If you've been following our little exploration of wine, you will not
be surprised to hear that Tim is not a big fan of the California style
of making wines. In general, he thinks big, overextracted, overripened
fruit bombs that hit you over the head with their "style"
are good for dessert, getting drunk and not much else. Then there's the
additional problem of overpaying for wines from the Napa Valley, which
is one of the most overpriced regions in the state, or maybe even on
the planet. Think of it as the Ian Schrager hotel of the wine world-- lots of glitz, lots of glamor, not always worth the cost.
While
fruit and alcohol may be the backbone of a wine, finesse and nuance
take it to a different level. Many Napa reds we've tasted don't have
much of the latter, but the 2001 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard
actually does. Its dark purple depths contain notes of leather and
smoke as well as dried cherry, and it has a soft, elegant finish. For $69.99, we rate it a 7.5 out of 10.
