Napanook and a Yellowtail surprise

I'm only a few entries in to this blogging adventure, and already I'm diverging from it's premise. However, it is winter, and with winter comes the urge for heavy foods, like a big, juicy steak per say. And sometimes with big juicy steaks, one needs a big juicy Cab whose price tag may exceed $20 (especially when your favorite father in law is buying). We indulged in the Napanook 2005 for $28 at Costco. I've read many descriptions of wine on the back of the bottle that claim to be "silky," and this one actually lives up to its claim. It's full-bodied with dark cherry and a lovely long, lush finish that complemented the steak perfectly. With a Wine Advocate rating of 91, the extra few bucks are totally worth it!

To offset the price of the Napanook, I have to tell about a pleasantly surprising wine that I had previously underestimated. I've always liked Yellowtail Shiraz, but have never been a huge advocate. Our house guest bought the 1.5L, so we didn't drink the whole bottle on the first night. The next night when we opened it, it had changed significantly for the better! Vanilla was strong on the nose but very pleasant, and the bold, dark fruit was slightly sweeter and more complex on the palate. It amazes me how wine can change and grow from one day to the next, and I was most impressed with this one!