Community Tasting Notes 57

• sdahar wrote: 92 points

  April 21, 2024 - Wine had been stored in temperature controlled cellar since purchase. When first opened there was some skunk that blew off after decant. Definitely on the wrong side of the hill but not far from the peak. Fading away was the fruit which is not unexpected for a wine this old. If you have in your cellar get a nice steak and open up your bottle. You will not not disappointed now but who knows in a few years.

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• BenSlivka Likes this wine: 93 points

  October 18, 2022 - My wife wanted some cooking wine, so I rummaged around in CT and found two bottles. We bought this wine for $20 on 10/1/1997 at La Cantina in Bellevue, WA. [We had misfiled it in CT as a 1994 vintage.] Served blind, my wife didn't think it was French, guessed Spain and Italy and then USA. Guessed Santa Barbara, then Napa. It does seem more like an old Spanish wine at this stage than anything else. Still a lot of fruit, a nice finish. A nice balance between fruit and tannin. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Cabernet Franc. It has been stored in our cellar unmoved for 25y0m/17d. Perfect conditions. I see others have rated this as high as 95 quite recently. I am at 93 due to the oxidation and slight skunkiness. Overall, suprisingly good!

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• Gr8penut Likes this wine: 95 points

  July 12, 2022 - In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; [people speak the truth when they are drunk]), a “milestone” bottle from my cellar sacrifices. It turns out, this was a very bittersweet sacrifice as it was the last bottle of Viader I have from the previous century. ☹️🍷 It was a 1995, which would make it about 27 years old, but it only drank like it was 10. This is definitely a tribute to Delia Viader, and her son, Alan Viader, who at the time, was probably just a snot-nosed kid (kidding Alan)! I feel very lucky to have tasted many of these wines over the years and will remember them fondly!
  
  Since this is likely my last posting of theirs from the 19xx, it is worth repeating their story if you have never heard it. They are a really unique family and she is a really unique person!
  
  Delia Viader was born in Argentina, but spent lots of time in France. She graduated with a PhD from Sarbonne (wow!) and moved to California as the single mother of four. She asked her dad for a loan to buy the land. He thought she was crazy because he had already paid for her degree and now she wanted to be a “farmer”! Anyway, she did buy the land and started a winery and went on to develop many firsts in Napa, with growing vertically instead of horizontally, mixing Cab Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon, and too many to list. She is respectfully known as the “Mother of Wine”. Her son, Alan, who helps her produce Viader, has also recently introduced his own label called Intentus, another fine winery that is worth getting on their mailing list!
  
  As I said, bittersweet, but I will likely save this empty bottle to put on my wall when the tasting room is finished. Thanks Delia and Alan for making such memorable bottles of wine!!!🍷🍷🍷🍷👍👍👍👍 #wine #winelover #winelovers #redblend #redblendwine #viaderwinery #viader #alanviader #deliaviader #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetfranc #napawine #napa #napavalley #napacab

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• RockinCabs wrote: 93 points

  November 20, 2021 - Nose: excellent perfumed cherry, plum, leather, violets and tobacco. The nose is beautiful at this point and quite layered. Palate: Seamless red and black fruit, tarr cherry, leather, florals and savory herbs.
  
  This is in fully peak form. Has had a long plateau, so this could start headed into slow decline soon.

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• Gr8penut Likes this wine: 90 points

  July 11, 2021 - From my posting on Instagram:
  
  In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; people speak the truth when they are drunk), bottle #149-154 of my cellar sacrifices. I put together a six bottle vertical of Viader, starting with 1995 and ending with 2000, with the help of Alan and Delia Viader in filling my vertical. A friend hosted an amazing dinner for the six of us which was outstanding! Great food and 11 other bottles brought by another couple, the Viader was poured during the main course. Needless to say, we planned ahead for Uber.
  
  A brief background on Viader- Delia Viader was born in Argentina but the best then spent lots of time in France. She graduated with a PhD from Sarbonne and moved to California as the single mother of four. She asked her dad for a loan to buy the land. He thought she was crazy because he had already paid for her degree and now she wanted to be a “farmer”. Anyway, she went on to develop many firsts in Napa, with growing vertically instead of horizontally, mixing Cab Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon, and too many to list. She is respectfully known as the “Mother of wine”.
  
  The tasting was a huge success and it seemed no one could agree on a favorite. To me, the 2000 was my fav. Thank you Alan and Delia Viader for making this happen as we all loved these wines! 🍷🍷🍷🍷👍👍👍👍 #wine #winelover #winelovers #redblend #redblendwine #viaderwinery #viader #alanviader #deliaviader #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetfranc #napawine #napa #napavalley #napacab

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Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1995
• Type Red
• Producer Viader
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley
• UPC Code 1000000000227

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 1 (0%)
• In Cellars 402 (55%)
• Consumed 333 (45%)

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