Century Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Housley's Century Oak Vineyards
Lodi, California
2003
Alcohol 14.6%

The nose is very vegetal, lots of green pepper and cut stalks. Blackcurrants and some blueberries peek out from the green. Finally there is a hint of vanilla under the fruit and the vegetation.

The palate is also very vegetal. If I tried this blind I would guess it was from South America, with the distinctive green pepper taste. Blackcurrants and vanilla are there too, flopping on the edge of sharp hard tannins.

I am not loving this wine. Can you tell? But don't give up too fast. I will give it a second look tomorrow night.

NIGHT TWO

The nose is still weedy, all cuttings and green pepper. On the palate, well, it did not get better. I can, however, describe this perfectly. First, grind up some oak very fine, down to powder. In a separate bowl combine the juice of 1/2 a cup of blackberries and one small plum (save the skin) with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Now poke small holes in the plum skin and, using it as a seive to catch the blackberry pips, pour it into the bowl with the oak powder. Stir well. Drink. But only if you must.