2004 Vivac Cabernet Sauvignon "Reserve"

I'm being diplomatic...I'm being diplomatic...I'm being diplomatic... This wine sucked. Doh! How disappointing to get a turned, vinegar-like bottle. It's our last, stored bottle; or was. This disaster has given me resolve to go out and get a $9 Cab from California that will show this $30+ bottle from New Mexico HOW IT IS DONE, people. Smells like pickled eggs in a mystery liquid; tastes like eggs in vinegar. No more. BLEH!

40/100.
AVOID...AVOID...AVOID

2001 Amici Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

We just started this bottle, over a large dutch oven pot of chicken-sausage cassoulet. The Amici showed its age in the bowl of my class, with the tell-tale light rust color around the edge, and also on the nose: woody currants and blackberries. This was no longer a rich wine, but the way that Cali Cabs used to be more consistently. A little odd and perhaps nearing peak, not astringent, by itself, but with the cassoulet? Oh my. The bit of Merlot and Cabernet Franc helped out the balance, and there's a restrained sophistication to this wine. 2001 was a good year, not a great year, in Napa, and Amici did themselves proud here with this bottling. This was to be a shared bottle with friends (DTR/CTR) but they couldn't make it down here (tongue sticks out).
91/100 -- An outstanding Napa Cab, the way they used to be. Alcohol? 13.4% abv - perfect for food.
Bottom line: I'm glad I bought it, even for around $40, at the Wine Store in Colorado Springs.