Meritage - Stag's Leap District

2001 Stag's Leap "S.L.V.", Napa $210 - dusty pickles linked together with Ovaltine chocolate powder. The wine was a little too young to drink so I decanted it. That didn't help too much, but it still tasted real good. Last tasted 8/18/07 Drink now-2015 

Meritage - Diamond Mountain

2001 Laird Cabernet, $110 – the black granite rocks tasted real dark and exhibited nice complexity. The party in the Milagro likes this with Filet Entrées. The female host wanted to jump my bones after she tasted this. Its pop-rock chocolate earthiness creates smiles on the faces of many. Last tasted 10/9/07 Drink now-2015 

Meritage - Mountain Vineyards

2002 Harlan Estate – Table nine ordered this $1,200 bottle and it was quite dark in the glass. It had lots of fruit, power, and alcohol with concentrated cassis and black licorice nuances. I thought it was a touch too young to drink, but deliciously hedonistic. I had the ’96 recently and I thought that one is past its prime. This one should continue to improve with age and maybe some of that thick, loud fruit will dissipate? Lasted tasted summer of 2010 Drink now

1996 Harlan Estate – Table three brought this one in. It seemed tired and hot. It had some licorice nuance, but it seemed a little too old. Last tasted fall of 2010 Drink now 

Meritage - Napa

2004 Shafer Cabernet “One Point Five” $110 – this angry, young beast shows a little promise but not much. The people love the name; I hate the lack of earth. It’s a fruit-bomb and cheap Chilean Cabernet gives it a run for its money. Nevertheless, there are no vegetable aromas and it’s juicy. Last tasted 10/9/07) Drink now-2015 

2000 Chateau Montellena Cab Sauvignon. - Napa - Big and masculine but after tasting the Old World wines, it tasted super-extracted with some banana or strawberry nose. The epitome of a fruit-forward wine with black asphalt masculinity. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1999 Spottswoode, Napa $195 - this displayed nuances of licorice and espresso grinds with a tinge of chalk. Not much of a selling point, but it tasted good. There was pickle in this one too. The tannins were mellow, but the wine wasn't watery. At one time, the host sold Casanova's the best figs around! Last tasted 8/18/07 Drink now-2015 

1991 Heitz "Martha's Vineyard" - I took the guest down to the cellar because his buddy was celebrating his birthday. This was the year of the freeze and I got lots of eucalyptus. Some of the organisms that struggled for existence produced complexity. A bit tight at first, but the mint was ever-present. Last tasted 8/20/07 Drink now-2015 

1984 Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa - The dirty and supple tannins overshadowed barky eucalyptus, leathered and ripened roses. I thought it might be younger than 89' and was impressed with the tons of tobacco and cherry-like fruit. It had a dried candied fruit character. I didn't know California wines could age this well. Maybe I should've read about the judgment of Paris in 76'? Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Santa Cruz Mountains - Meritage

2004 Ridge “Montebello” – it’s chewy and to the point. This is the perfect example of a focused wine. If this was a surfer, it wouldn’t waste time doing tricks. In fact, this would surf like Tom Curren and be on rail the whole time. Last tasted 9/26/07 Drink now-2015 

92 Montebello Meritage

Table 4 brought this into Mundaka restaurant in Carmel and I decanted it. Obviously, it was throwing some major sediment. It had been over five years since I last tasted this beauty at the Carmel Chop House. The wine was elegant and well-structured for its age and it displayed aromas of: number 2 pencil, graphite, cedar and cassis. It seemed like it had plenty of life ahead of it. Gabe Georis, Mundaka owner, thought it was, "beautiful." Adam Olthoff, former Henry Wine Group rep. and fellow wino, said it was "drinking great." Both Olthoff and Georis were there the last time I tasted that wine. I guess I'm hanging around the right people. I give it 4/5 stars.