2003 Ross Andrew Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Char gave us a bottle from this small Woodinville producer. For a change the wine is not named after the winemaker or owner's children. Ross Andrew Mickel is the winemaker. Ross trained at DeLille and Betz and the pedigree shows through. Deep reddish purple in color, this beauty has a complex nose of dark fruit, toast, bacon and vanilla. This medium bodied wine tastes of plums, raspberries, cassis (really), spice and pepper. An amazingly complex wine - the only problem is a fairly tannic finish. Apparently, Ross hasn't heard that these days a wine should be ready to drink the night you buy it. We sampled this wine from the decanter for four days in a row. Each day it got better and better until on the fourth day it was round, smooth and seamless, in addition to all of it's other attributes. According to the 1 hr=1 yr rule this will be at it's best in 96 years. I don't think so! I would buy several bottles and try it in a year, three, five, ten, more(?). Ssh! Here's "cult" wine quality at a decent price. Unfortunately, it is sold out. Fortunately you can still get on the mailing list. Do it now!