Oak Hollow Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

We've been trying each of the Oak Hollow California wines offered by the Bargain Grocery store. We've liked the Oak Hollow Zinfandel, and the Oak Hollow Sauvignon Blanc. Today we tried the Oak Hollow Cabernet Sauvignon 2004; I note that the store also carried the 2005.

The Oak Hollow Web site (Oak Hollow is an entirely owned California subsidiary of Supreme Wines) is very clearly talking about a different Cabernet Sauvignon than this one; the logo on the bottle is very different, and the ABV on the bottle is 14%, versus the 12.5% ABV listed on the site. In fact, it looks very much to me like the Web site hasn't been updated in years.

Like the other Oak Hollow wines, this Cabernet Sauvignon has an artificial cork. The aroma is very predominately "fruity" with a mildly spicy under note; the color is a very dark garnet. The overwhelming impression of the wine is an very very fruity, even jammy, quality strongly reminiscent of overripe strawberries. To be blunt, this is sort of like alcohol added to Koolaid. At $4.99 it isn't going to break the bank, but given that the excellent Meridian California Cabernet Sauvignon is readily available for a dollar more at a number of national chain stores, I'd pass on this particular wine.