(title drawn of course from one of the greatest films of all time: Bagdad Cafe)

These started showing up at GO some time ago, a Zin, a Chardonnay, a red blend… and several followers noted fairly positive things about them to me privately but I resisted even after googling the source because I just wasn’t curious about those offerings. Recently I stumbled into a location I rarely go to and BAM: here was a Napa Valley cab, so naturally I pulled the trigger. This is a a rather simple wine. But those who follow know that I rather like simple cabernets. A simple Cabernet with a moderate ABV is going to get far more credit than a big big blustery concentrated oak-ridden muss. The nose is flaccid and lacking complexity: some dirty working-man nuances along with a deeply-laid-down dark fruit situation headlining lanolin before bright expression. In the mouth: calm, somewhat thin, agreeable in tincture and spiciness but lacking any compelling frequencies to gush about. Rash and sharp in finish, lacking any glorious green bitterness, chalky dryness the key identifier without… really… anything… much… more… going… on. It’s clean, direct, simple, un-wooing, but not flawed in any major sort of way. Just boring. Literally the nicest thing I can say about this wine is that it is 13-5.

2021 BRENDEL ‘Reserve’ #cabernetsauvignon #napavalley 13.5