upstart winemakers from California outscored some top tipples from Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the Californian wines that scored highly.

I haven’t tried many American Cabernets though I recently enjoyed the Ernest & Julio Gallo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, courtesy of the Corkscrew wine shop in Dublin.

How did it go down?

If the truth be told, I shared this with friends at about 3am in the morning after a great meal in Peploe’s restaurant, Dublin and a feed of wine to match.

That said, this still stood out as a great wine that I thought it merited a mention and one that I’ll definitely go back to soon, though perhaps with a cleaner palate and a clearer mind.