2007 Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

I actually dislike the word delicious, but need to use it here. This wine is pure and simply delicious. Pretty nose of fresh cherries, kirsch, and spring flowers. Palate has such a purity, we need another....well, you know. It is lush and bursting at the seams with all good....cab....stuff. There is the freshest fruit profile I have encountered all year; fantastic red-black currant, cherries, sweet red raspberry, blackberry liquor and more. Hints of graphite, vanilla, framboise and love. The love comes in many forms, too many to pinpoint. Balance is impeccably deft with large but well behavin' tannins. Acidity rides a wee-bit high, but it is almost needed with this, now, here, tonight. If I said it before, I will unabashedly repeat it: it's a pretty wine, very pretty. A super finish keeps really rounds this one out like the moon at 'harvest moon' time of the year. Just incredible. 95 pts

2000 Colgin Cariad (USA, California, Napa Valley)

Medium red in color with pretty crimson edges. Nose of dried red fruits with the forefront being cherries. The palate shows very refined and pure, and a low key elegance that showed breed and femininity. There is some warm-earth and dried red fruits and more of a red raspberry/cherry as well as some red currant components. Some dried tea leaf, worn leather, and spring white flowers become evident. As time passed, any variances from these first impressions were minute, maybe just a gaining of a bit more mid-palate weight as well as a softer tannin attack, but those tannins do seem fully resolved and impeccably balanced. Classically structured and such a beautiful (not to mention welcomed) Cabernet-blend expression from such a dismal year in the valley. Just Fantastic. 94 pts

2008 Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon Special Cuvée Napa Valley (USA, California, Napa Valley)

So, yeah, it's primary, shoot me. Nose of red cherries and red plums with hints of red currant. Not a bruiser and certainly more of the feminine variety of Napa Cab. It's pretty and pure with a bright & plushy light to medium weight mouth feel. Attack is focused and precise, this has some new leather, warm cinnamon and a quaint hint of lead pencil shavings. Nice balance with a nice red fruited finish. Although I knew going in this was a youngster, I am glad to see what's in it, sort of my sneak preview. For $20 per half, I may stock up a bit for drinking beyond the new year. Decant now and enjoy. 91 pts

2007 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

This was chocolate malted squared. Red fruits masked with some gobbiness and a bit messy overall. Difficult to get a good read on this one tonight. 2007 Cabs have not been kind to me. Not sure what else I can say. n/r

2002 Domaine Georg Rafael Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder)

Always the dark horse/left fielder and always a winner. This Farella made wine just brings it; it might not be loud and it might not stop the show, but deliver it does. Reddish black fruits with purity and poise. Somewhat in between the classic/new Napa style. Some great hints of leather saddle, graphite and espresso. A long finish completes this nicely. My #3 on the night. 92 pts

2002 St. Helena Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Sympa Napa Valley Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

Now we are firmly in new Napa territory. A Mark Herold hay-day wine, this had a solid black wall of fruits with cassis and pomegranate first and foremost. Big boned with a plush vanilla infused mouthfeel with exotic tea, pencil shavings and cola. Near perfect balance. This was a bit more of a bruiser than the KL.. Those same Francophiles were now running for 'zee hills'… 93 pts

1992 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Alexander Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley)

Right into it, this reminded me of a Beringer Reserve of the same era, and I am not quite sure why. It has some sweet eucalyptus with pretty black fruits. Some framboise and cherry herring was in this mix too. Great balance with a classically sexy mouthfeel. Long finish. Very nice indeed. 91 pts

2008 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley)

Pale straw in color, this had some pure lemongrass notes
with a tinge of honey. A beautiful fragrant fruit filled medley that
always stayed precise and focused. Some minerality but the purity was
really in charge here. After a moment of what I thought was some back-end funk blew off, this just had perfect balance and floated across the
palate ever so gracefully.. A fantastic way to start the evening.

1989 Quail Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (USA, California, Napa Valley)

This had a very cool climate Cab feel and I pegged it as a Northern California and certainly not from Napa. Interesting green profile which subsided as it sat. Some reddish black fruits and an overall ‘better than $10’ feel, this was pleasant and fun to drink. Glad to have it in the lineup. 89 pts

1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)

An interesting old wine which has given up any fruit it might have once had. It had some dryness with hints of lead pencil, brown sugar and cedar. A shadow of itself, but it is always great to taste a mid 80s classic like this. The nights ‘Francophiles’ enjoyed this one more. Go figure? 88 pts

2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Morisoli Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

This is one consistent bottle of pure cab love. Black berries, currant, hints of cola and crème de cassis, this had an underlying sweet fruit profile that one never tires of. Tannins are nearly resolved and nary a hard edge can be found. A lithy balance, this had elegance, precision and grace. Showed just as beautiful as it did last month at CLONYC 27, the Karl Lawrence Reserves dinner. 94 pts

2001 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)

An interesting little wine with style and class. (I've always wanted to write that!)
This is dark. This is full of juicy black berries. Nose shows pure black fruits with some reserve. Palate has the blackness with an added dimesnion (or headiness?) of sassafras, bramble and cinnamon. Hints of lite cocoa powder and spice-box with a bit of lead pencil. This gets redder as the minutes go on. Turns to a more cherry-cola thing, and THAT'S where the interest comes in. Finish has a slight tartness but all-in-all this is a pretty evocative and enjoyable wine made more in a classic style. 90 pts

2005 Enzo Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

A pretty red and black currant is the nose with hints of sour cherry. Palate shows the sour cherry in the front with a hint of dryness. After about an hour this integrates into a nicely balanced cab with notes of ripe strawberry, red plum and cassis liqueur. Tannins are aligned and acidity carries a lite bounce. The finish lasts a bit. I like this better after the hours wait. A great deal for $30 and I would not hesitate if I ever see it again for a comparable price.

