Champagne Wishes: Sledgehammer Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Recommended by the Wine Connoisseurs of Whom You Know
Sledgehammer promises good-tasting, well-made wine geared towards men who prefer to drink their wine in a social setting, without discussing its origin or analyzing its flavor. What makes Sledgehammer unique is its belief that wine should be low-maintenance while still being of the highest quality, and I think they succeeded in doing so in creating their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. It provides the full-bodied richness you would expect from a Cabernet, without being overpowering. It was perfectly full-flavored on my palate and I found it completely enjoyable. The wine was delicious on its own, but it would be even better with an equally rich meal. Sledgehammer’s Cabernet is perfect for sharing with people who enjoy good wine but want to skip the unnecessary frills that come with many other options today.
With Adam Carolla as the face of Sledgehammer, there is no mistaking their target audience. Feminine, light, floral, dainty? I think not! Sledgehammer is full, bold, complex...manly! From the red and black label to the finishing note (not that they want to talk notes..."We make wine because we like drinking wine- not talking about it."), Sledgehammer is as manly as wine could possibly be. Their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and flavorful. Fruity (blackberry and black cherry) and spicy (clove and spice), the Sledgehammer Cabernet Sauvignon won't disappoint. With grapes sourced from vineyards throughout California's North Coast, the grapes were picked at full maturity. Then, for ten to fourteen days, the fruit was fermented. The wine was then aged for about two years in French and Hungarian oak barrels. The end result? A perfectly delightful, oops that's a tad girly, I mean a rockin' glass of wine! By the way, if you want a good laugh, be sure to visit their website, www.sledgehammerwine.com! While you are there, order yourself a bottle, you will be happy you did!
Cabernet Sauvignon- I love drinking wine regularly. I especially love a wine with a lot of flavor and intensity. Sledgehammer claims to "have a Cab so big and rich that they had a hard time fitting it in the bottle." They are so right! They literally take a sledgehammer to the grapes, hence the name! This gives it its powerful and delicious flavor which is just exceptional. The bottle is simply designed which holds true to their "big and bold, no fuss" mantra. This Cabernet is for people that just want a great red wine with a delicious punch to it. I was able to immediately identify the black cherry and nutmeg aroma. The flavor of plum and dark berry fruit packed an intense punch of flavor, without being acidic or dry. I found this wine paired really well with Mexican food because of its spiciness. Clearly there is a lot of time and effort that goes into making this wine. Most of the grapes for this Cab come from Alexander Valley. And fascinatingly, this wine is aged in French and Hungarian oak for two years, which helps give it complexity. This is a wine you really can't go wrong with and need to experience!
“No sipping. No swirling.” Sledgehammer Wine’s straightforward approach to enjoying wine is refreshingly simple and reminds us that we don’t need to over-think or over-analyze a glass of wine in order to enjoy it. Sledgehammer has a distinctly masculine flair, both in their marketing and in their wine. Things we typically associate with masculinity, such as boldness, muscle, and a “no-frills” policy serve the company well. I popped the cork on their 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and poured myself a healthy portion a few nights ago and boy, am I glad I did! Although I tried to play by the rules and not “sip” or “swirl,” I did indulge myself in a sniff before sampling the goods, and was enticed by the luscious sent of ripe berries and cherries. It was lip-smackingly good before I even took a sip – er, I mean, a manly-sized gulp. Much to my delight, the gulp lived up to the promise of the sniff and then some! Warm, rich, fruity, and just the slightest bit spicy, it was one of the best cabs I’ve had in recent memory. The grapes are soured from select vineyards along California’s North Coast, and most come from northern Sonoma County, where warm days, cool evenings, and volcanic soil encourages Cabernet grapes to ripen fully while maintaining balanced acidity, which results in a great-tasting, easy-drinking wine. I don’t want to say too much more, lest I “over-analyze” the wine, but I will say that I highly recommend this cabernet for wine lovers and wine newbies alike. It’s a definite crowd pleaser, and despite the “no-fuss” approach, is a well thought-out, well-structured, and very well-balanced wine. More info can be found on Sledgehammer’s oh-so-manly website, www.sledgehammerwine.com, which also includes a FABULOUS guide to enjoying their wines, including a method to open a bottle of wine using your shoe! Cheeky, bold, and decidedly un-stuffy, Sledgehammer has created a delicious wine that also comes with a well-timed reminder that life is for living and enjoying.
Typically when I am enjoying a wine enough to write in about it, I find myself looking for words to describe intense fabulosity. Especially Cab, which is my favorite red!! Oddly enough, I don't think that is what I am looking for with Sledgehammer's 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. It is good, don't get me wrong! I do think, however, that the winemakers would be offended if I even mentioned the word fabulous. Or for that matter anything like fabulous!!! When you have Adam Corrolla using your wine as it's official wine of his show you are definitly putting a line in the sand! But do not let this sway you. This is good wine. Made mostly from grapes out of the Alexander Valley (i.e.the Northern Somona area) it is strong in it's flavor. Robust and unafraid to show off it's full-bodied fruity flavor. The acidity is balanced making it very easy to drink. The color is deep -- letting you know the flavor will be intense. This is a great wine to give your guy friend who is looking to branch out on wine but isn't looking for anything "fancy." NB -- be sure this wine isn't served too warm.
Sledgehammer Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is so rich it makes you feel like you might have struck GOLD! It's an absolut beautiful wine. Now where shall I begin?! Open the bottle and pour yourself a glass. Now before you take a sip look at the beautiful red color. Smell the beautiful rich full bodied smell of this wine. Now take a sip and feel the explosion of flavor. It really packs a big punch! I can honestly say I have never tasted a wine so bold and powerful. You can also taste the complexity of the wine. I love that it's wonderful to enjoy on its own or if it is match with food. I actually just had a glass on its own, and solo it did stand its ground. I think this wine would make for a wonderful addition to any dinner party. I would also like to suggest you try it a little chilled - I did and baboom! It really struck me like a treat!
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A Cab so big and rich we had a hard time fitting it in the bottle.
A Cab drinker’s staple with deep red color and a rich, full bodied structure. This is what happens when you take a sledgehammer to Cabernet grapes – rich explosive flavor that packs a powerful punch to the palate. Full integrated flavor that is truly ground breaking.
This wine was sourced from select vineyards throughout California ’s North Coast Alexander Valley , in Northern Sonoma County
The 2008 vintage produced wines of excellent quality. The winter months saw above average rainfall that eventually progressed into a moderate spring and summer. Warm days and cool foggy mornings persisted into harvest, giving us the flavor development we were looking for to complement the natural acidity in the grapes, producing exceptionally balanced wines.
Winemaking
After being picked at full maturity, the fruit was fermented for 10 to 14 days for complete extraction of dark color and rich flavors. The wine was then racked and aged for approximately two years in French and Hungarian oak barrels for added complexity.
Tasting Notes
The 2008 Sledgehammer Cabernet begins with complex aromas of blackberry and black cherry, with notes of clove and spice. Powerful and fruit forward on the palate, flavors of plum and dark berry fruit are complemented by supple, well-integrated tannins and balanced acidity.
Technical Info:
Appellation - North Coast
Harvest – September 1st to October 29th, 2008
Brix at Harvest – 24.0°
TA – 0.59 g/100 mL
pH – 3.74
Alcohol - 14.2%
Cooperage - Aged in a combination of French and Hungarian oak for 2 years.
Release: January 2011
