Where am I?

Except as noted, these were all 1978 Napa Valley cabs.

• Phelps Backus (13.6%): group score 50.
• Phelps Eisele (13.5%): group score 54. Showed some eucalyptol or menthol, typical for the vineyard.
• Beaulieu Rutherford (12.5%): group score 95.
• Beaulieu Private Reserve (13.5%): group score 76.
• Sterling Merlot (13%): group score 83. Grapey, mineral, and over the hill.
• Tulocay (13.3%): group score 75. Gone, and going off.
• Villa Mt Eden Reserve (13%): group score 45. Drying out, but still nice.
• Chateau Prieure Lichine, Margaux (12.5%): group score 56. Distinctive for its green bell-pepper nose, I'll claim credit for picking this one out as the French interloper in the group. It was also my favorite of the tasting.

This was an interesting group of wines, each Zinfandel fruit from Brandlin Ranch, on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley (that's in California, on the planet known as Earth, Terra, or Tellus).

• 1991 Rosenblum (14.1%): group score 22. This had fairly heavy sediment, and a rich earthiness alongside cedar, brambles, and a hint of barnyard.
• 1993 Rosenblum (13.8%): group score 19. Seemed to be drying out, but still fragrant, with cedar and vanillin prominent.
• 1994 Rosenblum (14.8%): group score 14. Highest alcohol = best score? There was some sediment, with prominent alcohol in the bouquet.
• 1994 Franus (14.4%): group score 20. This showed jammy fruit, followed by brambles and vanillin.
• 1995 Rosenblum (14.3%): group score 35. I thought this one was corked.
• 1996 Rosenblum (14.3%): group score 16. Typical California Zinfandel, with boiled sweets and raisins.

When searching for a missing cat, try looking up. I wandered around for about 15 minutes, sure that I could hear Evangelina, but unable to decide which garage she was trapped inside of.



My theory is that she chased a squirrel up the birch tree on the left, but wasn't brave enough to take the same route down. She probably spent three days and two nights up there, and wouldn't come down for food or water. But when the ladder got too close, she jumped off the other side of the roof.

Moral of the story: this cat can survive a 17-ft fall into a bush. She might have scratched her leg, or maybe that was a pre-existing condition. She definitely acquired a sunburn, and she has a growing collection of freckles.

• 1995 Dehlinger "Estate", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 63
• 1995 Dehlinger "Octagon Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 63
• 1997 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 74
• 1997 Dehlinger "Reserve", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 52
• 1999 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 64
• 1999 Dehlinger "Octagon Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 81
• 2001 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 59
• 2001 Dehlinger "High Plains", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 48

Note that some of these wines fall short of 75% Zinfandel, and couldn't be sold as such today.

• 1978 Langtry Road (60% Zin, 30% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane; 14.6%) - Showing a floral-herbal bouquet, with jammy fruit and some lingering acidity. Group rank: 44.
• 1978 York Creek (100% Zin; 13.9%) - Typical Zinfandel nose, "boiled sweets" or candied cherries. Still lively and drinkable, this was my third-favorite of the flight. Group rank: 50.
• 1978 Shennandoah "Eschen Vineyard" (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 15.9%) - Sadly, this wine was corked. Group rank: 86.
• 1978 Paso Robles (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 14.6%) - Some oxidation, phenolic notes, and some mustiness in the nose. Group rank: 50.

• 1980 Ridge "Shennandoah - Esola Vineyard" (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 13.9%) - Dry, cedar-like nose, with a soft mouth-feel and a lingering finish. Still good, but should be drunk up quickly. Group rank: 50.
• 1980 Ridge "Langtry Road" (57% Zin, 33% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane; 13.4%) - My favorite of the tasting, with a cedar-vanillin nose, balanced mouth-feel, and typical Zinfandel fruit. Group rank: 36.
• 1980 Ridge "Geyserville -Trentadue Ranch" (100% Zin; 14.6%) - My second-favorite, with raisiny Zinfandel fruit and a surprising amount of acidity. As the wine opened up, these elements came into balance nicely. Group rank: 40.
• 1980 Ridge "York Creek - Spring Mountain" (90% Zin, 10% Petite Sirah; 13.9%) - Brambles and vegetation, with a pleasant finish, but not to my taste. Group rank: 49.