Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon

There's nothing like starting your first year of law school to really make you appreciate a good glass of red wine on a Saturday night. A new wine and liquor store had opened up not too far from my house and had mailed out a sizable pack of coupons. No way I could pass up 2 dollars off of a 15 dollar bottle. Usually I look for bottles in the 10 dollars and under range, but this coupon allowed me to expand my horizons a bit. I had heard of Toasted Head before, but that's about it so I was looking forward to seeing what an extra 5 dollars does to a bottle of wine. Toasted Head boasts that their wine has a distinct flavor resulting from "toasting" the heads of the barrels in which the wine is aged, perhaps contributing to its deeper flavor outlined below. It is produced in eastern in California, where conditions are similiar but land is cheaper then neighboring Napa Valley, perhaps accounting for its relatively cheaper price and relatively high reviews. It certainty did not disappoint. It has a slightly lighter color than other reds but still has an intense purplish maroon. It has aromas typical of a Cabernet, with cherry predominating, but there's somethin else definitely there, but I cant quite put my finger (nose) on it, something sweeter, maybe overly ripe strawberries. It also has the typical Cabernet tastes of plumb and berries but it is here where the extra 5 dollars really becomes noticeable. The taste lasts much longer than a wine like Yellow tail and finishes with darker, deeper flavors reminiscent of smoky, dark chocolate with astonishingly smooth tannins. Definitely a good wine. Perfect for pasta with tons of mozzarella cheese and sauce loaded with peppers, spices and chicken sausage!