2000 Elyse Zinfandel  - Marisoli Vineyard

This superb wine has a deep ruby color, is richly textured, and full-bodied. It is saturated with vibrant fruit aromas and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, cassis, and black currants as they glide across the palate intermingling with hints of mocha, spice and toasty oak. It's a little pricy for a Zin - but well worth it!

Available at the winery - $32.00. Also found in very limited amounts at finer wine shops.

1999 Neibaum - Coppola Cask Cabernet 

Available at the winery - $65.00. Just making it's way out to the retail market place.

Get this one while you can. It was just released a couple of weeks ago and is not rated by Spectator as far I have seen. The American oak is not over done in this elegant wine. It's a baby (at this age you would expect nothing less) but you can tell it has great potential and will age beautifully. This version of the Cask Cabernet has aromas of  black cherries and vanilla notes from the American oak. The palate is very full and it has a finish that goes on almost forever. Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Just to give you an idea of what the winery thinks of this wine, they have a three bottle limit on it already!

Sterling 1999 Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet

As you can tell from the name, this is mountain fruit from a very famous elevation. Spectator gave this wine 89 points and I think that's a bit shy. I've talked it over with the VinoVan and we think this is a 92 point wine by our scale. As you can imagine, it has 1999 rich fruit and a silky mouth feel. A well built wine. It's not out in the marketplace much, but it's out there.

Available at the winery - $40.00. Also found in very limited amounts at finer wine shops.

Silverado Vineyards 1999 Special Reserve Cabernet

This wine gets an OMG Award from the VinoVan - You know OMG as is in 'Oh My God'. I tasted this wine a few days ago and it's incredible. Near perfect balance with ripe 1999 fruit and a phenominal finish. The wine is a 'baby' at this point and should be held for a few years to let it come together a little in the bottle. It's a definite special occasion wine due to the $95 price tag but well worth it. This wine is every bit as good as the 1999 Caymus Special Selection and others in the $130 price range. Hence, the Cellar Recommendation status.