Thick Skin Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Classic Movie Pairing
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)Perhaps the only movie celebrated as both a Halloween and Christmas classic, Tim Burton’s inventive musical features groundbreaking stop-motion animation and some very memorable music. It follows the spooky, spindly Jack Skellington as he attempts to kidnap Santa Claus and take his place on Christmas Eve. Only a modest success upon its initial release, its popularity has grown significantly in subsequent years. Enjoy it with this rich and well-rounded red, perfect for an offbeat but uniquely rewarding holiday story.
The Wine
Every great wine starts in the vineyard, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have a special advantage. Their thick skins help create beautifully dark, inky colors and intense fruit flavors in the final wine—as you’ll enjoy in this exclusive new release. Thick Skin hails from California’s premium Lodi region and the warm 2020 vintage, and was treated to six months in fine French oak barrels. Look forward to ripe black-fruit aromas plus hints of licorice and toasty spice. This is a rich, flavorful Cab that can stand up to hearty foods—see over for inspiration.
The Grape
Cabernet is the king of the reds, loved for its deep-colored, black currant-rich wines. Most famously, it’s the variety that powers Bordeaux’s legendary First Growths, like Château Lafite and Château Margaux. However, you’ll also find plenty of world-class examples in California. The best known (and expensive) reds come from the Napa Valley and Sonoma, but Lodi (just to the southeast of Napa) is a top place to look for serious flavor and value.
The Region
Located about 70 miles inland from Napa Valley, Lodi is “one of the top wine regions in the country,” where winemakers “have quietly started producing some of the state’s best wines” (vinepair.com). It benefits from a warm climate and cool fog, which helps prolong the grapes’ ‘hang time’ on the vine, for extra-concentrated flavors. While famous for Zinfandel, it’s also home to great Cab.
With Food
For maximum enjoyment, decant this bold Cabernet Sauvignon an hour before serving to open up its complex aromas and soften the texture. Delicious food pairings include barbecued fare (either meats or grilled veggies) or roasted meats (anything from beef to pork will pair well). You could also try it with a plate of charcuterie and firm, smoky cheeses.
What's Not to Love?
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