Recently in Cabernet Sauvignon Category

I have had many back vintages of this consistent winery, and enjoyed all of them. The 05 was young to be opening, but they were Microsoft guys and the bottles were engraved to them as some sort of present. Yes I decanted forty minutes prior to them drinking, I got my taste about an hour and a half after decantation. On the nose, aroma, low intensity, almost nothing on the nose, not sure if the wine's just too young or going through an awkward phase or what the deal was. My favorite part is the nose, and how it can captivate me, into an almost trance where I forget to drink the wine. Nothing like that here. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, some black cherry, some cassis, some oak, no earth, and no impressive structure to speak of. I expected more.

I have had this wine several times in the past year and loved it every time. Every guest I have sold it to has also loved it. Interestingly, they age this wine in large American Oak casks for a year, then it sees two years aging in French oak barriques. Classic aging Cab flavors of black cherry, cassis, cigar box, perfume, dust, medium+ tannins, medium+ acidity, and a walk around for a few minutes and still taste the wine finish. If I had the money I would buy what is left and open a bottle every couple of months.

Mountain vineyard fruit almost always exhibits more power and complexity that valley floor vineyards. This winery spends a lot on farming costs and delivers in flavor. Dark berry, black cherry, black currant, cigar box, and a perfuminess that made me want to drink more. I would love to see how this wine matures. Very sturdy tannic structure and integrated oak.
On the expensive side, but if you like the finer things and can afford it, this cab is a winner.

Legendary vineyard, although I heard they are having to replant or had to replant, and many people consider the quality not as high as it used to be. Non the less, I thought this was an amazing wine, a lot out of my price range. Apparently I have real good wine karma, because folks just want me to share some of their amazing juice. Tasted this a ways back, this is what I wrote: currant, cedar, mint, cocoa, tobacco, tomato leaf, med+ acid, med+ tannin, and an incredible finish that went on for minutes.

Really interesting nose of meat, black currants, dark berries, dairy, and black pepper. The price tag on this wine is one of the highest in the state of washington, and for good reason, the pedigree of fruit and winemaking is as good as it gets. Officially, Parker gave the 2003 100 points, but there were rumors of a make-up call because the 2002 was better and should have received the higher score, or some shit like that. This wine was very enjoyable, but was more of a finesse wine and I was hoping for some power and structure. I just had a two ounce pour, so this could have evolved further, hard to say. I however, wouldn't spend the money on this wine, and feel like it's a drink now, as apposed to the 2003 that wasn't showing as well as it will be when it matures and integrates.

This is probably the most asked for bottle of wine other that Caymus at my restaurant. There is much debate over whether the Napa cab is really worth the $100 more on our menu. When we had the 2000 Napa, I thought the 02 Alexander Valley crushed it. The 01 Napa was showing just ok to me, a lot of oak, and that dairy creamy element that comes along with over oaking your wine. Pretty decent fruit to it, black cherry, black currants, sturdy tannins, good acidity, but in my opinion lacked layers of complexity and not worth the price tag. The are plenty of inexpensive over oaked wines out there, why spend over $100 on this one.

Great Nose. Black raspberry, cassis, and loads of cassis, Vanilla, choco covered cherry, tobacco. All on a medium bodied frame, with good acitity. This is my friend Patrick's favorite producer and for good reason. This wine had character as all of their wines do.

This was a really pretty cab. Bing cherry, cassis, tobacco, dust, cigar box, and perfume. Medium tannins, great acidity, and a little bit of oak on a long finish. This wine is aging pretty nicely.

This was my first time with this winery, although I have had their fruit in other wines and really enjoyed them. Right away this wine was dusty and dirty, and my rep was saying thats the style the winemaker goes for. Dark cherry, Cassis, and a mild semi sweet pickle juice mixed with dusty fruit thing. Very intriguing aromas, of great cabernet flavors, could see this wine evlolving to that perfumey cigar box, but don't think it has the tannic structure to age that well. I want to re-visit this wine many times.