2005 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

OK, rubber, meet road. If you do not like big black fruited and ominous wines, please stop reading. This wine should come with a defibrillator.Still wtih me? Good, because this is a really nice wine to sit and contemplate with. It will show itself on its terms, not yours. Blackberries, black raspberry, dark plum, black currant, its all in there, and more. The fruit medley is enough to make your nutritionist happy. All deeply woven and pure with no gobbiness or heavy-handedness (16.4%!). Big structure with lots of stuffing hanging on those bones, there is some warm apple compote, leather, tar, hints pf white pepper, and spring flowers. On the night, this gained some redder fruits and total cohesion of all parts, I wish I had paid even closer attention. Long and pure, count me as a fan.I find many of these Petite Sirahs right up my alley lying somewhere between my 'dearly beloved' Napa Cab and my 'mistress', Cali Syrah. 93 points

2005 Slaughterhouse Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

Years back, I had read there was a petroleum depot or refinery located nearby Chateau Latour. I had also read that if you search hard enough, you can find traces of petrol in the wine. Now, I might not be the smartest wine-o around, but I know petrol is NOT something I want in my wine, either real or theorized. I went on to wonder what petrol might actually taste like?; it has taken me 25 years to find it but here it is, right now, in this wine. This is a big wine, bursting with fruit and goodness. Everything I would want in a Cabernet from Rutherford, and no, I can't find dust... I found the elusive petrol though. The nose was all bright black fruits of currant, pomegranate, plums, black cherry, blackberries and more. It's intense and boisterous, all while being brash and playful. There is a certain quality I have not, or never paid attention to here that is so in play, I can honestly say it endears me to this wine more. Initially the petrol came across somewhat like a petroleum jelly turn to fabrication/fakeness, but with air it awakened to add to the structure and overall pleasure of this wine. It is super structured with a mouth-feel that is lush and its tannins are oversized. I can see you all cringing, but don't; it's actually quite nice when all in balance and all in focus like this is tonight. I will even go further by saying this is very Paullliac-like, albeit young Paulliac-like. There is a cornucopia of 'stuff' here (Like the tea), almost too much to speak of, but since I have never been at a loss of words before, here tou go: creme de cassis, kirsch, new leather, lead pencil shavings, hints of vanilla, hints of cola, lavender, framboise, black cherries jubilee...BLACK. Had enough? It's long finish and lively acidity really makes this sing. And with song, comes dance. 93 pts

2005 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Mandala (USA, California)

Big and bold. No doubt you're in Cali. Smoked meat, river stones, white pepper, blueberry pie, black cherry, leather and black cherry liquer. As it had the opportunity (3 hrs) to sit on the table it fleshed out into a finely delineated pure Syrah. I can be a fan of such a bold style, just not sure I want it all the time. It is a great wine nonetheless. 91 pts

2005 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

This wine's best attributes are hidden. All the pieces are there, they just need to be given the time to come together cohesively. The nose is a quiet brand of black cassis and blackberry. Palate shows some nice purity and structure all wrapped within some black fruits of currant, blackberries, black cherries, and black plum compote. Some soft creme de cassis with a hint of Kirsch Royal liquor. Tannins are big and defensive but the balance is evident. Typical of the classic 2005 vintage, I like this ones style. I think I will like it better after some resolving & rest. There is a trace of alcohol on the finish as well, but the finish had all the fruit still showing through. I will call this 90 tonight with 93 the promise. Lots happening here, lets just bring it all together now, ok? :)

2005 Frazier Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (USA, California, Napa Valley)

This is super dark indeed. Purple edges. The nose is all black cherry and black cassis with a hint of cardamom. The palate shows an attack of pure Cabernet Sauvignon. You will not make a mistake on calling this if tasted blind. It's all black fruited and pure. There is the black currant, black cherry, blackberries and ripe black plum skin. Some exotic tea, some soy, some kirsch and some framboise. This is a mid-weight wine with chewy but not aggressive tannins and a lilty acidity. Somewhat two dimensional and exact in its approach, what I used to call Four-Square, this is all it could promise to be, and does not pretend to be anything other; Pure exact Napa Cabernet somewhere in the middle of both worlds, but tonight leaning to the more classic side. In this price-point it's tough to beat ($24), The finish is admirable. Yep, It's Cabernet!  91 pts

2005 Domaine Georg Rafael Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

Dark as expected. What was not expected was the glossiness and pureness this exhibited, remember, It's a 2005 Napa Cab. It is very dark fruited and tightly structured without any tannic edge whatsoever. Black cherry and black current rue the roost with some rhubarb pie, leather, exotic spices and ripe black plum rounding it out. Wonderful balance and silky mouth -feel, creamy texture and focus, this really pleases all the senses and hits all my right spots. Long finish with recent-reminiscent black fruits ending the show nicely. A classically styled Cabernet with elegance & grace. Drank alongside my favorite lobster and shrimp cakes, seaweed and vegetable salad with thai curry coconut sauce, this really carried it all well. No small feat & no surprise since it's a Tom Farella Cabernet made with estate fruit. One to watch. Tremendous QPR (93 pts.)

