What are you drinking?

Chateau Ste Michelle 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Indian Wells). That's what I'm drinking. Delicious. Very rich and lush with hints of really ripe red berries. Luxurious, actually. Not much spice and the tannins aren't overpowering the finish.

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This weekend the family and I visited the Novelty Hill Januik Winery tasting room in Woodinville, WA. The facility is a contemporary design as opposed to the Chateau Ste Michelle Winery just around the bend. Jim and I tasted several and brought home a few. One of which we opened that night -- Novelty Hill 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (Stillwater Creek). All of the above regarding the Ste Michelle '05 Cab applies, but this Cab was waaay more complex. What I mean is it was more dense and spicy. The flavors were more concentrated in this cab, but the finish was like velvet.

I'll dig out my notes and write up what we tasted, but go see for yourself. The place is wonderful and such a contrast from the Columbia Winery and Ste Michelle.

Wine of the Day

Zinfandel.

Somehow we ended up with a bottle of Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve '05 Zin and I have to say I've quite enjoyed it. This award-winning wine is a bargain, really, at only $11 per bottle at Safeway and $16 online at the K-J website.

Why hadn't we really ever bothered with Zinfandels before? Because it doesn't grow here in Washington. The tasting rooms we frequent are mainly near Leavenworth, WA and Woodinville, WA. Clearly, we need to get out more.

While this one is a blend of Zinfandel, Pinot Meunier, Petite Syrah, and Syrah, the Zin certainly shines through. This light and young tasting wine has hints of cedar, blackberry and plum with a nice spicy zing at the finish. Drinkable on its own, I definitely wouldn't mind having it with a nice, big dish of gnocchi with pomodoro sauce.

Two thumbs up.