Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 89 points

  1. Newest
Note Display Settings
  • Options

    1/21/2023 - wrote: 90 Points

    Medium to deep garnet, almost tawny. Like a well conditioned athlete, it’s tired but very much still on its feet and in the race. It’s form is suffering but it’s impressive and I’m on its side. Surprisingly bright on the nose. Lively berry fruit and cedar and graphite. Those French barrels endure. There’s a marked flabbiness here though. At first it was too porty and seemed almost icky sweet, which I wasn’t expecting--that same flavor I don't like with the high rated AUS wines. I immediately checked its ABV—only 13%. It was just a bit of initial exhuberence and has since mellowed. What it doesn’t have is elegance. But it has pletny flavor—dark berry, espresso, pencil shavings, cedar, some baking spices, thyme--albeit unbalanced. And, after all this time, it’s still rustic. Nevertheless, a terrific showing for what was probably a run of the mill CA cab in 92. I more than half expected to pour it down the drain, but it's quite enjoyable. Unlike an old world relic, I'd have no qualms about pairing this with anything rich and fatty.

    Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

  • Options

    6/13/2019 - wrote:

    Received many wines 25+ year old from a cellar that were all laid down but temp and humidity less than stellar and many of unknown provenance. That said this wine was one of the better ones with a good cork deep ruby color and light bricking on the rim. Some faded dark fruit and some secondary notes of tobacco and leather that made it an enjoyable wine to experience and drink. I was given chance to be the "guinea pig" for the long ignored cellar on many of these wines......someone had to. Just shows that sometimes even wine that is beyond the drinking window and in less than ideal storage can survive and provided the experience of drinking vintage wines that many never have a chance to try. Glad I was chosen with many more to come :-)

    Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

  • Options

    1/7/2013 - wrote: 89 Points

    Found this bottle in the far reaches of the cellar, expecting that it would have been overcome by time. Quite the opposite, the wine was fresh, red and full of fruit, a very pleasant surprise.

    Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

  • Options

    3/19/2010 - wrote: 91 Points

    The last bottle of this in my cellar. A very nice surprise. First taste after decanting provided dusty tobacco and leather with dark fruit in the background. Over the next hour the fruit came forward and the dusty tobacco remained in the background. The finish is long and wonderful with structured soft tannins. The mouth is like an old-nice-Bordeaux. WS 85 in 1985 but today is definitely higher and luscious. It makes you want to take many tiny inhails and sips and savor the results. I wish I had a case of this.

    Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

  • Options

    3/10/2009 - wrote: 86 Points

    Although stored properly in a cool basement cellar, this wine is now past its prime. Brickish, funky and without structure.

    Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

What Do You Think? Add a Tasting Note

Pro Reviews

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.

Add a Pro Review Add Your Own Reviews:
 

Wine Definition

Advertisement

Learn More About This Wine

CellarTracker Articles:

Other Websites:

Report a problem with this page. See my transactions.

×