Stag's Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2006

Deep purple with garnet hues, the color of the Stag's Leap, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2006 implies an older wine, hinting at premature aging. Intense and complex, the nose shows a heavy predominance of smokey aromas - due perhaps to the 100% new oak aging - followed by intense and ripe cherry and raspberry. The attack is very ripe, followed by red fruits, soft round tannins and good balance, though lacking slightly in freshness. Very long on the finish. Too young to drink, re-taste in 5 years. Score 16/20.

Rubicon Estate, CASK Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, 2005

The American oak, despite the use of larger 500 liter barrels, is evident on the Rubicon Estate CASK Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, 2005. This deep purple wine displays intense smokey oak and spice aromas emblematic of American oak, which almost overwhelm the intense cassis, blackberry and more subtle violet notes. The attack in concentrated and almost sweet, with a creamy mouth feel and rich cherry and chocolate notes. At 14.9% alcohol, the wine flirts dangerously with the 15%+ limit where the high concentration of alcohol kills the yeats cells and slows or stops the alcoholic fermentation, leaving residual sugar and making the wine sweet, but vulnerable to the eventual development or Brettanomyces Bruxellensis, or "Brett" with its typical horse stable aromas. The 2005 CASK is slightly over extracted, making it too young to drink now; re-taste in 5 years. Score 16/10.