2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

 Opened 3-4 hours beforehand. Nose shows the Foley profile nicely. Not too over the top, but certainly some chocolate/cocoa notes with a more red fruit profile. Lovely across the palate save for a hint of dryness toward the finish, just a bit and not distracting. I got some red cherry, red raspberries and currant with a touch of cola and malted. Time has treated this nicely and I had to reconfirm it was the regular bottling….twice. Medium weighted viscous wine with resolved tannins and no sign of a cliff in sight. Long and fragrant, this really too a shine above when food hit the table; some tricky pan-Asian dishes really made this pop. (The 09 RM Corona we had alongside it went the other way). I am almost in regret in not owning any of these. What a great showing. 92 pts

2006 Audelssa Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (12/12/2010)

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 1 hour decant. Pretty ruby red with neon edges. Nose of black cherry, sassafras & red plums. Palate shows those fruits with an intensity that is pretty great. A very focused and vibrant Cabernet that shows a cool cab profile. Its floral and fragrant with cherries on top. There is a cherry Herring liquor quality that I find fascinating. It could be dangerous if over-done, but for the moment it stays pleasing. A medium weight mouth-feel with firm structure. Tannins are refined but ever-present. A near perfect balance. The dark fruits style on the tongue long after the wine has gone down. There is the ever so smallest hint of cool menthol on the tail end as well. What a great QPR. I might have to go back for more. (91 pts.)

2006 Audelssa Estate Winery Summit (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley)

Consistent. Ruby red-garnet. Nose: Both black and some reddish currants are here as well as some sharp black cherry and lead pencil. A very dignified and classy wine. The palate has mouth coating glycerin with a medium to light weight feel. There is the currants and black cherry, but also some blackberries, black ripe raspberries, as a matter of fc, he profile changes to all black toward the mid-palate. Very cool. Tannins are big and slightly bruiser-ish, never really getting a blow to your face, this has some wonderful lilty balance and a very lively acidity that work both with food, and nicely without. Th finish has very much 'gained weight' from my last showing. It's long, precise and pure. Minutes later you still sense the first moments of the taste. More Napa-ish this time around, this is deep and well structured. There is lots of character in this character.(94 points)

2006 Audelssa Estate Winery Summit (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley)

Pop and pour. This a a very serious wine. The color is the darkish brick shade of brick? The nose is all black cherry and pomegranate. Very intense. The mouthfeel is lush with some wonderful black fruits of black cherries, blackberries, currant, and plums. There is a very meticulous tannin weave woven here: an acid level that defies you to light the grill. All dark, all the way, this might benefit from an hour or so, but its so enjoyable now. Maybe just a tad short on the finish....maybe. Its unctuous and pure with class and brawn fighting for your attention. Lovely indeed. Will need to get me some more for the deck next summer. More cab like than many cabs I have had this year, and I do like my cabs.
Just do it. You know you want to. (93 pts.)

2007 Maybach Family Vineyards Chardonnay Eterium

Two barrel selection from the 2007 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard. Less than 500 bottles will be available. Maybe.....This was pale golden hued and glossy. The nose was lemon rind and tall grass. 100% new oak and it showed wonderfully. Similar in many ways to the RM but more minerality with the great lemon fruited notes. Intense and complicated this was great.

After 2 days (vacuvined): This really came together nicely. More structure and elegance with a beautiful delineated acid level and just a more focused wine in whole. Complicated and enjoyable. I really like this wine.

1995 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Sonoma County)

Dark blackish edges with just the slightest sign of age. The nose began as as habit to say 'old wine', which anyone who knows me, knows I’m not thrilled. But then this did an amazing transformation within 30 minutes. It was super pure and elegant and a truly memorable bottle of 14 year old cab.Admirable amounts of fruits: black currants, black cherry cola with some kirsch royal and a touch of crème de cassis. There was a touch of cedar, and tobacco notes with some tat and soy. Everything was hitting at all the right levels. A 45 second finish. Glad we did not judge this on first impressions. 93/100

2001 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)

Decanted 45 minutes after cork broke and had to do a ‘push in’. What a beautiful expression of a PAX wine in what I think is its golden window. Some great deep purpled tinged magenta color. The nose is violets, blackberries, pomegranate and love. The palate had some great black berries, blue berries, and Bing cherries. There was a hint of white pepper with some tarry notes. Some amazing depth with an unbelievable balance that really did the high wire act. Smooth and fleshed out tannins with just the right touch of acidity, but not too much. As a matter of fact this drank better before food hit the table. A long elegant finish really made this an enjoyable wine. I have always been a fan of this bottling and will continue to look for more. 93/100

2005 Frostwatch Cabernet Sauvignon

Opened at 5pm Wednesday. My advice? Don't drink on Wednesday.

This is full, unresolved in the least and reticent beyond reason.Open it and wait 24 hours, Thursday. BAMM. Bobs your uncle and Fannys your aunt.

Its rich and full. Deep dark black color. The nose is all blackberries and cassis. Wow. Its pure and clean. Great mouthfeel and structure with some nice soy notes, tar and leather. This is softly sweet and generous with nice balance. Great acid carried this one forward effortlessly. A nice super long and pure cab finish. If I had more I would not touch until the Republicans are back in control. I really like this wine. Can you tell?

92/100

A Ray Ormand find.

http://www.frostwatch.com/