2009 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Panek Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

Opaque dark red color. Dense looking. Edges are purple tinged. Nose shows cocoa powder, black raspberry with a hint of strawberry. The palate shows a very serious, slightly hi-toned wine that expresses much breed; intense chocolate covered black raspberries, blackberries and plum pumice. A medium weight wine with fantastic balance and delivery. Some brightness interjects itself as well. The mouth feel is pure and simply incredible. There sits within hints of cola, cassis and soy. I also get the most interesting level of minerality which I do enjoy in small doses. Finish is long and true. What I like is the overall feel to this and yes, it’s certainly young, this would benefit from at least two years in the bottle. TRB’s signature is all over this one and as close to a baby Schrader as I have ever had; a style which I prefer more and more. Good for me……..
After about three hours this has turned into something totally different. It has shed its youthfulness and garnered tremendous fullness and roundness. It's more cool blue in fruit style now and the brightness is gone and it now resembles Maybach Amoenus in a big way; so much so I had wondered if Panek is actually Chris' fruit source for Amoenus. I went to the Maybach site for my answer: 'from a hillside vineyard on the Western side of Calistoga', so no, it's not.
But it is now an easy 95 points. (was 93)

2004 Scholium Project Scythia Donati Vineyards (USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County)

Fathers day----dad's choice. This was as amazing as always. Its pure, dark and full of good.....Syrah stuff. Still youthful, this seems to be moving about as quickly as the glaciers, and that's ok. Other than that, my other 6 notes here on Cellertracker.com sums it up about right. 95 pts

1996 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

1996 Rollin Corton-Charlemagne. This was awesome. A lilt little number with hints of some fresh soft Meyer lemon, graphite, petroleum jelly and spring flowers. Perfectly balanced and precise, a light to medium weighted mouth feel, this just glides over the tongue. Very nice indeed. 93 pts

2008 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Actaeon Quixote Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

Super purple tinged and beautiful. A nose of pure cassis, black cherry Kirsch with pomegranate. A full and round mouth feel that never comes close to even resembling anything overbearing. Pure and focused, more textural than layered now. In 5 or 6 years this could be a perfect rendition of a Stags Leap Napa Cabernet, and at least able to compete with SHS. There is an intense presence that beckons your attention. Some very pretty floral notes run the length; this really is an awesome bottle of wine; structure, grace, poise and breed all wrapped in a near perfect package. Deep and luxurious with fine tannins and a perfect lilty balance. A finish that goes for minutes.

There are times when people have asked me what I like in my Cabs; I would love to have a few dozen 187ml bottles of this for them to pop and see for themselves, as this really does have it all. I used the word beautiful no fewer than 6 times at the table while sampling this over lunch. If this is further indication, I am going to love the 2008 vintage in Napa. (95 pts.)

2003 Gemstone Yountville (USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville)

What a beautiful wine. This is still dark and ominous. The nose starts out all creme de cassis and black cherries. A super elegant plushness is really in control here. Fully resolved and firing on every cylinder this has it just maxes itself out for your benefit. Black fruits of currant, black berries and black cherries, there is a phenomenal balance to this: it had perfect acidity for a meal of wild boar, couscous with a blackberry reduction sauce. Pure and focused with style and pizazz, this is just amazing tonight. After about an hout this went to the red fruit side with cherries ruling. Even the color changed for the redder. Interesting indeed. A long and pure finish really ends the show here. I have not had this one in about 5 years, and it has really became something special. 95 pts