Last night Betsy decided on porterhouse, baked potatoes, brussels sprouts, and a arugula salad with mustard/caper dressing. I bundled up for some grilling, and opened the 1996 Barnett Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. Still some tannins, good cassis and black plum fruit, a hint of vanilla and cedar, a slightly ferric mineral note. I'm quite happy with this with the steak, but by end of meal it's really falling apart. Seems disjointed and develops a dirty ashtray streak. Personally I'd drink these up (and share with a group
- first glass was definitely the best). B+/B at first, after 2.5 hours C/C-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.