2002 Nicolas Catena Zapata. http://www.catenawines.com/eng/wines/ncz/ncz.html
Cabernet and Malbec. Not tired or dead at all. Still some tannins. Good acidity. Piercing blue fruits, earth. Quite nice. Huge, ridiculously heavy bottle that I kept picking up -with a deep punt.


2002 Kenwood "Artists Series" Sonoma Valley Cabernet. Didn't like this quite as much as I remember liking it two years ago, but still this was a fine Cali Cabernet. Nose had an interesting "white pepper" note that I don't recall ever seeing before in Cab. Lots of earth, herbaceous notes as well. Palate shows dark cassis fruit, herbs, evident acidity, some pepper notes, and plenty of tannic structure. Soft...but the tannins are still there. Less leather and tobacco than I recall from the tasting upon purchase. Still...solid 89 points.