1996 Viader

Community Tasting Notes (45) Avg Score: 90 points

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  9/29/2021 - Gr8penut Likes this wine: 91 Points

  From my posting on Instagram:
  
  In Vino Veritas (in wine there is truth; people speak the truth when they are drunk), another bottle of my cellar sacrifices. Only three more pre-2000 bottles from this vintner after this one, but we sure enjoyed it- a 1996 Viader!
  
  To repeat, (but a really unique person and family) a brief background on Viader- Delia Viader was born in Argentina, but then 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”. 😀
  
  🍷🍷🍷🍷👍👍👍👍 #wine #winelover #winelovers #redblend #redblendwine #viaderwinery #viader #alanviader #deliaviader #cabernetsauvignon #cabernetfranc #napawine #napa #napavalley #napacab

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  7/11/2021 - Gr8penut Likes this wine: 90 Points

  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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  1/30/2021 - thesternowl wrote: 95 Points

  This was a rescue mission. A friend of mine who isn’t a wine professional, or even much of a hobbiest, was hosting a small gathering and we needed another bottle of wine. She mentioned that she had some bottles downstairs that she had holed away; gifts from clients and such. There were about two dozen bottles in a small wine rack in her basement; some recent Opus and some other random bottles. As I looked through, I noticed a lone bottle of Viader and as I spun the bottle over, I nearly laughed when I saw the 1996 vintage. I asked if she had any sentimental attachment to the bottle; she had none. We were drinking this bottle.
  
  The label was clearly stained and was, apparently, received that way. She had won the bottle at a charity auction, donated by a known local collector. The cork, which seemed it otherwise fabulous condition, came out in two distinct pieces but I fault myself and the corkscrew for that.
  
  The 1996 Viader Proprietary Red now pours a dark garnet with slightly browning edges and a good amount of fine sediment. However, this is not only very much alive, it was sharing possibly one of its grandest moments of life! The bouquet is absolutely beautiful...beguiling; commanding attention the moment the cork is extracted. Unleashing powerful aromas of homemade mixed berry preserves, baking spices, sweet pipe tobacco and old leather. It actually gained intensity in the glass and I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. On the palate, the fruit was on full display and yet, the secondary flavors of spices and earth are in perfect balance. As are the tannins which, while still apparent, are neatly integrated to deliver maximum satisfaction. The texture, impeccable. The finish, everlasting. She is a wine at full peak and she knows it. A wine of confidence and grace. Amongst the nerds and plebes, this wonderful ‘96 Viader was the unanimous WOTN. Drink it now while it’s still sexy as hell.
  
  Obviously, my experience is dramatically different than others have noted which is further proof that there are no great old wines, just great bottles. This was definitely the latter.

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  2/22/2020 - Vintomas wrote: 90 Points

  A rather developed nose with ripe dark berries - blackcurrants and dark plums - some vanilla and moccha, hints of mint, some developed notes with barnyard aromas and leather. Medium+ body with sweetish dark berries, fine acidity, well integrated tannins, and a fresh aftertaste. Napa style but fine balanced. Fully developed but sticks together nicely, 90 pts.
  
  This is frankly younger-styled than I had expected and if this bottle is representative, it should be able to keep for several more years.

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  7/19/2019 - Charlie C wrote:

  Well past prime. A musty cherry nose, even time in the glass didn't get rid of the mustiness. Some nice red fruit on the palate, but the musty notes dulled everything. Soft tannins, good acidity, decent balance. Simply 10 years too late.

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