Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,152 strong:

Register Today!

Toasted Head Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Thanks for liking this wine! Let your friends on Twitter and Facebook know about it by clicking on the buttons here.

If you've already connected your Twitter account, then you don't need to click on the Twitter button to share your review as it'll be done for you.

Optional: Before you share your wine find with friends, you can pick a score or make a quick tasting note, or both if you like:


My Score:
 
My Tasting Notes:
Expand Box




Community Reviews

There are 7 user submitted reviews for this wine.

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Bright cherry, blackberry, red currant, some vanilla and spice on the nose. Ripe red fruit, plums, oak, and pronounced but not overwheming tannins on the palate. Longer finish. This wine would stand up to grilled beef or pork.
Jane LeFresne reviewed this wine as follows:

A nice blend of aromas. Cherry, plum, blackberry and coffee with some baking spices.

Flavours of cherry, mocha and raspberry with a touch of spice.
Sean O'Regan rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Oct 5, 2014L Deep ruby/purple, nose of currant, blackberry, baking spice and some herb and earthy notes. Smooth silky palate with ripe but not raisined fruit, and thankfully not overly sweet. Wood is well managed, and nice balance overal with enough structure to drink over the next 2-3 years with braised beef/lamb/pork dishes.
Julia Kelada rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

This is quite a refined wine.
On the nose fruit tones of blueberries, black berries and cherries. Crab apple fruits and earthy tones.
On the palate this presents itself as a woody wine before it releases the fruits of cherries and plums. The fruits marry so well together that it is almost like eating a mixed berry fruit pie. Nutmeg and Cinnamon step forward as the spice notes before mocha introduces itself and rounds up with sweet/tart tobacco leaves. Good velvety tannins and ends with a vanilla note. A good dry end.
Perfect with Duck or Lamb.
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Bursting with cherry and dark fruit aromas. The palate offers cherry, blackberry, vanilla and spice.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Blackberry, plum, cedar, and coffee aromas with a touch of eucalyptus. Gripy tannins and a touch of sour berries in the taste, wih a long tart and tannic finnish. This is a great, hearty wine for a winter meal of roast beef.
Darlene Myers rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

You might think this 2011 Toasted Head Cabernet from California might taste young, but you'd be mistaken. No surprise with aromas and flavors of toasted oak, after all it's how they got the name. But there are also rich aromas and flavors of dark fruit, smoke, and some spice. This wine can tackle beef or a nice juicy steak done on the grill




Natalie's Review

Toasted Head Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, North Coast, California, United States: Mocha-coffee goodness wraps around black fruit and smoke aromas. Full-bodied and smooth with a nice grip. Decant for a 1 hour. This wine is usually aged for 18-20 months in French and American oak. There's a great grip (and growl) in this robust, chest-beating red for wild game. Drink: 2013-2016. 686824 13.50% D 750 mL  $19.95 Score: 90/100. November 23, 2013 Plush Pork Wine  Full Review

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

VINADA® Sparkling Wine
Crispy Chardonnay Mini Sparkling,
Languedoc ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,152 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,643

WINE
REVIEWS

327,152

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award