Full Review

Braganini

Braganini
2020 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Michigan Shore

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$39

Braganini
2020 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Michigan Shore

Pair this wine with:
Beef Vegetables

Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13%
Dusty garnet color. Aromas and flavors of black currant, fresh ground espresso beans, coconut butter, and pine sap with a velvety, vibrant, dry medium-to-full body and a tingling, interesting, medium-length finish displaying shades of black tea, blackberries, espresso bean, and bitter dark chocolate with crunchy, chewy, woody tannins and light oak flavor. A great pairing with grilled meats, this wine nicely expresses the savory and earthy side of cooler climate Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: black currant, fresh ground espresso beans, coconut butter, and pine sap
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with shades of black tea, blackberries, espresso bean, and bitter dark chocolate
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Pot Roast, Steak & Potatoes, Beef Stew
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A great pairing with grilled meats, this wine nicely expresses the savory and earthy side of cooler climate Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Producer

St. Julian Wine Co. Inc.

The Producer
716 S. Kalamazoo Street
Paw Paw, MI 49079
USA
1 269-657-5568

Their Portfolio

87 Braganini 2021 Reserve, Traminette, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $15.00.
91 Braganini 2022 Reserve, Aromella, Lake Michigan Shore 10.5% (USA) $15.00.
88 Braganini 2021 Reserve Late Harvest, Vidal Blanc, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $19.00.
88 Braganini 2021 Reserve Late Harvest, Vignoles, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $19.00.
90 Braganini 2020 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $39.00.
89 Braganini 2020 Reserve, Merlot, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $26.00.
96 Braganini 2020 Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $26.00.
92 Braganini 2021 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Pinot Noir, Lake Michigan Shore 13.5% (USA) $34.00.
86 Braganini 2020 Tercero Vineyard Reserve, Blaufrankisch, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $24.00.
86 Braganini 2020 Signature Series Reserve Red Blend, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $29.00.
94 Braganini 2020 GDN Estate Reserve, Petite Pearl, Lake Michigan Shore 14.5% (USA) $21.00.
90 Braganini 2021 Winemaker Series Limited Edition Petite Pearl/Marquette Red Blend, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $22.00.
93 Braganini 2021 Reserve, Gruner Veltliner, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $21.00.
93 Braganini 2022 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $21.00.
90 Braganini 2021 Mountain Road Estate Reserve, Riesling, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $21.00.
90 Braganini 2022 Winemaker Series Reserve Gewurztraminer/Riesling, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $21.00.
88 Braganini 2021 Reserve, Viognier, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $21.00.
92 Braganini 2021 Mountain Road Estate Reserve White Blend, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $21.00.
88 Braganini 2021 Mountain Road Estate Reserve Rosé, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $16.00.
91 Braganini 2020 Winemaker Series Reserve BDX Red Blend, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $29.00.
88 Braganini 2020 Reserve Meritage Red Blend, Lake Michigan Shore 13% (USA) $29.00.
93 St. Julian NV Solera Cream Sherry, Lake Michigan Shore 16% (USA) $13.00.
87 St. Julian NV Catherman’s Port, Chambourcin, Lake Michigan Shore 18% (USA) $13.99.
BR St. Julian NV Raspberry Truffle Flavored Wine, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $14.00. - Bronze Medal
93 St. Julian NV Sweet Nancie Sparkling Peach Wine, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $12.00.
86 St. Julian NV Sweet Nancie Sparkling Traminette, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $12.00.
85 St. Julian NV Ciao Bolle! Brut Rosé, Cayuga, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $14.00.
92 St. Julian NV Gru V Bubbly, Gruner Veltliner, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $15.00.
86 St. Julian NV Cherry Wine, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $8.00.
87 St. Julian NV Black & Blueberry Apple Wine, Michigan 11% (USA) $11.00.
93 St. Julian NV Blueberry Wine, Lake Michigan Shore 12.5% (USA) $11.00.
BR St. Julian NV Cranberry Flavored Wine, Michigan 11% (USA) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
86 St. Julian NV Blood Orange Sangria, Lake Michigan Shore 10% (USA) $10.00.
88 St. Julian NV Margarita, Lake Michigan Shore 9% (USA) $10.00.
90 St. Julian NV Lemonade Sangria, Lake Michigan Shore 10% (USA) $10.00.
BR St. Julian NV Headgames Spiced Red, Lake Michigan Shore 11% (USA) $8.00. - Bronze Medal
88 St. Julian NV PB&J Flavored Wine, Lake Michigan Shore 10.5% (USA) $11.00.
88 St. Julian NV Cento, Chambourcin, Lake Michigan Shore 12% (USA) $9.00.
89 St. Julian NV BFF Dry Rosé, Lake Michigan Shore 12.5% (USA) $15.00.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Glass Cabernet.jpg
Serve in a Cabernet Wine Glass
Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety that is the source of some of the world’s most celebrated and longest-lived reds. Grown in many countries, it is most famous in Bordeaux, where it is the principal grape in red Bordeaux as well as in California – especially Napa Valley- where it is labeled by its varietal name.

Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas and flavors of black currant, cassis, black cherry and sometimes plum (in warmer regions or vintages). Quite rich on the palate, the variety is very tannic, giving its wines a bitter edge in their youth, but also providing the wines with great aging potential, with top flight examples drinking well for as long as four or five decades. Given their richness and flavor profile, wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon need to be paired with rich red meats, such as steaks and roasts as well as game.

Besides France and California, other countries with warm growing regions also excel with Cabernet Sauvignon. These include the Maipo and Colchagua Valleys in Chile as well as the Bolgheri district, situated on the coast of Tuscany.