This lacked the "garrigue" and savoryness I expect from Souther Rhone wines. Instead, it was a somewhat "simple" strawberry-grenache-y wine with a nice mouth feel. 83 points.2004 Deux Amis Petit Sirah (Dry Creek Valley). This was a little closed and hard at first, but did open up nicely. Plenty of blackberry fruit, somewhat simple. Pleasant but nondescript/84 points
2005 Frederic Magnien Chablis Premier Cru "les Vallais" May be infanticide again, but as this wine blossomed with air I loved it more and more. Beautiful citrus fruit and a delicious finish of savory minerality. Medium mouth feel-this is not a heavy wine at all. I am new to Chablis, but my only complaint might be this wine "should" have more acidity. Still...that delicious stoney, savory minerality and the lovely citrus fruit merits a 91 points for me! wine of the weekend for me.
2004 William Harrison "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon. Quite a bit of oak on the nose right now, along with anise. Just a hint of this winery's funk. Quite earthy, delicious licorice/anise fruit. 89 points with strong upside, as the winery's charcteristic funky savory notes become more present.
2002 Hess Collection Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate cab. A lot of oak on the nose, with anise. Darker in color than the WH Reserve above. More up front cherry and anise fruit. Surprising and pleasantly refreshing acidity. Better with the food because of the acidity than the William Harrison. 87 points.