2005 simi alexander valley cabernet sauvignon

http://www.simiwinery.com





the bottom line - fruit bomb! oak and green veggies on the nose, followed by a mid-pallet of luscious sweet cherry and blueberry. A crescendo of oak and fruit on a long elegant finish.







alcohol - 13.5%
total acid - 6.2 g/l
final pH - 3.65
Blend - 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petite Verdot

aroma - cedar, broccoli, oak
flavor - fruity sweet raw sugar, blueberry, cherry with a nicely balanced long finish.
price - $16.86
verdict - 88, WS82

2004 chateau ste michelle indian wells cabernet sauvignon

http://www.ste-michelle.com/

the bottom line - the indian wells series is produced from fruit sourced from vineyards throughout the wahluke slope in washington state including chateau ste michelle's own indian wells vineyard. I found this cab lacking in complexity, with little up front to balance the overly tannic finish.

alcohol - 14.0%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - .59 g/100 ml
final pH - 3.68
blend - 91% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot

aroma - strawberry, cherry, pepper
flavor -fruity medium bodied somewhat flat on the mid pallet. the fruit battles vanilla oak and moderate unripe tannins through a long finish.
price - $16.00
verdict - 84, WS85

2004 clos du bois north coast cabernet sauvignon

http://closdubois.com/

the bottom line - this was really disappointing for a $16 bottle. some interest on the nose, but one dimensional and flat on the pallet.

alcohol - 13.5%
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - n/a
final pH - n/a
blend - n/a

aroma - strawberry starburst, cherry, green pepper
flavor -fruity flat forward with a moderate tannic finish.
price - $16.49
verdict - 84

2004 nelms road columbia valley cabernet sauvignon

http://www.woodwardcanyon.com

the bottom line - nelms road is the second label of the woodward canyon winery. nelms road releases are young vineyard production or wines that didn't quite rate the woodward canyon label. I found this wine unobjectionable but too sweet for my taste and lacking in complexity.


alcohol - 14.4 %
residual sugar - n/a
total acid - n/a
final pH - n/a
blend - 98% cabernet sauvignon and 02% syrah
production - 4410 cases


aroma - fruity
flavor -sweet. blackberry, raspberry, cherry, one dimensional
price - $16.99
punt - 35 mm
verdict - 85