Napa Valley

• Atlas Peak
• Best of Napa
• Calistoga
• Conn Valley
• Diamond Mountain
• Howell Mountain
• Mt. Veeder
• Oak Knoll
• Oakville
• Pope Valley
• Rutherford
• Spring Mountain
• St. Helena
• Stags Leap
• Yountville

A good showing for this wine which seems to be just about at peak.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, chocolate, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with spice and char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but one should still have another five to eight years (based on this bottle) before it starts going downhill.  it is nice on its own but probably better with food.  It would go nicely with Indian cuisine.  

While a step down from the 2004, this bottle showed well, too.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, slight chocolate but also a "tinny" quality.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This is probably a bit past peak but still drinking well.  That said, these should be probably be consumed sooner than later.  It drinks well on its own but would be better with food.  This would go well with a hearty Chili.  

Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with cassis, cedar and graphite.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, this is mature although it will still develop.  Flavors of cassis, slight blueberries with slight oak/cedar.  Long  finish.  This is drinking well now and should have another ten to fifteen years.  It is great on its own and will work well with bigger foods.  It would go well with Prime Rib.  

This is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 6& Cabernet Franc and some Petit Verdot and Malbec from Napa.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with cassis, blueberries, black cherries, tobacco, spice and char.  Thick tannins.  Good energy.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is tasty as well as complex.  Flavors of cassis, black cherries, blueberries, chocolate, and spice.  Long finish.  This is a bit youthful but should drink well for another twenty years.  It is great on its own and will work with big foods such as a grilled Ribeye Steak.  

This is a classic, old school Napa Cab that has not gone crazy on pricing and now it is a relative value.  At age 12, this bottle is mature and drinking beautifully (if well stored).  Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, earthiness/forest floor, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Complex.  On the palate, flavors of cassis with slight black cherry.  Good finish.  This will drink well for another decade but it should start heading south in the next few years, so maybe drink well.  A nice choice for Roasted or BBQ meats.