This is an interesting wine.  Much more about being refined and still expressing Santa Cruz Mountains than being boisterous.  Of course, some of that may also be the vintage.  Deep garnet in color with some purple hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with cassis, black cherries, spice and graphite/char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has a bit of a bell pepper/herbal streak to go along with nice cassis fruit.  Some underlying char.  Medium tannins.  This has the feel that it needs more time to develop and come together.  It drank better on day 2.  Hold for another

This is a 100% Malbec from the Napa Valley.  The term Ghost Winery refers to the fact that the grapes come from an old 19th century winery that is no longer in use as a winery.  The building is now a residence but there are still vines growing.  These Malbec vines are on that property.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose took about an hour to open and then showed plums, black cherries, figs, baking spice and some milk chocolate.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this took a couple of hours to really hit first gear.  Give it some air if opening now.  Flavors of plums,

What a great bottle for Halloween!  Cool label front and back and really good wine.  This is 100% Cabernet Franc from Rutherford.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose takes about 30 minutes to open then shows nice ripe Cab Franc, that is to say, black cherries, some black raspberries, coffee, dark chocolate, just a bit of cigar tobacco.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, lots of black cherry and black raspberry fruit with underlying coffee and tobacco.  Long finish.  Gives this some air if opening this Halloween, it really got going after being

A new winery for me to try.  Purple in colo9r, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cassis, smoke and gravel.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with underlying smoke and gravel.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  This should go well with Roasted or Charred Portabellas and Root Vegetables.

This is the second wine of Pichon Longueville.  It is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate and a bit of leather.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, light tannins.  Tart, black raspberry fruit.  Some black cherries and a bit of chocolate.  Good acidity.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This should improve a bit over the next five to seven years but either way should be great drinking over the next twelve to fifteen.  A Chicken and Cheddar Sou