2004 Olivia Brion Pinot Noir Wildhorse Valley. This is the second Pinot from this narrow valley directly east of Napa City (Mount George area, for those who know Napa). Very dark in color. Good black cherry fruit with plenty of earthy notes and savoryness. A friend thought the midpalette was a little lacking. Very nice. Not cheap, but not a Russian River Valley monster ikn price, either. 3*
1995 Farella-Park Orchard Block Merlot This may rank up there in my top ten Napa wines! This bottle was singing. Not thin or downhill at all. I wonder if this wine would hold another couple years? As Tom Farella only made 50 cases, I bet it's almost all gone. e-mail on Monday for sure! If tasted blind, I would have said maturing Bordeaux! Savory, earthy, mushroomy, but still some lovely rich red cherry fruit showing through. What a nose. 4.5* WOTN for some people.
1999 Chateau La Couspade St. Emillion Grand Cru. This wine was also singing tonight. Very rich-loved the nose of leather and black fruit and earth and other things. Very earthy and rich on the palette as well. I tasted blackberry and cherry and leather and tobacco. Richer than the Farella-Park. Still-this did not taste "New World" at all....It was 100% French to my limited experience! Solid 4 or even 4.5* I loved this wine! Arlington Wines in Kensington, CA doesn't carry a broad range of classed growths, but I really respect the palates of the shop owners in selling more obscure Bordeaux!
2002 Chimney Rock Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted at the restaturant. I was expecting this to be the monster of the night, but....100% Napa in flavor profile. Lots of Stag's Leap brambly red fruit, with some prominent tannins mellowed by the decanter. The second glass was a better. Some people at the table did prefer the bolder fruit forward character exhibited in this Napa wine, but the table consensus leaned overall to the Farella and the St Emillion. QPR issues come into play, but this remains a very elegant, drinkable Napa Cab probably drunk way too soon. 3* with strong upside potential. I may pick up, budget permitting, a Magnum of the 1998.