Went well with a tricky dinner of sautéed pork chops and home made marinated cherry peppers, and that must mean something in itself... 91 pts

2004 Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

Yes it's dark. Yes it's opaque. The nose is pure black currant with black cherry jam. Some licorice and violets are in that mix. Palate shows some plushiness with abundant black fruits for 3 wines. Pretty and pure with poise and balance. Currants, cola, black cherries, blackberries and Kirsch with some slight hints of cedar, espresso bean and tobacco. There may be a slight note of dryness right beyond the mid-point. This really is a great Cabernet nonetheless. One I wish I had more of... 92 pts

2004 Rockledge Cabernet Sauvignon The Rocks (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

I am obviously in the minority here, but that's never bothered me before. I love this wine.
Some wines take different routes to get to where they are going, others stay true and sure, hardly ever budging. This is the latter.
It's super dark and still ominous. Nose is all dark fruits of black-cherries, currant, and soft ripe super-black plums. The cola notes are in play as is some creme de cassis and cardamom. Pure and precise while being classic and gripping, this remains the cab lovers cab. Masculine and bordering a heavy weighted wine, this has gripping tannins---still, with a slightly elevated acidity; this seems about right for such a big boned wine and without this could easily fall apart. Notes of graphite, cedar box and hints of exotic tea leaf really make this a well balanced wine that carries much interest within its suit of armour. Finish remains lively with the dark fruits never wavering for pole position. This is really a satisfying Napa Cabernet. Last tasted with Mike Hirby when he visited with the CLONYC gang back in October, 2009. This has barely moved an inch since..... 93 pts

2005 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)

Nose is intense with dark black-cherries wrapped in cola. There is some pretty Framboise as well. More structure than my last visit, this shows real breed and presence. Pure with hints of vanilla, cocoa powder, black cherry, some black raspberry compote. Great mouth feel with chewy tannic backbone, slightly elevated acidity and a long black fruit finish. This could have used a 2 hour decant. Hey hurricane Irene, I hate you. 92 pts

2007 DeLille Cellars Syrah Doyenne (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley)

This is an interesting Syrah that needs some patience. I say so because it was somewhat messy out of the gate (5pm). By 8pm this is rocking on all cylinders. Its pure and focused with some slightly gobby blue/black fruits showcasing blueberries and raspberries. The nose is awesome! Smells like a perfect Syrah party with those fruits showing and then some: black cherries, red currants and cola. There is a hint of violets and other spring flowers. Intense lushness on the palate with a very admirable medium-weight attack with texture and finesse. Long and true to itself, this should be fantastic in a bunch of years. How many? I might say 4 or 5. What remains on the palate long after the fruits are gone is a hint of spice. Gotta love these. 91 pts

2006 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)

Opened 1 hour in advance. Purple tinged edges on a deep almost opaque red/black background. Nose of pretty cardamom infused black currants and black cherries-- Interesting. Palate shows breed right off the bat with intense purity of black fruits: currant, black cherry and blackberries are all here. This has so much life ahead of itself. Elegance wrapped in iron with minute hints of lead pencil, warm vanilla and worn leather. Tannins have not resolved enough to fully appreciate this and time is not on its side for a decent decant since it still it is delicious and will still be a great near-lazy Sunday afternoon of steak sandwiches, fries and awesome Cabernet. Balance is deft and all things good are really in the wings just waiting. I hope my last 3 hold out. Mike Hirby would smile upon tasting this one right now and it has his name all over it. Well done! 94 pts

2006 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

Huge and unrelenting. 30 minute decant.
This has purity and intensity on its side. Not giving too much now. I get black cassis driven mocha with tart plums and boysenberry with some sour cherry and huge tannic structure and that's about it.. It might be in a dumb phase right now. I never (hardly ever) say this: I think I opened this one too early. Like 5 years too early. Oh well, live and learn?!? Not!
Needs a LOOOOOONG decant if you venture these ways soon. Long. 90 pts

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

Pretty dark carmine with brownish edges. Nose of cardamom, red currant, and red cherries. Palate shows a fully resolved and somewhat complicated reddish fruits profile with nice plushness and hints of menthol, flowers, and worn leather. There is some underlying lead pencil shavings with a touch of scorched earth and damp forest floor, complete with fallen acorns. :)
Finish goes on with all the fruits components remaining in play. Mid-palate shows a darker fruited side with cola and cedar box.
This is near perfectly balanced with a really lilt weight to it. My 10th of 12 bottles, and this has certainly evolved into a warm cuddly wine.
Held up well and fully enjoyable. Should compliment dinner of quails on spinach with rosemary potatoes really well, if it last that long......93 pts