Nice wine overall right from the start. The Jayson Bordeaux bled red wine was dancing in every category. Although it is more of a new world red wine with a fruit explosion. The color was a deep thick purple and very viscus. Solid fruit nose with a little charcoal or tobacco and a hit of mering. At the start of drinking this bottle (we did not decant it) it had a little edge to it but the flavors of blueberries, dark fruit and spices were balanced. Medium body and the transition to the finish was quality and had about a mid hang time. The finish was solid and enjoyable. 60 bucks a bottle and this is a staple you should have on hand. I would give the Jayson 2004 a couple more years though. Definite try. It reminded me of the Prisoner Cabernet.
Tasting Notes: The 2003 Jayson is an intense wine that exhibits aromas and flavors of deep black fruit, dark chocolate and finishes with focused tannins.
Winemaking Notes: The 2003 Jayson is a “declassification” of the wine originally intended for the Merlot and the Proprietary Red. We do not grow or seek out fruit in order to produce wine for the Jayson label. The 2003 Jayson Red was harvested and vinified in the same manner as the Proprietary Red and the Merlot; the whole berry fruit was from hand picked lots and fermented in short, open-topped stainless steel tanks and cold soaked, using native yeasts. The wine then continued fermentation in 100% new French oak barrels and was bottled neither fined nor filtered.
2005 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve
(USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
I felt the regular Bosswell cab was a bit more exciting. The reserver was good quality and softer but not as BANG as the regular cab. Dark purple. Blackberries, chocolate on the nose and palate. Tannins are there but not as hot as the cab. I liked this wine but I would try the Bosswell Beckstopper cab for less money. The wine was together, soft and a good paring wine. Still had me thinking Harland estate on this wine. Nice but not a reserve.
2004 Luigi Bosca Gala 2 was a nice surprise. Don’t get to try this wine every day. This wine is not a typical cab. It was a nice blend. the color was a very dark ruby color. The nose hits you strong of blueberry and darker fruits and a good balance of French oak. The palate has a strong start with blackberries, chocolate and with some black current. The oak is definitely prominent. The tannins are a little dark and velvety in the finish and this with get dry at the end. The finish is about medium to medium long. For 30 dollars a bottle it is worth having some around.
2003 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Ok now everyone is going to give ma a hard time on this one but I was not impressed. Pretty bad week so far on the tastings. In Phoenix at Ruth Chris trying this wine. This Cab is not worth the money. I would much rather have a bottle of Staglin. Medium purple and not very dark. The nose has blueberry and sour cherry with some peppers. I did like the French oak and vanilla. The taste had some raspberry, and loads of oak. I did not get much more from this, maybe a hint of some vanilla. The pallet was short in my opinion and was a little off on the finish really kind of a bad oak bitterness to the finish. It transitioned very quickly through the mid pallet.
