Jocelyn Cabernet Sauvignon

I'm in the process of drinking older wines to clear space for some new arrivals coming this autumn.  All the temperature controlled areas were full and a number of wines were ready.  It's a terrible task since a good number of these wines are singletons and I'm always afraid of drinking them early. 

The latest was a 2003 Jocelyn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  The first half of the bottle spent an hour in a decanter while a ribeye steak was grilled.  Inky dark color to the wine with lots of crushed black fruit aromas and oak in the nose.  Some intense swirling finally got some spices to come out but this was very much a fruit driven wine.  Lots of flavors of cassis, blackberries and blueberries in this wine.  Good acid and solid tannins gave the wine a good framework.  The finish was a bit sweet but was good in its length.   No signs of this wine being tired or old. 

There was a chili powder, salt and sugar rub on the rib steak which meant it needed a wine with some big flavors and the Jocelyn certainly was up to the task.  There wasn't a lot of subtlety.

Two days later the wine was even better.  A few nuances of dry earth and some herbaceousness had developed.  It was paired with the remainder of the rib steak which was reheated quickly and then  thinly sliced.  Much better meal and a great combination.

2003 Jocelyn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  14.5% alcohol and $25 original purchase price.