2009 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon

I tried this Hall cab while at the Westin Napa. It was their featured wine in the Bank Cafe & Bar, which had tasty tuna lollipops.

It has a beautiful dark cherry color with dark red fruits on the nose. Really mellow aroma, and no sting of a high alcohol content.

Nice jammy flavor, especially cherry. The tannins are strong but smooth, a really nice grab on the tongue, and lingering pepper and spice. Nice minerals and woodsiness, too. Truly wonderful, lingering cab.

Almost makes up for the valet crunching the side mirror.

Madonna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, Carneros Region

Madonna Estate is in the Napa Valley, with a friendly-staffed tasting room. The color of this cab is a deep plum-red. They’re reportedly organically grown with southern exposure. The aromas are bright and herbal. It has a structured mouth feel with medium to light tannins. If you like cabernets that aren’t overly fruity, this is a good choice. It’s very well balanced with red fruits, spice, clay and wood. The finish isn’t as long as some cabs, but it’s pleasantly mellow.