I bought a dry-aged rib roast and roasted it last night. I had invited some people to help me, but for various reasons, I found myself alone with the meal. I opened a bottle of Hawkes Pyramid Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon '06 (Alexander Valley).
Despite my solitude, it was a wonderful meal. The roast was perfect and the wine couldn't have been better. My notes, unedited:
First opening, cloves on the nose and the first taste. It's all there and will be good when it opens in an hour or two. Better and better and better. Cloves remain, but a lot of stone and definite brambly stuff, along with whatever it is that makes Cab taste like Cab. This bottle, however, is not leafy or herbaceous at all. It softened just a bit overnight; tonight's glass is memorable. Spice has retreated and this is just a quintessential Alexander Valley cab, but stonier and not as ripe as most. Wow. 14.1% alcohol