I have seldom liked a wine more than the 1999 Hess Collection Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. I served it last night with Hannukah dinner (though as a second wine, after people had finished eating dinner) to great acclaim. The wine was wonderfully balanced, with a rich flavor. There were hints of black berries and just the right amount of oak (I'm big on oaky wines, which this one was not, but I did appreciate what a measured amount of it could add to a wine). It had medium tannins - even though it's an 8 year old wine, they weren't close to overwhelming it. I served the wine a little bit chilled (just because it's winter, and the temperature of my house is not that warm), and I think it was perfect.

I won the wine at a political fundraiser raffle (I can't believe someone actually donated it!), but I think it's well worth the $65 price it supposedly has. I'm really glad that I was able to share it with friends.