Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Mountain

Dinner at Prime Cut Cafe (Prime Cut Cafe) : Cedar and cassis with some sweet oak notes though nicely balanced. Bit soft but not overly so with the fruit being massed up front. Falls off to some raspberry tart acidity towards the finish with medium to light tannins. Could use more palate balance with the up front fruit needing to mellow out. About as good as you can do for a Cali Cab at $20 though.

Unfortunately we drank this the same night we had some 2003 Byington Alliage, and the Martin Ray suffered by comparison. It is a competent wine but a typical and unremarkable Calif Cab, decent cassis and oak but nothing that really makes it stand out from the crowd.