2003 Terredora Lacryma Christi (Naples) Very interesting red wine-I think I liked the nose better than the palate, though. Sweet licorice, leather, black currant fruit. Had a certain "tang" that I can't help but associate with Italian wines from up and down the Penninsula. Good acidity, but the fruit was perhaps just a touch "stewed" from the heat? I would like to try this wine from a cooler year. 90 points.
2002 Sausal Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley). Rather "simple" after the L.C. above. Smooth and pleasant drinking with tannins fully softened by this point. Surprisingly "green" in character-not harshly bell peppery by any means, but still green. Licorice and leather on the mid=palate and finish. OK wine, I would probably give it an 85 on a 100 point scale.
General comment: Italian wines all seem to have a certain "tanginess" across the country and across the grape varieties that make me immeidately identify their home. Does anyone else see this?