Evil Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape: Cabernet sauvignon

Region: Southeastern Australia

Vintage: 2007

Price: $10.99

In the glass: Evil Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep purplish-red color with an opaque crimson core, going out into a saturated ruby-red rim definition with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: It is incredibly fresh, with massive notes of crushed pure cassis and a great underlying expression of cabernet fruit, lots of eucalyptus hints, black currant tea, blackberries, black plums, phenols, earth-driven minerals, pipe tobacco, spice box and cedar wood lumber.

On the palate: It is a big mouthful of wine, with a delicious attack of black currants, wild cherries, loganberries and soft blueberry notes going into a greatly balanced midpalate that again shows so much character. The finish is impressive, lingering for a good 20-plus seconds with lovely delineation of black fruit, anise and mint leaf. While this wine is still a bit of a baby, it comes right out of the bottle in a highly drinkable fashion.

Odds and ends: With the name Evil, this is a perfect wine for your Halloween party. People will think you’re pulling a fast one. Nevertheless, it is an excellent drinking wine and the first red to be reviewed from the 2007 vintage. It should drink well for another three to four years, especially because it has a screw cap. Try it with a grilled bratwurst or similar barbecue sausage.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89016-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.