1998 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – USA, California, Napa Valley (4/5/2010)
This was one of my favorite wines from the 98 Napa vintage. It seriously over-performed for most of its life, but, like an aging rock star, the live concert isn’t quite as good as it once was and depends on nostalgia to make up for the shortcomings of overage. Initial notes were promising — deep cherry, raspberry, wood smoke, and saddle leather but grew too astringent within 30 minutes of opening. Flavors continued to thin out leaving just a stemmy, cherry shell of its former self. Drink up if you still have them.

Posted from CellarTracker on GrapeStories.com

2005 Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay Buena Tierra Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (3/20/2010)
Tropical fruit, a banana pina colada with some sweetness. River rock. Every once in a while I’d get some buttered popcorn notes but this is not a stereotypical buttery chard. Big, unctuous, but balanced with good acidity. Much more impressive than I recall my first bottle being back in 2008. I think this wine has upside potential until at least 2014. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker on GrapeStories.com

2001 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Signature – USA, California, Napa Valley (3/12/2010)
One of my better Darioush experiences: I still think the wine is overoaked, but the monster has been tamed a bit by time. Cassis, stewed fruit, espresso, toasted oak, with a long finish of dusty tannins. Bottle opened at 2PM, decanted at 6, drank at 8. This wine needs significantly more time in the cellar. (88 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker on GrapeStories.com

2003 Robert Foley Claret – USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (3/12/2010)
There’s quite a bit good and a little bit bad going on in this wine. It shows big, juicy raspberry jam, Christmas baking, chocolate chip cookies, cherry flavored candles, and pine flavors which form a rich, lush package. However, the alcohol really stands out throwing off the balance and I would expect the wine to be less primary in its 10th year. Still, it’s a good example of the Foley style and amazing to have been produced in the 2003 vintage. Few achieved this level of ripeness without wrecking it. Sloan Estate, for example, totally blew it that vintage while basically aiming for the same target. Opened and let stand for ~ 5 hours. I’m surprised by the Cellartracker average rating of 94.5 but it certainly is a strong 90 in a very specific style. (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker on GrapeStories.com