97 Lewelling Wight Vineyard, 97 Flora Springs Napa 97 Silverado SLV

[winoweenie]

Had some friends come in town for Biz and Pleezure so took them to the Raven Golf Club along with this 3-pack. Hard to really get anything concrete whilst drinking from a paper cup in the balmy 81* sunshine but did come away with some vague mental note. The Lewelling will be a nice bottle as will the Flora but the Silverado had the makings of a super jug.It also had the advantage of being the 4th bottle (1 consumed with lunch afore-hand). Lovely afternoon. WW

[Kcwhippet]

Aren't those Lewellings wonderful? The 97 Wight Vineyard is my wife's favorite wine with a nice grilled rib eye. The regular 97 Lewelling is great, too, just a bit less concentrated. They should stay down in the cellar for a bit longer, but both 98's are drinking wonderfully now.

[RAD]

I love the 97 Flora Springs Napa--a great cab at a great price, and one to which fortunately WS never ascribed a rating! That leaves more for me--and I can still find it! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

RAD

[winoweenie]

The greatness of the 97 vintage is starting to really show. I have the chore of attending this stupid trade show so took another threesome of 97s' down yesterday. In the mix was Shooting Star, Raymond Reserve, and Ch. Montelena Calistoga Cuvee. Again, and Think paper cup, tired ole' pooper, and hunnerts of hard-bodies distracin' the Weeners concentration. All three wines are really showing well. Even my Martini-Single malt friends thot they were, as one put it, "Pretty Nice Drinkin' Ca-Ca". The one I was mostly suprised by was Steeles' Star. A really formidable wine for under 15 bucks. All 3 have a ways to go but I'll have to try again under better conditions to really pin the tail-on-the-donkey. WW

[RAD]

WW,

Who lives better than you? On my way home from work last night, stopped into a small wine shop and found a 97 Gallo Barelli Creek, which we've all talked about here. I quickly snapped up their last bottle--

Getting a little off-topic here, but...said shop also had a few bottles of 97 Darioush. I know WS gave it a good rating, but ne'er a drop has touched my lips. Have you tried it?

RAD

[winoweenie]

Rad ole chap, not only have I done have not drunked said potion ....I've Nebber heered of the jernt. Where they be frum? WW

[RAD]

Darioush is the operation that bought Altamura in Napa. I believe the new proprietor is Iranian by birth, and the name Darioush signifies some Persian element. That's about all I know.

RAD

[winoweenie]

Hope they make needed improvements. Alta IMHO was a consistant underacheiver. WW

[winoweenie]

'Kaint believe I've failed to post on this whenced I be sober and focused. Lovely deep ruby. Nose exhibits brite red fruits, bakers cocoa, dusty notes, and sweet all-spice. The taste is the same with the addition of cassis and vanilla bean. Solid entry, weighty center and a killer 4&3/4 lapper finish. Still with some sweet tannins to resolve. Give this hummer another 2-4 and fasten your lip-belts. 92/91. 39 by the box.14.2% alc. WW

[winoweenie]

BRW and I had this for lunch today(97 Lewelling Wight) along with another Syrah posted below. This is a great bottle of juice by enny standards(excluding Buckinheimerz). Decididly more old than new world but with loads of soft, complex, consistant fruit, spices, vanilla, and earthy notes that was as persistant as a cell-phone salesman. Deep ruby color. Supple emntry. Heavy center. Solid 4&1/2 lapper finish. 93/91. 49 by the box. 14% alc. Maybe BRW will add his impression?. WW

[Glass_A_Day]

But the question is, have you now heard of Darioush? [img]http://205.134.252.108/ubb/wink.gif[/img]