Tasting Room
RETROSPECTIVE TASTING, 1997 CABERNETS/BORDEAUX RED BLENDSBEST OF FLIGHT
Shafer
1997 Hillside Select, Napa Valley - Other red wines (market value)
A brawny cab, rich, ripe and complex. Smoky, with notes of cherry, bright currant, cassis, licorice and spice. Nice layers of flavors. Full-bodied, with integrated tannins. Long finish. Showy.
1997 Sonoma County - Other red wines (market value)
Vibrant. Loaded with fruit. Toasty, with notes of red clay and tobacco. Drink now or hold for five to 10 years.
1997 Napa Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
Bordeaux-like. Elegant, with red and black fruit. Plenty of spice. Drink now or hold five to seven years.
1997 Alexander Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
A complex cab with firm tannins. Notes of blackberry, cola and caramel. Drink now or hold for five years.
1997 Reserve, Dry Creek Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
A brooding cab with chewy tannins. Complex, with notes of plum, cherry and cocoa. Hold for five to 10 years.
1997 Dry Creek Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
A smoky cab. Notes of dried cherries, cassis, dusty tannins and cigar box. Nice use of oak. Drink now.
1997 Reserve, Alexander Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
Elegant and complex. Flavors of currant, cocoa, cedar and pencil shavings. Drink now or hold for five years.
1997 Dry Creek Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
Youthful. Soft and round. Notes of cherry, red licorice and spicy oak. Drink now or hold for five years.
1997 Sonoma Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
A juicy cab that still manages to have good structure. Notes of plum, vanilla and pepper. Drink now.
1997 Reserve, Sonoma County - Cabernet Sauvignon (market value)
A ripe and weighty cab. Flavors of red plum, dark chocolate, black walnut and pencil shavings. Drink now.
TASTING PANEL: Vineyards in St. Helena and winemaster of Sbragia Family Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley; Dan Kosta, partner at Kosta Browne in Sebastopol; Ben Pearson, wine buyer of the Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa; Renay Santero, wine buyer and manager of Oliver Markets in Sonoma County; and Press Democrat wine columnist Peg Melnik.
CRITERIA: The panel samples eight to 12 wines a week in a blind tasting. Wine of the Week is based on quality, value and availability and is not necessarily the top wine of the tasting. Price is suggested retail; actual price is often lower.You can reach Staff Writer Peg Melnik at 521-5310 or e-mail pmelnik@pressdemocrat.com