Looking back on three wines from last weekend:
1995 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon: Showed pretty well. Classy Calcab that might be at peak, more savory than sweet--an hour of decanting would have opened it up more.
1995 Rosemount Balmoral Shiraz: Others liked it well enough but I found it hard to drink after the Caymus. Sweetish with an overriding malolactic odor of malty/sour milk.
2005 Woodinville Wine Cellars 'Ausonius' (a Cheval Blanc style, about 50/50 merlot and cabernet): I brought this, an orphan in my cellar that I chose because I wanted to bring a quality Washington wine but a more polished, filtered style that wouldn't suffer from air travel. I bought it at the winery about two years ago (for $35) after liking the other wines they were pouring and was warned that it was very very tannic and needed a lot of time--they were so emphatic about that I was certain this was too soon. Shouldn't have: big, forward plummy fruit, vanilla, overripe, cloying aftertaste. The remaining half bottle oxidized overnight. Won't be buying from Woodinville Wine Cellars again.