Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

This is the Sam's Cuvee, label selected and bottled for the former Sam's Wine & Spirits before being acquired by Binny's in Chicago. This was tasted with grilled porterhouse and ribeye steaks, potatoes, and sweet corn dinner outside by the pool at Mark and Shirley's.

The Cabernet Sauvignon was dark garnet colored and full bodied; firm, tight and a bit closed with predominant flavors of black berry, anise and a tone of creosote/tar that gave way to black currant and spicy clove on the finish moderate finish.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=607975

Pair of South Australian Shiraz's 2004

Tasted BYOB with Danny A, Lt Col Joe S and Clint B at Angelis Italian Restaurant in Naperville. Great complements to their Portabello Mushroom ravioli entree.

Pott's Family Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Reserve Shiraz 2004 

From the Langhorne Creek appellation in South Australia, Bleasdaleas vineyards were founded in 1850 by Frank Potts, making Bleasdale one of Australia's oldest family-owned wineries. Having just celebrated its 150th anniversary, it is the second oldest continuously operated family-owned winery besides Yalumba located in the Barossa Valley. Potts was one of South Australia's original settlers having landed in Adelaide on the HMS Buffalo in 1836.

Medium bodied, fairly uninspiring lacking the full forward fruits, spice or body of so many Australian shiraz from the area, this exhibits black cherry and slightly tart cherrry fruits with a layer of creotsote/tar and hint of oak with firm tannins on the short finish. 

RM 87,  Robert Parker, Jr. 88 pts - Wine Advocate #168

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=311592

Jim Barry "The McRae Wood" Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley, South Australia, Shiraz 2004

Medium bodied with subdued fruits, McRae Wood exhibited similar black cherry and black berry fruits but exhibited a layer of graphite and bacon that detracted from the fruit. Like the Bleasdale, also showed modest tannins on a moderate finish.

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=390097