1997 Stonegate Napa Cab

[winoweenie]

The first bottling I've enjoyed from this producer since their exquisite 78 bottling from the Steiner vineyard. Loads of nice berry flavors upfront with some sweet spices, plummy currant notes and a nice addition of oak. Medium dark color, with no browning. The nose all carries over on the palate with an addition of some smokiness. A solid 97 cab that shows the strength of the vintage. Small amount of tannins still in evidence that should take anothwer 1-2 to reasolve. Solid citizen. 90/91. 28 by the box. 12.5% alc. WW

[Kcwhippet]

Neat, WW. I haven't had a really good Cab from Stonegate since Dave Spaulding was getting really good fruit from his parents vineyard up on Howell Mtn. I think that may have been also the 1997. I met the "new" owners of Stonegate about 5 or 6 years ago and they promised things were going to get better. Not impressed so far, except for the Sauv Blanc, which the Weener doesn't try.