make me sweat purple

Another iconic evening spent last night at Chastain amphitheatre. triple blind couples date, perfect low humidity air, barn swallows diving above wildly, candlelit tables, foodie inspired European street foods and yeah, you guessed it, despite the 85+ degree air, there were two bottles of monster domestic red that just had to be had. Lets talk –

2001 Peter Michael, Les Pavots, California Meritage
This wine emits darkness, ( is that possible) rich purple-red in the glass showing youth and a good long stint in a cold cellar without agitation.. It lifts out with aromas of black cherry, anise, and dark loamy earth. On the tongue it is bright and lifted with berry flavors, and then a lush and round blanket of super ripe black cherry, blueberry, tobacco and smoke peak through in the mid-palate with thick velvety tannins that are very Bordeaux, finishing long and smooth with a hint of vanilla and sweet oak. Very good show from a very good vintage.

1997 Silverado , Limited Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, California
This wine's moderately concentrated, properly ripened cassis-like fruit is constant and controlled, and its complement of oak enriches the mix without threatening to dominate. It is a fairly deep, a bit spicy, neatly tailored wine that takes few chances but succeeds nicely in the style that it claims. And, while we find its price more ambitious than its achievement warrants, it is nonetheless a well-made Cabernet. didn’t find this wine too exciting, especially along side the PM mentioned above. A good wine ? – yes, but I felt as though I needed to put some Drakkar on with a blue pinstripe suit and take a seat at a table in a Midwestern steakhouse. Needless to say, neither this or the PM are the style of wines I seek out or actually ever really drink for pleasure. Nevertheless, the wine shows the classic side of Napa Cabernet .