Cabernet Sauvignon

We had two bottles of this.  The first was just amazing while the second was merely quite good.  At age 16, bottle variation happens.  The first bottle actually appeared and tasted older, so perhaps we just caught the second one in a dumb phase.  Purple in color, a bit of bricking at the rim.  The nose has cassis, camphor, slight cigar box and a sweet perfume.  Full bodied.  Tannins resolved.  This is mature and at peak.  Notes of cassis with underlying tobacco and slight char.  Nice finish.  This won't get better and should be consumed over the next five years.  It will work great with gri

This is the winery that used to be the Hidden Slope Winery.  They still make great Cabs.  It is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color,  ruby at the rim.  The nose has nice cassis, slight blueberries, baking spices and minerality.  On the palate, this is ripe/sweet and slightly jammy with cassis fruit and underlying minerality.  Nice finish.  Not quite at maturity, this will continue to develop and broaden out.  It should drink well fro ten to fifteen more years.  It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with a roast or steak.  

Another wine from this new producer.  Philippe Melka is the winemaker.  purple in color, opaque and bright.  More of a claret style of Cab than a fruit bomb.  The nose has cassis, graphite, rosemary and slight tobacco.  On the palate, there is cassis, camphor with a slight sour cherry note that is interesting.  Nice acidity.  Good finish.  This seems a bit more restrained and in need of air/time.  It should get better with about five to seven years of cellaring and then drink well for another seven to ten years.  It will work with a wide range of food.  

it's always a treat to drink Solaia, especially with a few years on it.  It is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc.  At age 12, this seems to ageing a bit faster than many vintages, but that puts it in a great place now.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cherries, chocolate and slight tarragon.  On the palate, this has such wonderful balance.  A bit on the  voluptuous side but enough acidity to balance it off.  Cassis  and black cherries layered with an earthy/roasted herb quality.  Complex.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now, it sh

it still amazes me that some people say California cabs don't age.  This one, at age 21, is gorgeous and still showing youthfully.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, tobacco and black pepper.  Open and very nice.  On the palate, there are light tannins present.  It drinks so smoothly.  Plenty of cassis, layered with earth and tobacco.  Long finish.  This wine is beautiful today but should last another ten years.  It will work nicely with roasted meats, veggies or fowl.  

Wow.  What a showing.  The grapes for this come from a "young" block in the Champoux vineyard.  Of course, they were not really that young in 2008.  And the best few barrels of this were bottles separately as a "Reserve".  This may be the best Washington Cabernet I have had.  Period.  OK, let's get this part out of the way.  I know the producer - Peter Rosback.  We have been friends for over 40 years since our college days, but I don't believe that influenced this review.  I literally had to go back and check the bottle after taking a few sip.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, black c

A gorgeous wine.  Nice to be able to re-visit this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and shimmering bright.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate and blueberries, with spice and slight cedar.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has lots of depth, layers of complexity that unwind in the glass and medium tannins.  Lots of up front cassis fruit with chocolate in the background over a graphite base.  Long finish.  This still has three to five more years to go until peak and should be good for ten to fifteen more after that.  Drinks great on its own and will work great with roasts or grilled foods.  

This is the basic Cab from this winery.  It is still expensive ($70 on release) but it is an outstanding wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, graphite and slight chocolate.  Full bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, cassis, licorice with underlying char/graphite.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This is still young but drinks great on its own.  It should continue to develop for another five years and be good for another ten after that.  A nice drink on its own and will work great with a steak or burger off the grill.

Tasted from a Magnum.  This old guard of Napa is doing just fine thank you.  Delicious at age 12.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, mushrooms, and dust.  With a bit of air, it wakens up showing some chocolate and black cherry notes as well.  Full bodied.  On the palate, sweet cassis fruit with some dark chocolate and slight spice.  It has a nice depth to it.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  This got better all night long.  This should continue to drink well for ten to twelve years.  It works on its own and went very well with a veggie pizza.  

This was from Magnum.  Just a gorgeous, if young, wine.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, coffee, gravel and spice.  What a wonderful texture.  Lots of energy, lush but precise.  Almost understated at first on the palate, it just keeps its presence.  Not a fruit bomb but a lot going on.  Light to medium tannins.  Cassis, chocolate over a gravel base.  Long finish.  This needs a few more years until maturity and should be good for fifteen to twenty years after that.  Great on its own, it will work well with bolder food, say, ribs off the grill or roasted veggies