WTN: '05 Avalon Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Avalon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.54 at Wine Globe). Alcohol level: 13/8%. This was the first of a box with free shipping we received from Wine Globe. It did not disappoint in any way.

It gave cherries both red & black on the nose and upfront. Blackberries, some dust and a touch of spice hits the nose and all come over on the palate. Then comes a lovely, lingering finish. It is an easy drinker that has a lot going for it.

We matched it with shell steaks, baked potato, and salad. It was a very nice weekend dinner. Looking forward to the rest of the case.

[Jenise]

Is Wine Globe a club or an online retailer? New name to me.

Oh, and the shell steaks. What's a shell steak? I know I've seen the name and at one time knew which cut it is that I know by another name, but I can't remember now what is.

Wine Globe (http://www.wineglobe.com) is on online retailer located in Redwood City, CA; so getting free shipping from them was a good deal for us.

Shell steak is essentially a NY/KC strip with some bone still attached. If you take a T-bone or Porterhouse and remove the fillet and the the T, you have a shell steak left. Some folks call it a semi-boneless stip steak.

[Jenise]

Interesting retailer, Carl, just looked around their site. Nice range of stuff, though not especially favorable pricing except on some of the sale items. Was amused by their suggested wine pairings in their descriptions of each grape: merlot is the ONLY grape variety they don't recommend for "pasta/vegetarian" food. Would be fun to write them a really enraged letter claiming to head up the Merlot Defense Fund or somesuch.