Big ol' steak with Sterling Napa CS

[hotwine]

Dinner with friends at a steakhouse downtown last night, and noticed they had the Sterling Napa Cab by the glass on the winelist at $9 per. Saw the opportunity to try this one that WW and Drew, and probably others, have commented upon. Must say, we were impressed. Excellent variental character with abundant fruit and the right amount of alcohol. Have no idea of the vintage, but suspect a '99. NOW we'll pick up a few to lay down.
The steak was a NY strip, cooked to perfection, gorgeous in appearance but disappointing in flavor to this ol' hoss. High-temp oven cooking insures consistency but comes up short for taste, especially with feedlot beef. Much prefer our own grass-fed critters seared over oak, with artistry and a touch of blind luck determining the outcome.