2003 Rivers-Marie Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-  50 cases produced, 100% new French oak, 14.9% alc.  Due to the coolness of the vintage, this wine carries with it a bit more acidity than the 2004.  Its saturated black hue has an electric quality to it.  Notes of creosote, wet stones, white flowers and smoky cassis precede a palate of menthol, sweet tobacco leaf, melted licorice and blackberries.  As the wine sits in glass, it turns to baker's chocolate, melted fudge and dried herbs.  The tannins are a bit steely revealing its origin as a hillside wine.  Though it has been in bottle 14 months, we still decant this wine in the morning for service with dinner.  Hillside wines in 2003 have an unctuosity that develops with air making them candidates for a long nap in the cellar.

2004 Rivers-Marie Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-  120 cases produced, 80% new French oak, 14.7% alc.    Sometimes there are years in the extreme hills that are perfectly suited to balancing the ruggedness of the wines traditionally produced there.  2004 with its brutal heat in late August turned out to be one of those years.  Everything about this wine is a bit sweeter and rounder than its 2003 counterpart.  More of a saturated matte black color, the nose is pure bittersweet chocolate with waves of cassis.  The palate moves to big Howell Mountain spice, espresso roast, toasted bread, Asian spice and black fruits.  There is no shortage of tannin in this wine, it is just a bit riper and sweeter than more traditional vintages.  Again, patience in the decanter is the key to realizing the full potential of the wine.