1998 Millenium, Columbia Valley, Washington: A collaborative effort by three Washington wineries, according to the bottle, spearheaded by legendary winemaker David Lake featuring a 3:1 blend of cabernet sauvignon and cab franc respectively. I presume it was a one-off aimed at New Years Eve 2000, as the brand has not been seen since. It has aged very well. Initial pine-resin nose evolves into a more pleasant cedar thing, but it never leaves entirely so much as it gets buried under the emerging fruit--they must have used American oak. Strangely the fruit is pure raspberry--not a blackberry or black cherry in sight--and Bob rightly had trouble diagnosing the grapes (poor man is always drinking blind). The tannins are pretty resolved now but there's enough and enough acidity to hold here for a few years. Good QPR for $10 at Winebid.
2000 Karolus, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux: Bought a case of this garagiste Bordeaux at auction for $10/bottle on the strength of a trusted friend's glowing tasting note (the wine originally retailed at about $40). We've sampled a bottle here and there over the years but never found it very satisfying: it's a rather monolithic black wine, and has never been generous on the palate. Finally, though, it shows some potential. It's softening up on the palate and a bit of desperately needed red fruit is peeking through. Tannins are fine but it could use a bit more acid which, looked at in combination with a hint of soy sauce flavor that has also arrived, makes me doubtful about a long and happy future.