WTN: Goosecross, Artemis

Back Room Wines in Napa had their annual bring a bottle party. The admission charge is something "interesting and good." I brought an OK Petit Sirah (B Cellars) and an awful Lodi Zinfandel...basically a late harvest Zin that fermented dry. Jeeze Louise there was a lot of vanilla oak on that wine (Van Ruiten 2004) Interesting...but not "good" at all.

Anyway...the star for me was the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis 2005. This is their "lesser" bottling, I know, but it is already showing layers and layers of interesting flavors...herbs, leather, tobacco, pencil lead. More complexity than many $100 "fruit bomb style" cabs. They also had an unlabeled Fay Vineyard bottling that was 60% cab and 40% Petit Verdot. No vintage label...I enjoyed this as well.

At Wine Styles Saturday night, I really love Goosecross Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. This was my last 2003. Like the Artemis, this had all kinds of savory goodness...herbs, blackberry fruit, tobacco, cassis.,..The label mentioned chalky tannings, and I agree...I LIKED this. Delicious...I enjoyed this more than a Sbraggia Howell Mountain Cab recently sampled that got big scores.