Community Tasting Notes 9

• ChateauLaFeet wrote: 88 points

  July 17, 2021 - So many other great reviews recently. Damn, I wish I had the same experience. I love older bottles that you wouldn't expect much of, so I always look for some great attribute. The cork and fill were great, but the wine was musty and thin. I'm going to hold it for another day just to see if it improves.

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• sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 points

  July 3, 2021 - Great find from a friend's estate. Kenwood, 1981, Sonoma Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Artist Series. 13% alcohol. Light-mid ruby; medium herbaceous, cassis, red fruit nose; hints of leather; mid-body; mid-acids/tannins; mid-alcohol; medium intensity; good Cabernet fruit for the age; long Cabernet and wood finish; nice style; very good quality. 17 UC Davis scale; 91 other scales.

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• chablis28 wrote: 89 points

  April 18, 2020 - Picked up couple years ago from TCWC, a very reliable source for old btls. Kind of a long shot CA Cab at 38+yrs old but this was in remarkable condition on the palate. The nose was showing its age but not obnoxiously so. Just starting to get a light whiff of those tell tale antique furniture notes. Probably should have opened a couple years ago. After a quick test sip & sniff, I decided against giving this much air. Removing the cork briefly for some pre dinner pours. The cork broke in half coming out even with a very gentle extraction so I subbed in another newer cork and tossed the original. I also used my slightly smaller Cab glasses to further restrict the air. I did not decant but did use my filter for the last couple pours. The palate had resolved elegant and fresh blackberry & cherry along with some spice and cedar. Not particularly complex but enjoyable. The nose as previously mentioned showed some light oxidation making it sadly, a non event. 13% alc All in all, 89pts.

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• Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine: 94 points

  May 12, 2019 - After opening a dead and dusty imperial of 1981 Kenwood AS 2 wks ago (too ashamed to document on CellarTracker), this 750ml btl is a rock star! Great color, only slightly brownish on the rim. Super intense nose of anise and deep cherry goes on forever in the nostrils. A hint of cedar in the background, but cherry and licorice continue to dominate the medium-bodied palate. The finish goes on and on with no hint of tiredness or dryness, a real epiphany for any non-believers and The Doubtful. Crazy balance of fruit and acid, this bottle is only improving and intensifying on the nose and palate after nearly an hour in a decanter. This one could have easily gone 5 more yrs in the cellar, but risk/reward says, "Drink me!" The 94-pt. rating includes an additional 2 stars for rightfully being "what it is", a 38 yr-old California cabernet from a vintage otherwise acknowledged as austere, dry, and under-ripe.

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• europat55 wrote: 93 points

  August 16, 2018 - From a 5.0L. This was a big hit at my birthday party.

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 1981
• Type Red
• Producer Kenwood
• Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
• Designation Artist Series
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Sonoma County
• Appellation Sonoma Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 51 (78%)
• Consumed 14 (22%)

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