...Aaaand I'm back for 2012 National Cabernet Day

Yeah.  I know.

I'm here right now, though, & that's what counts. I've been thinking about this day for a bit.  I mean, it's National Cabernet Day. I still can't believe that the banks & government offices weren't closed, for cryin' out loud.

You think I'm kidding. So cute.

Doug & I chose 2006 Robert Craig Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon for our celebratory bottle. It's a Bordeaux-style blend from Napa.  Oh, & we had it signed by Robert Craig when he was in town a couple of years ago.  I specifically remember meeting him. All he wrote was his name & barely spoke. Doug said "He & my dad shop at the same place for shirts, that's for sure." (Let me specify - we're talking about Doug's dad - not mine. Totally different animal, yet frighteningly similar in ways. Including the shirts. Robert Craig was very quiet,  like my father-in-law, & Gordon, my father, is the farthest thing from quiet.)

Now, for those of you that know me well, you know that I really do value our signed bottles. We've got quite a few that we've picked up along the way, & I've just always thought that was cool. Never mind that I have no idea what I'm going to do with the empties, & don't get Doug started on that subject, either. Hey, some people keep old Matchbox cars, I keep signed wine bottles.

Enough small talk - let's get to it, shall we?

If I had only one word? Classy.

Luckily, I have more than one word.

Initially, the nose was very intense with black cherry, accompanied by a nice spicy kick. After a bit, it evolved into this lovely perfume with waves of cassis & violet. Once we stopped huffing our glasses long enough to actually taste the stuff, we were both pretty blown away. Red fruit on the front - think cherry- red raspberry. When I paid attention to the middle, I picked up blackberries the most at first, along with some spice. We both did, actually. Black fruit throughout. Winding down to the finish took a while. Doug got more dark chocolate, while my tastebuds revealed more of a Turkish coffee kind of edge.  I think we both got it right. The chocolate/Turkish coffee bit faded into a caramelly toffee yet maintained a lush fruitiness. This wine sticks with you for ages with a finish that won't quit. Nice acidity, pretty tannins & graceful complexity made this wine an absolute delight.

I think we paid about $42-$46 for this bottle & I'd do it again tomorrow next payday, if I could. Of course, we have those less expensive bottles that we pick up for everyday drinking again & again, but I tell myself that there's just too much good wine out there to keep buying the same stuff over & over & over - but then I have a wine like this, & I sort of get it.  Even at this price range. Only 5,800 cases were made, & while that's not tiny, it's still small enough that I can have faith in the attention to quality.  Quality.

Worth every penny, folks.

Remember that next time you're tempted to drink Yellowtail.  Or hell, any time you reach for the ones that are most advertised.  Just because it has a lot of cool ads in magazines or even in the stores doesn't mean that it's a sound choice.  They just have more money to throw around at ad agencies, sales rep incentives, etc.

Uh oh, on the verge of getting on a soapbox, so I'm going to shut up & enjoy this wine.