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.)