1. Carodorum seleccion especial 2004, score=3 0r 3+Grapes were all from 100+-year-old Tinta de Toro vines and spent 18 months aging in French oak. Nice fragrant nose with hint of cedar. Plenty of black fruits and plum with smoky note. Very structured tannin and long finish. This is a serious wine. The tannin is rather strong but because of other complex tastes, it is well balanced. With some food, this will be great and we suspect it will age well (but again in our group this is not a good option). Everybody liked this except Grasshopper who thought it tasted "metallic". We continue to like wines from Spain (it even rhymes).
2. Leviathan California Red 2005, Score=3 or 3+Everybody thought this is California Cab or Cab blend. We have tasted this before but as usual nobody could identify it exactly. A blend a 55% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Nice candy, caramel, vanilla nose. Fruits forward with mostly black fruits vanilla and caramel. Good but mild tannin. This does not really taste like predominantly Syrah. This is what we expect from good California reds.
3. Stanton vineyard Delectus Merlot 2001, score not given, oxidized.The color has dark brown tinge indicating "age" but for 2001 vintage, this may mean poor storage. The nose is challenged with faint "sweaty" smell. The palate is rather flat with only acid and taninn and tasts oxidized. Our conclusion is that this bottle is cooked.
4. Ramey Claret 2004, Score=2Bit of disappointment. 2001, 2002, and 2003 Ramey Claret are our old favorites. This vintage appears not to have things we liked about previous 3 vintages. The nose is very nice; Perfumey with vanilla and black cherry. The palate is weak with hollowness in the mid-palate and rather short finish. Muted black fruits. The tannin is very soft. We do not know if our palates have changed but certainly this is not our favorite any longer.
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