Tom's house in Palo Alto, California
Tasted Thursday, July 25, 2013 by europat55 with 530 views
Notes from the organizer:
Tonight, we'll begin our 1983 retrospective on Cabernets and Bordeaux from the 1983 vintage on their 30th anniversary. The 1983 vintage was a relatively warm year in both France and California. In Bordeaux, the vintage began with a perfect flowering in June, followed by one of the hottest Julys on record, a cooler August with some rain, then a warm, dry September and October that allowed wineries to harvest at optimal ripeness. The wines came in ripe and concentrated, somewhat reminiscent of the 2003 Bordeaux vintage 20 years later, which was also a very warm year. In northern California, it was also a warm vintage marked by a little El Nino inspired rain in the autumn, producing a moderate-sized crop and wines which were initially quite tannic, but have often aged into elegant, balanced, very pretty wines.
We'll pit for Napa Valley Cabernets against for Bordeaux. Heading the Napa lineup is the Chateau Montelena, which also includes three rare Cabs involving Napa Valley wine pioneers Bruce Neyers, Richard Steltzner and Travis Fretter. The Fretter in particular is a powerful, dense mountain Cab which could upset the Montelena. On the Bordeaux side, we'll have examples from four different appellations -- Pauillac, Margaux, St. Estephe and St. Emilion, headed by Chateau Lynch Bages. Here are some tasting notes:
This blind tasting is yet another proof that I have a 'slight' preference for Bordeaux vs. California style Cabs. The Lynch-Bages was gorgeous! I had hope for the Montelena to be a Bdx rigner in the tasting, but it didn't deliver at all. The Larmande and Monbrisson were surprisingly good knowing how cheap these were upon release... almost 30 years ago!
1983 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Gorgeous, generous Bordeaux style nose (A-). Delicious palate. Some spices (A-).
My #1, Group's #4 (48 pts). Tasted Blind. My WOTN and correctly guessed as the Lynch-Bages in the line-up.
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1983 Château Larmande 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Very slightly corked smell. Light nose that opened up after some time in the glass (B++). Excellent palate (B++).
My #2, group's #6 (53 pts). Tasted blind.
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1983 Château Monbrison 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Lighter color than the other wines in the line-up. Gorgeous nose (A-). Very good, moderate palate (B+)
My #3, Group's #1 (35 pts). Tasted blind. I incorrectly thought this was a California Cab.
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1983 Château de Marbuzet 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Lighter color than the other wines in this line-up. Very good nose (B+). Soft, watery palate (B/B+)
My #4, Group's #5 (52 pts). Tasted blind.
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1983 Thomas Fogarty Cabernet Sauvignon Steltzner Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Fruity nose (B+), Good palate (B).
My #5, Group's #3 (44 pts). Tasted blind.
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1983 Fretter Cabernet Sauvignon Leaky Lake 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Slightly sour nose that improved with time in the glass (B-->B+). Good Palate (B).
My #6, Group's #2 (37 pts). Tasted blind.
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1983 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 85 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Somewhat shy, but nice nose (B+). Not so good palate (C+/B-).
My #8, Group's #8 (61 pts). Tasted blind.
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1983 Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Slightly corked nose (B-). Good palate (B)
My #7, Group's #7 (59 pts). Tasted blind.
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