Michael Malter and his friend Billy and his family were in for dinner last night. Last time the two men, with 
another friend, brought two bottles of wine and let me taste them. This time, Mike brought a 1997 Stonegate Cabernet Sauvignon. Interesting was the price sticker on it from the original purchase at Beekman Liquors in Manhattan: $29.99. Stonegate’s current releases are going for around $60.
Again, I was given a taste of the wine. It was still remarkably fresh on the nose with strong current aromas and absolutely no oxidization. The fruit was bright up front, going to moist medium tannins and then a tarry finish. The longer the wine stayed in my glass, the more it started smelling like syrah — all chocolate and tar, which falls under the mineral section of the WSET’s tasting programme, the Systematic Approach.
Thanks again guys!
cellarette 