Monday, December 2, 2013

Hall T-Bar-T Alexander Cabernet with steak and squash ravioli

Hall T-Bar-T Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled steak and squash ravioli

For a quiet intimate dinner at home, we popped this bottle with grilled filets of beef with a delicious decadent concoction Linda pulled together of butternut squash ravioli sauteed in a sweet cranberry sauce of brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, olive oil and spinach. What a great combination on all fronts. Wow!

This wine was a fabulous complement to the steak as well as to the pasta. Everything exceeded all expectations on all levels.

Hall T-Bar-T Ranch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 

We discovered this wine when we tasted and acquired it at the winery on our  Napa Wine Experience trip back in 2003. This year we visited Hall at their new spectacular Rutherford Winery during our Napa Wine Experience 2013.
 
Tonight this wine was more complex than earlier tasting notes indicated ... With a dark garnet color that is beginning to take on a slight brown brickish color - medium bodied, smooth polished silky texture, bright berry, red currant fruits with a tone of creme caramel that turns to a whisper of licorice on the finish.

Earlier notes say this is better than when tasted at the winery almost a decade ago. I think it is better than when last tasted three years ago, although it is starting to show its age in color and taking on a slight bit of earthiness and a smoky creosote undercurrent on the finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=26835

http://www.hallwines.com/