10 Vintages of Opus One and Celebrating Joel Butler new Master of Wine
Walnut Creek, Ca.
Tasted Saturday, September 29, 1990 by bestdamncab with 211 views
Introduction
First Opus afternoon tasting and later MW Celebration with Joel Butler
Flight 1 - Dinner flight with Joel Butler (12 Notes)
Interesting bottles contributed by the Wine Groups.
Flight 2 - 10 Vintages of Opus One in the afternoon (10 Notes)
Wines poured one after the other so comparisons fleeting and a challenge.
Closing
The 1987 was a clear winner.
The dinner with Joel was interesting.
1958 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon California Mountain Special Selection 99 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasting 5 Red Wines at Premier Cru. Was a red color in the glass with no hints of brick around the edges, fantastic, rich, old bouquet of cabernet at its peak that tasted of beautiful fruit flavors not old in the mouth, tremendous finish and aftertaste that made me buy another taste and enjoy it a second time around for 30 minutes. My #1 Cabernet.
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1988 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 99 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Musigny Grand Cru
Tasting 5 Red Wines at Premier Cru. Had a fabulous nose of rich, concentrated fruit that led to a mouthful of wine bursting with burgundy flavors, the flavors lasted forever on the finish and aftertaste.
My #1 and retail $140.
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1985 Joseph Drouhin Grands-Echezeaux 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Tasting 5 Red Wines at Premier Cru. featured a creamy, rich rosewood nose which had a rich, bacon, creamy texture on the palate and finished with great flavors during a long lasting burgundy aftertaste, overshadowed by the Musigny. My #2 and retail $95.
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1988 Maison Albert Bichot Grands-Echezeaux Domaine du Clos Frantin 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Grands-Echezeaux Grand Cru
Tasting 5 Red Wines at Premier Cru. Failed the tasting test when compared to wine #2. A nose of sweet and sour fruit with a hint of wood that tasted rich, forward, bacon, and finished with great long lasting flavors and hints of acid, the overall impression was merely Okay due to its competition. My #3 and retail $95.
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1970 Souverain Zinfandel Napa Valley 85 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Was just purchased by me as the youngest and richest in fruit of the wines tasted, huge fruity nose and mouth feel that was luscious and elegant, great body and texture that has an excellent finish and aftertaste. My #1 and Group #3 tied.
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1975 Montevina Zinfandel 84 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. With 16% alcohol was gorgeous Amador County fruit that had everyone talking how long it would go, it was musty, hot, blackberries on the nose followed by a very fruity mouth feel, well balanced with the bite of good acid that led to a nice, sweet, long finish and long aftertaste. My #2 and Group #1.
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1974 Mount Veeder Winery Zinfandel 82 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Had 14.8% alcohol and brick color that suggested old age relative to the others, nice, fruity, alcoholic nose that was well balanced with fruit and was the same in the mouth with big, long lasting finish. My #3 and Group #5.
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1975 Mount Veeder Winery Zinfandel 81 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Was very open and fruity on the nose, tasted good and has 3 years to go, medium finish and aftertaste, 14.4% alcohol. My #4 and Group #6.
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1974 Sutter Home Winery Zinfandel California 80 Points
USA, California
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. 13% alcohol, very brown color in the glass with a big, late harvest nose of bottle bouquet, fig fruit and rich but was hot, the first wine tasted tonight, medium, pleasant finish and aftertaste, got better as the evening went on. My #5 and Group #8.
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1980 Joel Butler M.W. Zinfandel 75 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Made and bottled by Joel, a group favorite, I found it to be very young relative to the first 5 zinfandels, guessed it o be to 7 years old, with big acid and medium tannins that lacked bottle bouquet and old zinfandel characteristics. My #6 and Group #2.
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1973 Mount Veeder Winery Zinfandel 73 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Had 14.4% alcohol and pleasant fruit on the nose with great fruit and acid balance in the mouth but the finish and aftertaste was something to be desired. My #7 and Group #7.
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1979 Caymus Zinfandel 60 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
1970s Tasting 8 Zinfandels. Joel Butler notified he was one of two Americans that passed the MW. Tasted like a new zinfandel, medium body of fruit and aftertaste with a grapey, pleasant finish, great new style with forward, ripe fruit and rich, viscous style. Different than the rest. My #8 and Group #3 tied.
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