, but this wine featured bright cherry fruit, tannins, and amazing minerality. Really nice, even if it could have slept another decade! 2005 Ramien "Chapter V" Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. Now this was mighty fine. Best vintage yet from this producer! Just showed classy balance. Plenty of anise and red currant fruit, with piercingly delicious acidity and lovely tobacco and earth notes. Reminded me a little bit of some Mayacamas cabs I have tasted over the years. However...carried its 14.5% abv well. Oak was very balanced. A slurpable wine from this tiny producer whose vineyard is uphill from Hess Collection on Redwood Road. A beautiful Napa Cab.
2003 Hall Napa Valley Cabernet. This winery actually has a fairly restrained, Bordeaux style when it comes to fruit flavor, earthyness, etc. But...I felt that the oak was literally coating my mouth it was so overwhelming. Am I imagining this...literally a slick vanilla-y feeling COATING THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH as I tasted this??? Avoid Avoid Avoid.
2005 Yves Cuilleron St. Joseph "L'Amarybelle" This cuvee seemed to have much heavier oak treatment than other Cuilleron wines. Somewhat nice acidity and fruit though. Much prefer the Paris Cornas.
2006 Alain Jaume Chateauneuf du Pape Very nice earth and herbs and strawberry fruit. Very meaty in a good way, but this also had very nice acidity, believe it or not. Second bottle from this producer and vintage.
2005 Domain de Cotes de l'Anges Chateauneuf du Pape. Nice old school funkyness...very meaty and earthy. I prefered the Jaume because of the latter's acidity and fruit.
2006 Havens Carnoso 1/2 Grenache, 1/2 Syrah. While the smokeyness works with the Hudson Vineyard Syrah, I found the toasted oak overwhelming. Also too sweet.
2006 Owen Roe "The Sinister Hand" Columbia Valley. Mostly Grenache. A little simple and sweet, frankly. The side of Grenache I don't like. Maybe Old World Grenache is the thing to drink?
