Old California Wine Dinner....1941-1986

Merced, Ca
Tasted Sunday, January 23, 2011 by Mrbuzz with 966 views

Introduction

Bunch of valley locals got together last night for a wonderful 5+ course dinner, so graciously put on by the Meyer's and Gelb's, to showcase a previous collective purchase of older wines from the Marin Cellar, offered last summer from Benchmark Wines...a very cold cellar of impeccable provenance. All wines, except one, showed really well....a true testament of great provenance and great wines! BIG thanks to Mike for handling the wines, the Gelb's and Meyer's for an AMAZING dinner, and to all who attended! What a night!

Flight 1 - Reception (1 Note)

  • NV H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve 92 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    From magnum....75% Pinot, 25% Chard, 50% from 2007, 25% 2005, 25% 2006.....wonderful creamy airy mousse, big yeast, caramel crust, graham cracker, dried herbs, fine Cognac.....plenty of lemon citrus acidity and apple fruit....loved this!

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Flight 2 - Starters (3 Notes)

  • 1980 Joseph Phelps Scheurebe Special Select Late Harvest 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Had along side an '80 Grgich Johan Riesling LH....the Phelps was in great condition, sweeter than the Grgich, but not too sweet. Nice caramel spice, apricot, green tea spice. Drinking well.

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  • 1980 Grgich Hills Late Harvest Johannisberg Riesling 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Had along side an '80 Joseph Phelps Scheurebe SS LH....this was a real treat! Lightly sweet, almost savory...lighter yellow color, pears, caramel, some petrol, minerals, lemon. Drank like a botrytis infected aged White Burg! I wish I would had saved some of this at the end of the night....really great wine.

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  • 1968 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Pinot Chardonnay Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My bottle, sourced from the Barney Rhodes cellar.....darker apple juice color; sherry, burnt toast...sad to say, this wine was gone.

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Flight 3 - Zinfandel (4 Notes)

  • 1974 Clos du Val Zinfandel Napa Valley 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Loved this. Smooth and silky...dusty spice, dried orange, black pepper...drinking like a Claret with some pepper.

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  • 1972 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Lot 2 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    This was still quite youthful, dark berry, raspberry fruit....dusty, still spicy yet delicate, some leather, dried herbs. Drank well early on, but seemed to drop off on the finish after 20mins.

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  • 1974 Corti Brothers Zinfandel Reserve Selection Deaver/Ferrero 92 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    This reminded me of a rustic, unfiltered cloudy, aged Pinot. Lighter strawberry, raspberry, dried cherry fruit....cranberry tart acidity, dusty earth spice, well balanced to the delicate side. I really liked this!

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  • 1974 Sutter Home Winery Zinfandel Deaver Ranch 89 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

    Along with the '74 Corti Bros Zin from the same Deaver/Ferraro Vineyard fruit....this was lite in color, rose', cloudy Pinot-like...but still had plenty of tasty strawberry, raspberry fruit...red licorice, dusty spice, tart sour skin acidity....a pretty wine, but more simple.

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Flight 4 - Petite Sirah (4 Notes)

  • 1971 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My wine, from the Barney Rhodes cellar.....13.8% alc. Had with the '73. Deep dark berry, plum liqueur. Had wonderful dusty perfume, with some nuttiness to it. Still has HUGE tannins! Young tasting....dark fruit, plum skin sourness, coffee.....dries out in the finish. A glacier wine....one dimensional, as with most PS...but tasty.

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  • 1973 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah York Creek Vineyards 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Had with the '71. A shyer wine than the '71, not as perfumed.....dusty cinnamon spice, dried dark berry fruit/roses, plum liqueur, cigar wrapper(which I dug). Might be a little closed, or just not as giving as the '71. Love how youthful these wines were...this one just not giving up all the goods.

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  • 1972 Souverain Petite Sirah Rutherford 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Not as dark berried as the '71/'73 Freemark Abbey PS' had with it....more sweet strawberry, dried cherry, leather, dusty clove spice. Some dried green leaf, tobacco, smooth. Holding up really well.

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  • 1973 Ridge Petite Sirah York Creek 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Had along with the '71/'73 Freemark Abbey York Creek.....this is classic Ridge! Wonderful ripe Zin-like fruit, bright and fresh red berry, almost late harvest-like. 12.7 alc, which was the lowest of the 3...I would have thought higher? Killer floral fresh bouquet of flowers, dusty dried cherry spice/herbs, coffee, silky smooth. Really drinking well...my fav of all the PS'.

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Flight 5 - Cabernet (4 Notes)

  • NV El Gavilan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Casa de Sonoma 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    History in a glass! This is from 1941 fruit, bottled in 1947, and re corked in 1982. At least 51% Cabernet...and who knows what else. Oldest wine I've ever had....garnet, rose rim color...sweet and dusty red fruit, tawny maple, cinnamon, tart dried citrus, coffee. Really beautiful and intriguing nose and entry...delicate like a fragile dried rose....no sign of any tannin, and spine left. I was fascinated how the wine just falls off on the palate. But what would you expect at 70? Just amazing to think of what was going on when this wine was born.....what a treat.

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  • 1986 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    Had along with the '86 Red Rock Terrace....nice dried Bing cherry, plum fruit....dusty earth spice, porcinis, soft tannin. Really nice aged cab flavors. The better of the two.

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  • 1986 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    Had along with the '86 Gravelly Meadow....dried berry/cherry/plum fruit...more herbal than the RRT...pretty mellow, delicate. Couple steps behind the RRT imo.

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  • 1978 William Hill Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Probably my WOTN....from magnum, debut release from WH, and probably their best effort. This wine had an alluring exotic toasted wood to it, like mahogany...dark garnet, ripe dark fruits, still HUGE kick of sour skin tannin/acid, dusty cherry spice, some nuttiness. Really deep and complex, alive with acidity, the only knock was a really dry finish. Might have been the bigger pour for getting more out of this wine?...this was really good!

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Flight 6 - Dessert (1 Note)

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