1997 Livingston Moffett Cabernet Sauvignon Moffet Vineyard

USA, California, Napa Valley. This has some nice strong dark color that belies its age. It opens with some graphite and camphor on the nose. There is a tinge of fruit on the nose, but one must search pretty hard to spot it. The mouth-feel is very smooth and plush. There is some cassis, red and black berries, soy, pencil shavings, cedar, leather anda certain mild sweetness. Its a medium weight wine that has some elegance. Its fully resloved and pretty much at a point where holding willnot really help. Its a very pretty & pleasing Cabernet sourced from a wonderful vineyard. Nice balance and a decent finish make this a home-run, albeit a walk in homer. (90 pts.)

Vineyard Source: 100 % Moffett Vineyard / Rutherford Napa Valley95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc

Production Notes: Tons per acre: 2.75

Number of Cases: 896 cs. Brix it was picked at: 24.2Alcohol: 13.3% Release Date was September 1, 2000

2005 K Vintners Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard

USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope (5/24/2008)Ultra dark and opaque. This has slight purple on the edges. The nose has blueberries and white pepper. The palate is very sleek and clean. Not over the top, and very lively. Blueberries, meat, crushed pebbles, blackberry, red raspberry, and some sour cherries. There is a mélange of things happening here. Wait scratch that, it's a potpourri of fruits & joy! This has amazing lush mouthfeel and structure. The tannins are in check, and the acid is doing the high-wire walk. All so wonderfully balanced. This is a fun wine that should age nicely for a few years, but singing right here and now so why not?A long smooth aftertaste completes perfect package. $31. (93 pts.)

The passing of a true American icon: Robert Mondavi 1913-2008

I am a fan of both the man and his wines.

TN: Mystery Cabernet...and a story.

Sometimes we all need a lesson in humility. I was served one just recently in my own home. I try not to ever be pretentious or snobby when it comes to wine, but sometimes we get away from ourselves.

I was served a mystery wine on Saturday. Me being the wise ass I am, with knowing and only that it was a 1998 (not to mention it was about the 5th bottle of the night), I went right to Napa and then I started to guess, even asking if it were even Cabernet. (A cab theme diner).

Good color and density, (sure, its Napa). Decent cassis and blackberry (sure, it's Napa). Slight greenness and somewhat 'manufactured' in style (sure is a 1998). Good mouth feel and length, and nothing really bad. (Sure, its 1998...?). A little more midpalate explosion of fruit going sideways..."Is it even Cabernet? Maybe Merlot. OK Steve, what Napa Cab was this?"

Egg on my face:

Steve E's notes to me: 1998 Allegro Vineyards, "Cadenza", Brogue, York County, Pennsylvania (95% Cab Sauv. 3% Cab Franc, 2% Merlot) John Crouch (deceased) - WinemakerTim Crouch (deceased) - Vineyard manager"The "Cadenza" was a meritage that varied in its composition (my recollection is that this was the heaviest % of cab sauv that they used). They started doing it sometime in the late 1980s (I think). It wasn't done every year, but 1998 was the last one done. As I said last night, this was not the strongest effort among the Cadenza, but gave you a good idea of the style at Allegro under the Crouch's. Very Bordeaux".
Yes, you read it right. Pennsylvania. In that context, a very decent wine indeed.

1995 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

Great floral nose of lavander & currants. Medum deep color with no sign of age. Nice light cocoa wrapped currants, blackberry, tar, & slight leather. A medium bodied elegant & pure serious cabernet that quietly pleases. Fully resolved & clean tannins. An admirable finish to close the deal. What's not to like? (92 pts.)

1995 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Deep dark crimson. Lifting the glass to my nose I sensed little. Coaxing out by swirling I got some cassis and dark cherry. What the nose held back, the palate revealed: Super structure and breed that comtinued to eveolve nicely for about an hour, and then started to slide down the slope and gained some speed as it went, but what an hour it was. Tar, cassis, black cherry, a touch of cedar. This was a beautiful & pure cab. Nice resolved multilayered tannins and a clean level of acid rounded this out very well. A 40 second finish and 'Bobs your uncle'. (My wife is a Brit) (93 pts.)

Anyone who ever read Fahrenheit 451 can not help to think of Guy Montag when looking at this label.

1996 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

Opaque and brooding, nose was a bit restrained, but with some time there was the usual suspects of tar and red & black fruits. The palate had shown a medium bodied mouthfeel with some class, but always seemed kicked down a notch. Quiet and refined, there was nothing that screamed loudy. Balanced and nicely structured. There was black currant, bleckcherry, raspberry, leather, soy, and a touch of menthol...just a touch. A intertwined tannin and acid level that acted like a tight wire, but not as taut as it could be. Theres a little play and one senses the balance a bit fragile for it. Feminine and pretty though. Decent finish. (90 pts.)

2002 Quintessa (USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

The color was super dark. It reminded me of Bordeaux. It had some cassis, and blackberry. The palate showed a medium to heavy weight wine with an elagant multilayered fruit profile that is somewhat quiet it it's approach, but constantly delivers the goods. Tar, anise, leather, cocoa, and cassis wrapped around clean and intricate tannins.... All this with a cherry on top! (black cherry that is). I like this ones peigree. A long finish and I was seeking out the decanter for more. (92 pts.)