Friday, August 08, 2008

Fourth of July

Shane’s and Jen’s Notes

We thought we should have a few American wines to celebrate the fourth. We decided to try a few Napa wines from the mountain appellations. We were not disappointed. These mountain wines had very interesting flavor profiles and were more distinctive than many of the valley floor wines that we have tried.

2003 Howell Mountain Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
~$60

Velvety texture surrounds a subtle and complex array of flavors, including herbal/spice notes, deep (but not too sweet) cassis, olive, and espresso. There's a touch of funk/earth underneath. The tannins are smooth and integrated with a touch of astringency on a long finish. The wine is mouth filling and absolutely gorgeous. Quite unique.

2004 Merlot
Keenan
$30

Pronounced blueberry flavor with hints of espresso and herb. Smooth, silky texture completed by a long, luxurious finish. We worried that it might be a bit oaky at first, but when fully open, the wine was well balanced and delicious.

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