On 24-Aug-2004, (Hunt) wrote:

In response to the many requests for less expensive, though thoroughly
enjoyable reds, I've decided to gather up some possible examples from the
cellar. Most of these were purchased to be everyday wines, and were not
really
destined to be cellared for very long. I understand the concern with
respect
to the soaring prices, especially considering the US $'s loss in the world

monetary market. None of these is really a "cheapie," but the purchases
were
determined to be a daily quaffer, rather than a "cellar selection."

No 1 is the Beringer 1997 Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon,

The notes read: "Beringer 1997 Kinghts Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made
from
grapes grown on the uniques volcanic soils of our Kinghts Valley Vineyard.
To
add richness and complexity, winemaker Ed Sbragia aged the wine in small
oak
barrels fo rnineteen months. This wine is full-bodied, with black cherry
cassis fruit flavors."

A little geography: The Knights Valley appellation is located in Sonoma
County, California, just north of the Napa Valley, southeast of the
Alexander
Valley and directly east of the town of Geyserville. Beringer Vineyards
has
had vineyards here since the 1970s and has done well with Cabernet
Sauvignon,
Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The Peter Michael Winery was finished in
1989
and produces an Estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the Knights
Valley
vineyards.

This bottle is number 10 of a case purchased in early 1999 from Costco in
Phoenix. As I was moving my cellar at the time, I missed out on many of
the
more desirable ‘97 CA Cabs. This case came to the market a bit late for
the ‘
97 releases. The database tells me that I paid US$17.95/btl with no case
discount from Costco. I do not have a current US price for this wine in
its
current release, but anticipate that it has risen to no more than
US$25/btl at
a similar merchant.

The wine was brought from the cellar at 55°F and poured, un-decanted, into
a
Riedel Vinium Bordeaux glass. It was consumed in the AZ afternoon heat,
and
soon shed its cellar coolness, albeit slowly.

This Cab has a dark ruby/purple color, with a slight clear meniscus. I
could
not detect any color in this tiny rim. The nose contains slight notes of
cedar, stewed prunes, cinnamon, a light element of tea and an undefined
slight
herbal note. I'd rate the wine's body as medium-full, and the finish is
medium, about what I have come to expect from a Sonoma Cab. I cannot
detect
any flaw on either the nose, or the palette, except for the herbal note,
though very slight. The tannins are noticeable, but well blended and
round.
The tongue only slightly pauses on the roof of my mouth. The fruit is
still
pronounced, though the stated cassis has now subsided to be replaced by
the
stewed plums.

Beringer Knight's Valley has always been one of my favorite "everyday"
Cabernet's. Hunt's notes strike me as being dead-on. I haven't had the 97
now in a couple of years, but have been drinking some 98 and 99's. These
are typically not long-lived wines (5 years is pushing it for my palate, but
I do like the big, bold, in-your-face style so others might fine longer
aging to be acceptable). Of course, in the 97 vintage it was really hard to
find too many bad Cabernets.

Current retail on this wine should be about $24-26.

Nice notes Hunt, Thanks!

Cheers,
Gary