TN: 2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley

2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/30/2007)My second of this. It showed slightly better. The color was dark, the nose was Cabernet. Good currant/cassis, blackberries, and anise on the palate. This one was balanced much better, but there was a metallic tone on the midpalate and a finish that should have lasted longer. I guess for what it is...it is. Nothing more. I doubt time will come to the rescue of this flaw.

I wouldn't throw this one out of bed, but wouldn't wine and dine it either. (89 pts.)

2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/27/2007)Vigorous decanted for 30 minutes. Good purple fringed color. Wonderful 'true' cabernet on the nose. This is a four square wine; it's varietally correct and sound, nothing more. It has some black-cherry, currant, and a slight cassis note. A little off balance as its a little high on acid. It is a good effort for an '03, but not memorable (another '03 that falls into this category). Picked up from a fellow BBer for $30 each.(88 pts.)

TN: 2002 Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2002 Pride Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/17/2007)Beautiful color. This needed the hour decant time I gave it as out of the gate there was an unbalanced disjointed quality that I did not care for. 1 hour later; The nose is pretty cassis as well as petroleum-refinery (a la Ch. Latour). Maybe a bit candied as well. The palate reveals a nicely balanced lush & quiet fruit bomb. There is both red and dark fruits (currant, blackberry, blackcherries, and plum) as well as tar, licorice, coffee-bean, and the Foley toasted oak.....but restrained. The acid level is a bit high and there is a certain sweetness evident that does not detract. There is also some sediment. The tannins seem to be resolving nicely. A nice 30 second aftertaste finished up a very nice deftly made wine. Drink now (decant) or hold for 5 years. I wish this had blown me away, they used to. (90 pts.)

TN: 2005 Rebel Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Show

2005 Rebel Wine Cabernet Sauvignon The Show - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (6/11/2007)This may be the 'Three Thieves' but it ain't three thieves in the bottle...and that's a good thing. The color is deep dark crimson with purple tinges. The nose is subdued muted red fruits. The palate reveals some soft tannins, quiet red cherry, some camphor and cassis after about 30 minutes. A nice agreeable finish. Overall a little one dimensional, but nothing negative that keeps it from becoming an everyday drinker. Great QPR. (85 pts.)

2nd Day; This wine hs opened up to be a lush, mildly more interesting decent drinker, with better defined reds fruit, and overall just better all around. . Enough to gain a point or 2. A definate QPR alert here folks, just open 1 day early. Drinks like some $40 jobbies from recent memory. (87 pts.)

Sometimes I forget why I love wine. I find myself always being critical of its finer nuances and loosing sight of the real reason I want it in my life. Yeah, I know it brings people together blah blah blah, but sometimes you need a reminder that this 'thing of ours' is fun. This bottle is a reminder, This is a fun wine. I mean....look at the labels!!! (3)


Cheers!

TN: 1999 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (6/8/2007)These bottles of Washington State wine amuse me, but don't motivate me to go out and buy a supply. Maybe I treat them like experiments? I have had many many Cabs from this state and can honestly say, other than a stray here and there, they just don't spin my wheels. This one is no different. Maybe I am seeking Napa style from elsewhere?

Tasted immediately and decanted. The color is a dark cherry cola. The nose reveals some soda pop and some very subdued red fruits. The palate shows the sweetness and slight vegetalness I have come to expect from the appellation. There is some dark cherrie and blackberry. Where's the currant/cassis? Where's the lush/plush? Tannins resoved but that not alone is gonna pull this one out of the hole. Some chocolate and tar toward the finish which is just ok.. Ho Hum sums it up. Now back to the Valley to the south. (85 pts.)

TN: 2002 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District

2002 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (6/5/2007)Pure Stags Leap. The color shows dark rich velvety crimson. The nose shows smokey cassis and dark fruits. The palate blossoms with bramble, extra dark blackberry, an aristocratic cassis, currant, French vanilla, tar and cocoa. The acid level is pure Mondavi, and the tannins are ironed out and all in a row....smooth. Fantastic mouthfeel....This is one cool customer. Some sweetness is present but not in a negative way. A smokiness that adds interest and a purity make this wine sing. The finish is long and precise. No green as mentioned elsewhere. A great effort indeed. (92 pts.)

TN: 1999 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

1999 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (6/3/2007)Wonderful deep crimson color with purple tinged edges. The nose was restrained with some dark cherries and currant, while showing a little ripeness. Upon entering the mouth this wine was beautifully integrated with some secondary notes of tar and cedar. All the dark fruits were present. A great seamless tannin level had delivered this nicely to age 8. A smooth even finish completed the package. This had shown very nicely considering the reputation Dunn Howell has received for being a 20 year wine. Would have scored higher if just a tad plusher, but hey..it's mountain fruit.

Enjoy one if you have any. (91 pts.)

TN: 2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley

2005 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (6/4/2007)The color on this wine is crazy. Super dark and concentrated. The nose showed a little sweetness alongside some boysenberries, and a black and white cookie. This was a little restrained for what was expected. It was big and extrated, but kept graceful. The palate revealed some blueberry,blackberry, boysenberries, and red cherries. A fruit medley. This wine kept changing as the night went on. I like this type of wine, I just find my palate tires quicky if it is the only wine on the table. Alongside others wines this turns a conversation piece. There is alot happening that seems to evolve minute by minute to alot more. The finish was long and vibrant. I enjoyed this better than the 2004 Amon-Ra tasted last summer. (89 pts.)

TN: 2004 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon EII Napa Valley Red Wine

2004 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon EII Napa Valley Red Wine - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/4/2007)An interesting wine. A bit one dimensional and subdued. Great red-brick color. The nose did not reveal too much other than some sweet blueberry and cassis. The palate was a lillte flat. It showed some cherries & raspberry. There was a touch of oak. Medium tannis don't add ot detract. This wine reminded me of a Shiraz at moments, both in the nose and on the palate. A little extrated and sweet at moments. The finish was decent. I can see new world aficionados embracing this. I may credit the one dimesional thing as well as the flatness to being young. It should evolve into something. (87 pts.)

TN: 2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/4/2007)This wine was a monolithic beast. It showed a wall of oak that never really dissapated. Hard to get a read for a few reasons. (Fifth of the night w/3+ drinkers). Needs a ton of time. Thank you Nano for the generous 3rd bottle.

TN: 1996 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

1996 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/4/2007)From memory. This was number 4 in the night so I was getting a bit foggy. A little browning on the edges, this wine had some classic cassis, and blackberry notes. It did evolve in the glass showing some cocoa, and tar. It was showing some age; It was the 70 year old women that seems to be able to pull off looking 50 thing. It had elegance, and all the tannins have been resolved. The fruit was tettering on the edge. I found it enjoyable alongside my strip steak. Noit a B. Sherwin wine. Drink up! (88 pts.)