This week’s Wine Wednesday is the Liberty School 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Liberty School is one of several brands from Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, California. The Hope family has been making Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon since 1990. The current Liberty School line of wines includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and a cuvée blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Liberty School wines generally represent a good value and typically sell in the range of $12.00 to $15.00. This bottle was purchased from Total Wine & More for $9.97.
The 2008 wines were probably discounted to make room for the current 2009 release. This is a fantastic find and something to keep in mind when shopping for wines. Look for discounted prices on brands you love. Oftentimes, the discount is not a reflection on the quality of the wine but only on the quantity. When a store needs to move wine, they will often discount older vintages.
This wine displays a medium ruby core with a slightly garnet rim. On the nose, there are aromas of blackberry, black cherry, some vanilla and even a little mint. The wine has flavors of blackberry, ripe black cherry, and ripe plum. It has medium acidity and smooth rounded tannins. With so many wines having high alcohol levels these days, it is nice to find a wine with a reasonable 13.5% alcohol by volume.
The Liberty School 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a great to drink on its own or as an accompaniment to your favorite meal. It would pair nicely with lots of meat dishes ranging from a simple chili to a nice steak dinner.
