2002 Provenence Rutherford

[hotwine]

From half-bottle at a restaurant, so not a fair shake at all.

Beautiful bright ruby color, nice cab nose, opens slowly on the palate with cassis and Rutherford dust rather muted. No flaws but not a blockbuster either. Moderate finish. Would probably have benefited from decanting.

She said, "When was the last time we made a half-bottle last throughout a three-hour dinner?" I said, "When did we last consume only a half-bottle at dinner?"

Absolutely superb dinner, can't begin to list the menu, but she had tenderloin as the entree and I had veal, both with numerous little palate-cleansing dishes throughout. Wunderbar! At the tiny French restaurant on the San Antonio River called Le Reve. You book a reservation like a doctor's appointment, but by phone message or email .... "When can you take us?"

The 30-mile drive (reason for the small bottle) was worth it. Her birthday dinner a day late.

The half-bottle was $31 and alc/vol 14.5%.

[oostexan]

HW, I have not had the 02 Ruth Cab, but I think that this producer is a little less consistent on the Cabs than the Merlots. I did have the 01 Ruth Cab and it was very, very good. I liked it enough to buy several and still have them in the cellar.

Not sure why, but I did not buy any of the 02 Provenance Cabs.