Reading the other more recent notes here made me jealous. My almost last bottle (still drinking through wines bought in my youth) seemed similar to its former self of 30+ years ago, but somewhat faded. I recall the 1982 Buehler was a complete delight, but all those bottles are long gone. Not much evolution or complexity in this one, but still unmistakably Napa Cab. Cheers!
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cigar and pencil shavings made me so convinced this was Bordeaux. Never has heard of this wine, but it was delicious in an old school kind of way and fun to try
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One of just a few left from a case held since the late 1980’s.
Last tasted some twenty years ago when it was still like a jar of blackberry preserves soaked in motor oil - almost undrinkable which left us wondering what had been all the fuss about. But this is now an early exemplar of gigantic Napa Cabernet. Old school Napa! Too bad many of today’s overly artsy vintners cannot sample this.
WOW!! What an evolved wine!!
Clean, clean nose of sawdusty strawberries and a bit of pepper and perhaps a just hint of black licorice. Clear, clear as a bell and a delightful light red shot with a bit of pink. Shows well from the first pour. Beautifully balanced and still with lots of softening tannins and lovely fresh berry fruit with just a hint of mint. Elegant delicacy yet with mouth filling fruit. Truly lovely at 34 years of age. A long, extended finish of dark berry giving way to lingering strawberry notes.
Harvest notes from 1984 Decanter are pertinent and prescient ... (not quoted due to copyright but look it up online!) 'a rare too good to be true early harvest with generous concentrated tannins and rich flavor huge and ripe even by California benchmarks', etc.
This is a giant wine from a brawny vintage that has ‘managed after a few decades to have balanced out’ wonderfully well. Four more to go over the next few years – or decades!!
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This wine may have been the surprise wine of the night. For a mature lady, still had all the right moves. Yes, clearly past peak and prime, but had a firm structure and noticeable fruit.
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Very impressed by this performance; Big dose of mint and stems on the nose, while the palate is still packed with dark berry fruits, tobacco and dried herbs; Great stuff
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Dinner at The Bristol (Chicago, IL): Still quite dark in colour. The nose has a distinct green pepper bouquet, coupled with some dried herbs. Behind all of that, is a mountain of opulent ripe black fruit. A huge palate presence as well with lots of ripe fruit and still-grippy tannins. Slightly herbal on the finish as well -- a little bit of cherry cough syrup perhaps?
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11/25/2023 - jimoak Likes this wine: 88 Points
Reading the other more recent notes here made me jealous. My almost last bottle (still drinking through wines bought in my youth) seemed similar to its former self of 30+ years ago, but somewhat faded. I recall the 1982 Buehler was a complete delight, but all those bottles are long gone. Not much evolution or complexity in this one, but still unmistakably Napa Cab. Cheers!
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5/10/2022 - lolo66 wrote:
cigar and pencil shavings made me so convinced this was Bordeaux. Never has heard of this wine, but it was delicious in an old school kind of way and fun to try
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12/23/2018 - drdan322 Likes this wine: 95 Points
One of just a few left from a case held since the late 1980’s.
Last tasted some twenty years ago when it was still like a jar of blackberry preserves soaked in motor oil - almost undrinkable which left us wondering what had been all the fuss about. But this is now an early exemplar of gigantic Napa Cabernet. Old school Napa! Too bad many of today’s overly artsy vintners cannot sample this.
WOW!! What an evolved wine!!
Clean, clean nose of sawdusty strawberries and a bit of pepper and perhaps a just hint of black licorice. Clear, clear as a bell and a delightful light red shot with a bit of pink. Shows well from the first pour. Beautifully balanced and still with lots of softening tannins and lovely fresh berry fruit with just a hint of mint. Elegant delicacy yet with mouth filling fruit. Truly lovely at 34 years of age. A long, extended finish of dark berry giving way to lingering strawberry notes.
Harvest notes from 1984 Decanter are pertinent and prescient ... (not quoted due to copyright but look it up online!) 'a rare too good to be true early harvest with generous concentrated tannins and rich flavor huge and ripe even by California benchmarks', etc.
This is a giant wine from a brawny vintage that has ‘managed after a few decades to have balanced out’ wonderfully well. Four more to go over the next few years – or decades!!
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7/11/2015 - 1961Vintage Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine may have been the surprise wine of the night. For a mature lady, still had all the right moves. Yes, clearly past peak and prime, but had a firm structure and noticeable fruit.
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3/18/2015 - Sennma wrote: 92 Points
Old school napa...all the over the top winemakers of today should taste this wine. Still a dark/deep color with ripe fruit and lovely structure.
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3/15/2015 - eluebchow wrote: 93 Points
Very impressed by this performance; Big dose of mint and stems on the nose, while the palate is still packed with dark berry fruits, tobacco and dried herbs; Great stuff
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3/15/2015 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at The Bristol (Chicago, IL): Still quite dark in colour. The nose has a distinct green pepper bouquet, coupled with some dried herbs. Behind all of that, is a mountain of opulent ripe black fruit. A huge palate presence as well with lots of ripe fruit and still-grippy tannins. Slightly herbal on the finish as well -- a little bit of cherry cough syrup perhaps?
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10/26/2008 - davergny wrote: flawed
This was mildly corked, but seemed like it would have been a very good wine if not for the TCA. A solid core of cabernet fruit.
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