I have an ongoing effort underway to explore some of the older wines in my cellar that have been just forgotten about over the years. This week, I went back to Fred Scherrer's 1999 Alexander Valley Cabernet. I actually have a few of these hanging around. Like the previous reviewer, upon initial opening and taste, I thought that after almost 18 years this Cab was definitely over the hill. Although not yet turned, it was tasting like just an over-age Cab that's been hanging around too long. I wasn't doing much this evening so I just let it sit for a while. To my surprise as the evening went on this wine opened up very nicely. I would say that it turned into a relatively smooth, yet lush and enjoyable Cabernet after about 1 hour. I'm going to make a concerted effort to drink more of these '99 Scherrer Cabs this summer.
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What a surprise! I've had a couple of bottles of Fred Scherrer's 1999 Alexander Valley Cab stuck away in my cellar for years. It was literally lost. I opened one this evening. At first it smelled and tasted pretty over the hill. Not much going for it after 16 years. But I was in no rush as I was spending the evening catching up on emails. As the night went on, the wine opened and presented a nice structure with some fruit on the palette and a nice long finish. Who would have thunk that a 16 year old Alexander Valley Cab would be so enjoyable.
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Very soft on the pallet, finish was a bit too light. The nose got better after a few minutes in the glass. It was a bit cool from the cellar at first. Very balanced, but won't get better.
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Complex aroma of eucalyptus, redwood grove and smoke. Dense and rather closed on palate, also on 2nd day. Warm, rich, long, satisfying finish. Not quite pure. Try again in 2007? 89P
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5/3/2017 - RAMwines Likes this wine: 89 Points
I have an ongoing effort underway to explore some of the older wines in my cellar that have been just forgotten about over the years. This week, I went back to Fred Scherrer's 1999 Alexander Valley Cabernet. I actually have a few of these hanging around.
Like the previous reviewer, upon initial opening and taste, I thought that after almost 18 years this Cab was definitely over the hill. Although not yet turned, it was tasting like just an over-age Cab that's been hanging around too long.
I wasn't doing much this evening so I just let it sit for a while. To my surprise as the evening went on this wine opened up very nicely. I would say that it turned into a relatively smooth, yet lush and enjoyable Cabernet after about 1 hour. I'm going to make a concerted effort to drink more of these '99 Scherrer Cabs this summer.
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10/13/2015 - RAMwines wrote: 90 Points
What a surprise! I've had a couple of bottles of Fred Scherrer's 1999 Alexander Valley Cab stuck away in my cellar for years. It was literally lost. I opened one this evening. At first it smelled and tasted pretty over the hill. Not much going for it after 16 years.
But I was in no rush as I was spending the evening catching up on emails. As the night went on, the wine opened and presented a nice structure with some fruit on the palette and a nice long finish.
Who would have thunk that a 16 year old Alexander Valley Cab would be so enjoyable.
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1/5/2010 - clintsf wrote: 88 Points
Very soft on the pallet, finish was a bit too light. The nose got better after a few minutes in the glass. It was a bit cool from the cellar at first. Very balanced, but won't get better.
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3/4/2009 - beaver wrote: 94 Points
excellent-casis, think-yummy
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8/15/2006 - honest bob wrote: 90 Points
Dense, sweet, pure excellent berry / eucalyptus. 90-(91)P
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10/15/2005 - honest bob wrote: 89 Points
Complex aroma of eucalyptus, redwood grove and smoke. Dense and rather closed on palate, also on 2nd day. Warm, rich, long, satisfying finish. Not quite pure. Try again in 2007? 89P
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