2006 Jones Family The Sisters (USA, California, Napa Valley)

45 minute decant. Dark and ominous with red crimson edges. The nose is ungiving today, (more after an hour) but the palate is spot on, as usual. There is cassis driven black fruits with Kirsch Royal, pomegranate, clove, blackberries, black cherry, black and red raspberries. Its deep and plush with a fantastic balance. Tannins in check, acidity doing the high-wire. Decent plus finish. It's pure and enjoyable with out being complicated an ponderous. As a matter of fact, I have finally figured this wine out: THAT is this wines strength; clean, uncomplicated pleasure with elegance and some tight structure, all wrapped in a fifty dollar package and doesn't want to be anything but.Indeed. (93 points)

2005 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley

Super dark and luxurious, this is pure and precise. Nose has all black-cherry and cassis with some cedar box and soy. Wonderful mouthfeel that is medium in body and plush, kirsch and black plum. Tannins are bulky but aligned and still in need of resolving. I have always been a fan of this one from the Realm 05 lineup, more so than any any merlot heavy vintage on either side of the vintage. As a matter of fact, this is the Tempest with the most (52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 18% Petit Verdot.) Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the label (source: Coombsville). Some red cherries pop out toward the end of this. Very dimensional with tons of structure. Much more weight than my last time with it. Very nice indeed. 94 points

Jones Family Vineyards Retrospective

Last evening I had the pleasure of meeting with Daniel Bailey from Jones Family Vineyards & winery. He brought east with him 6 vintages of his flagship estate Cabernet, as well as 2 vintages of his second wine, The Sisters. Daniel Posner of grapes the Wine Company played host.

I have been a fan of Jones family for some time now, always capitalizing on locating older back vintages whenever possible. The Sisters is a perennial favorite of mine, one I buy by the case every year. It represents what I believe to be the single best deal in the whole valley, year in and out. Daniel Bailey was informative and friendly. Great wines, great time, wonderful people.

Jones Family Vineyards

2000 Jones Family Estate Cabernet: The first thing you notice upon bringing the glass to your face is vegetalness. The second thing upon entering the mouth—same. Disjointed, weedy, sweet, and undrinkable. Possibly an off bottle?

2001 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep blackish color with red edges. The nose is pure kirsch and framboise. Some great black currant. All carries to the palate with some amazing precision. There is some black cherry, crème de cassis, cola, tat, leather and cedar. Really shows off a classic styling. The tannins got a bit dusty/gritty as this sat in my glass, not distracting though. This is long and elegant. 93

2003 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: This had some admirable qualities for the vintage. It had a sweet fabricated red fruit profile with some red cherries and ripe red plum notes. Seemed a bit tired. Drink up! 89

2004 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Slightly fatter than the previous. Good structure. Deep red black fruit profile encroaching into the black zone. Soft tannins, nice balance. Some Kirsch and black raspberries in a creamy plush mouthfeel. Decent finish, this is very pretty and delicate. 92

2005 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Loud and boisterous, this is firmly structured with deep red & black fruits of macerated currant, blackberries, pomegranate, and black plum. More delineated than all that came before it, save for the 2001, this is pure and focused with some tightly knitted tannins. 93

2005 Jones Family The Sisters: This seemed a bit more restrained than all my past experiences with it. It still retains some great dark fruit, but the plush mouthfeel has quieted down some. It seems more in line with the 04 than the 05 estates. I always believed this to be one to enjoy young(er). A decent black fruit profile with black cherry reigning. I still have 6, and it will be interesting to see where this goes in the next few years. 91

2006 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Now we’re talking: sweet red fruits profile with a creamy texture, this has the purity and elegance I want, all supported by the structure and backbone, the strength of the 06 vintage in general, at least in my mind. Cardamom, framboise, kirsch, blackberry, black and red cassis, plums, and so much in here to mention, this is real joy. A hint of black pepper? Maybe. It has super-structured tannins with such a tight-rope act of acidity. A very long pure finish that goes minutes, its palatial omnipresence is just difficult to ignore, this is really a wonderful bottle of Napa Cab. Wow 95

2006 Jones Family The Sisters: Not unlike its older sibling, this really packs it in, save for maybe a bit of elegance and structure, but make no mistake, this is one schnizzle of a $50 cab. Pure, clean, and lively, this has much to offer, and all at $50. Black fruits, plush mouthfeel, elegance, purity, structure and more.The best Sisters I have had, continues to be so. 94

2005 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/22/2010)

After the '01 Morisoli, this sure had to hold up. It did. It was super dark almost opaque. A somewhat blackish red fruit profile with cassis, pomegranate, plums, and black cherry, this did not show quite the balance and intensity, but the mark had been set early, so fairness may not be on its side. It was intense with a plush mouthfeel. A bit showy, this showed its To-Kalon lineage. A finish that was long and clean, with the black fruit lingering. Very nice indeed. (93 pts.)

