Tonight, with the long-awaited arrival of warm temperatures in these parts, Jean returned from a shopping expedition with some ribeye steaks for grilling. Sure thing! With the grilled steaks, I opened:
1998 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon nose: pencil lead, oak, cassis palate: rich fruit, soft, decent acidity, minerals
Definitely a modern-styled CalCab, it wasn't short of oak, but still had a decent core of fruit. The tannins, although soft, provided a good counterpoint to the red meat. Not a bottle that moved me, but decent for its style.
Mark Lipton