This bottle was ruined by my early experiments with the Coravin. If anyone thinks they can get away with piercing a sterile bottle of wine, sampling some, and then putting it back in the rack for a few years - think again. On pulling the bottle, the growth floating on top made it immediately apparent that the Coravin introduced some eager beaver bacteria, when I tasted it years ago. SAD, especially as the colour of the wine srtill showed young, indicating that this would have been a lovely drink even now in 2024. The 1990 that we tried next next had fortunately escaped my Coravin experiments, and drank beautifully.
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Bottle in superb condition. Taut and crunchy with beautiful cassis and violet flavors. Great freshness for a 44-year old wine. Best within the first 20 minutes of opening.
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Still quite a dense dark ruby, tight meniscus at the edges, slight bricking showing at the edge - pretty good showing, frankly
On the nose, still getting sweet tannins, in form of Blueberries, candied blackberries and black cherries, with very slight porty/pruny aroma - hint of vanilla perhaps, menthol
On the palette, fine to medium grained ripe, powdery tannins, good acidity, again, a slightly madeirised note on the palate, some white pepper also
Long finish, which turns slightly citrusy over the course of 30 to 60 seconds
There is still some fruit in here, but it's on the way out - you may regret holding it much longer.
After 20 minutes, bigger mouthfuls were very rewarding, a nice show - 30 second finish dominated by black cherries, blackcurrant and plums
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Good fill, good cork, good wine. Bricking for sure, tannins pretty much on their way out. Not so sure this will last much longer. Smooth, resolved fruit on the lighter side. Nuanced. Nice reference point for well made Cab with life.
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3/28/2024 - Wamrod wrote: flawed
This bottle was ruined by my early experiments with the Coravin. If anyone thinks they can get away with piercing a sterile bottle of wine, sampling some, and then putting it back in the rack for a few years - think again. On pulling the bottle, the growth floating on top made it immediately apparent that the Coravin introduced some eager beaver bacteria, when I tasted it years ago. SAD, especially as the colour of the wine srtill showed young, indicating that this would have been a lovely drink even now in 2024. The 1990 that we tried next next had fortunately escaped my Coravin experiments, and drank beautifully.
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12/11/2021 - dream Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bottle in superb condition. Taut and crunchy with beautiful cassis and violet flavors. Great freshness for a 44-year old wine. Best within the first 20 minutes of opening.
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12/24/2013 - jdmgcny wrote:
Cork broke apart...if you have any, drink it immediately as it is turning!
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11/21/2013 - Wamrod wrote: 92 Points
Sampled a glass from I-5, using the new Coravin
Still quite a dense dark ruby, tight meniscus at the edges, slight bricking showing at the edge - pretty good showing, frankly
On the nose, still getting sweet tannins, in form of Blueberries, candied blackberries and black cherries, with very slight porty/pruny aroma - hint of vanilla perhaps, menthol
On the palette, fine to medium grained ripe, powdery tannins, good acidity, again, a slightly madeirised note on the palate, some white pepper also
Long finish, which turns slightly citrusy over the course of 30 to 60 seconds
There is still some fruit in here, but it's on the way out - you may regret holding it much longer.
After 20 minutes, bigger mouthfuls were very rewarding, a nice show - 30 second finish dominated by black cherries, blackcurrant and plums
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7/4/2012 - envirovino wrote: 91 Points
Good fill, good cork, good wine. Bricking for sure, tannins pretty much on their way out. Not so sure this will last much longer. Smooth, resolved fruit on the lighter side. Nuanced. Nice reference point for well made Cab with life.
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