- 1999 Robert Craig Affinity - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/21/2007)
Oaky, sweet nose with some caramel. The attack is soft and fruity, the structure becomes apparent only later on - it seems to lack cohesiveness. Very sweet and oaky. Not really my thing, but competently made. - 1999 Vérité La Joie - USA, California, Sonoma County (12/21/2007)
A nose of oak and cranberry jam. It is dark toned in its fruit and has some depth and complexity to it. The palate is also full of cranberry jam, but it does have strong acidity and nice tannins. The oak does become rather too apparent in the creamy aftertaste. Well made, but not really my style. - 1999 Arietta - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/21/2007)
Kongsgaard & Hatton from Hudson Vineyards. The nose seems too old, with its notes of rye bread. The palate is better, with sweet fruit, but it seems overextracted as the tannins overpower everything else on the finish. The alcohol is also strong on the finish. It seems to be coming undone at the seams. - 1999 Rosenthal Cabernet Sauvignon Malibu Estate - USA, California, South Coast, Malibu-Newton Canyon (12/21/2007)
It smells like straberry jam, but does have a touch of Cabernet lift and earth. Unfortunately there is a slight but annoying lactic hint on the nose. The palate is soft, strawberried and sweet. It is a bit lifeless/un-vibrant and could use less ripeness and more acidity. Fair, if you like a very ripe but not blockbuster style. - 1999 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/21/2007)
This has a dark toned nose of blueberry and Port-like sweetness - in fact it rather reminds me of Fonseca's style, except this is much too oaky. The palate is sweet, soft, with not enough acidity to keep it refreshing, but gladly with some tannins so that it does stay together. I can understand that for some this is a very successful wine, but I didn't really care for it. - 1999 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon McWilliams Oakville Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (12/21/2007)
A very dark toned, inky and brooding nose, but with Cabernet lift to it. The palate is very dark toned, extracted, tannic and very (i.e. much too) alcoholic. A brute of a wine. Impressive, but too much for me. - 1999 Viader Proprietary Red - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/21/2007)
Sweet and plummy nose with some Cab lift and cranberry to it also. The plump and sweet palate is a bit monolithic and turns a bit harsh on the finish. Nice enough I guess, if you like the style. - 1999 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/21/2007)
The nose is very cranberried and oaky. The palate starts out soft but turns oaky and cranberried towards the end. Long, but too oaky finish. Competent in its style, but frankly a bit boring. - 1999 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington (12/21/2007)
A toastily oaky nose of sweet fruit, peanut butter and cedar. The palate is also strongly nutty, with soft tannins and much ripe fruit and oak. Long aftertaste. There is a bit too much of the butter component for my taste which smothers all the other aromas. But it is quite an impressive wine - alas, just not in a style I tend to like.
Blinds:
- 1999 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (12/21/2007)
The nose is a bit lactic, but otherwise nicely cedary and darkly fruity. The palate is medium bodied, attractively dry and pleasantly tannic. Not a great Claret, but not bad either. Needs more time, though I keep on hearing that '99s are approachable already. - 1999 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (12/21/2007)
A dark toned nose, open and expressive but youthfully tarry and mulberry-like. It actually smells almost Shiraz-like to me despite its cranberry notes and lift. The palate is thick and tarry, with some red tones to balance all the blackness. Strong structure. Needs time. Good in its style. - 1999 Montes Alpha M - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (12/21/2007)
An unpleasantly harsh nose of blueberry jam - it actually stings when I sniff it! Soft, sweet, plump, juicy and very boring palate. Harsh aftertaste.
Posted from CellarTracker
I read your description of the La Joie with my teeth clenched: my well-meaning research group years ago gave me a bottle of the '99 La Muse for Christmas. On the basis of your note, I plan on leaving it alone for another decade to see if the oak will 
. I simply put my utterly subjective notes on paper. I think words are more impressionistic than truly descriptive anyway, so I hoped that they would make sense. Cranberry jam and the scent I found in many of the wines are very, very similar.