Tried these two nice under-the-radar Napa Cabs this past week
2004 White Rock "Laureate" Cabernet Sauvignon. from up Soda Canyon Road a ways at the southern end of the valley. Soda Canyon climbs up into the Atlas Peak appellation, with the Antinori Family "Antica" Estate at the very end of the road. ( a real grind on a bicycle). Anyway, this was a very nice Napa Cab. What stood out was a great feeling of freshness and livelyness. Not "green" in any way, just balanced fresh acidity. Oak was present but not dominant. Sweetish Napa fruit, but that freshness just made the cab slurpable. Typical anise and black cherry and red currant fruit gave it a balanced, fruity character that was quite appealing. Yum!
2000 Corrison Napa Valley. Lovely cabernet from one of my favorite wineries. Balanced alcohol and oak and fine red currant and licorice fruit. I would rank this below the White Rock, surprisingly, because it lacked acidity a bit and was not as fresh on the palate. Still, a very, very fine Napa Cabernet.