2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Marjorie’s - Premiere Napa Valley

Wholly crap! This was super fragrant of all things good: blackest cassis, chocolate covered cherries, spring wild flowers, leather, some pomegranate and more. It was deep and elegant with layers upon layers of cabernet goodness. The tannins were brawn hidden by flash, but never did it out flash itself. Phenomenal. 95

2005 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

I was interested in trying this just having the 06 a week previous. Wow. Super dark in color with brooding viscosity, this had such a medley of mixed fruits. Currant, black and red cherry, kirsch, fresh ground coffee, camphor, leather, and more. All nicely balanced within a super structure of tannins, true to the vintage. Long and elegant with food, pure and precise. 94

2005 Go Figure Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 3 (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

The slumping economical environment can sure be felt in all corners of life, and wineries are not immune. Combined with yet 'another' vintage of the century, many California wineries still sit with stockpiles of great wines from recent vintages such as 2005 & 2006 in their cellars, much of which have no labels affixed -- yet. The purchasers of said wines can then place their own name on the bottles, and the term 'shiner; is born. Good for us. For the savvy buyer there are some good deals to be had. This is one such from Gary's Wine & Marketplace in New Jersey. In the case of the GF Lot 3, I have, and still do maintain that it is Rudd Estate, a wine 3 times the $35 price tag I paid. Since there is a no-disclose agreement between retailer and winery, there is no way to know for sure. These shiner programs are popping up all over the place. Where else would you be able to get top name Napa wines for a fraction of their cost from their source? Don't blink...

Dark and deep, the nose has some pure cassis and cardamom. The palate exhibits the clean precise cassis driven black fruits with blackcherry, plum, and kirsch. A very regal showing indeed. A medium to heavy weighted wine, this has nice balance and structure without ever really going wayward-- I say so because the bottle I shared a few weeks back with the CLONYC clan was a bit messy and awkward, but the company it shared on the table was wines 3-5 times its price-point, so there you go. A long finish and just a wee bit of dryness on the end is the only flaw I detected last night. Now I am really glad I have 5 more in the cellar. Rumors to be Rudd Estate, some say Oakville Ranch, and the back label says Gerard? I believe it could be the Rudd, as I have had both quite often.

Here is the link to the Gary's Wine Go Figureline-up. No affiliation.

2005 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson Vineyards

USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/6/2010)
Ultra dark with pretty red brick edges. The nose is super expressive of pure blueberry pie, with black berries, crushed pebbles, and smoke. The palate has all the explosive qualities I love in cali syrah, without being over bearing or ponderous. It has blueberries, blackberries, and red currant. A wonderful acidic bounce really keeps this alive and fresh. Some great notes of graphite and river rocks, with black and white crushed peppercorns. Great resolving tannins are all in a row, nice and neat. A precise and focused mid-weight mouth feel, this now has some elegance and structure-- To repeat, this is one expressive syrah. A berry blast if you will.(93 pts.)

2005 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Charlie's Patch - USA, California, Napa Valley

5 hour single decant & needed it.
Nice dark amber and super viscous, clinging to the sides of the glass like honey & water. The nose give up some black cherry and blackberries. The palate has a super restrained mouthfeel. I feel the small berries from the mountain fruit, Spring Mountain most definitely. here is some graphite, black currant, black cherry cola, soy, leather and earth. A very intricate tannin weave with a great balance of acid and fruit. Elegant and regal, this begs for 2-3 years. A decent finish and the memory lingers on the tongue for minutes. Well done TRB, especially in being so versatile in your winemaking. (91 pts.)

2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)

The nose on this was all blackberry and blueberry, something akin to a Cali Syrah. The palate had some great fruits of pomegranate, blackberries, black cherries, red plums, and a hint of creme de kirsch. Some soy, scorched earth, fresh rubbed leather and forest. The mouth feel was pure, and plush. A medium weight wine with tons of goodness packed deep within. Some dryness on the mid palate, the tannins still need some resolving. A great bright 'acid bounce' is present. A very balanced Cabernet with tons of upside in the future. Not an in your face or flamboyant wine. A super long cherry filled finish. Would have scored higher had not it remind me of Syrah so much. (90 pts.)