Blind 1985 Bordeaux vs. CA (Cabernet) Tasting

Interesting tasting these wines single blind. Same vintage Bordeaux vs. California Cabernet (some blends?), 1985 and 1986, each done a week apart, mostly even the same wines. My biggest takeaway is that comparing Bordeaux to CA Cabernet is not a good idea. The Bordeaux make many of the California wines seem less balanced, and the Cali wines make Bordeaux seem too lean. And this was with vintages in which CA Cabernet was at least 1-1.5% lower alcohol than most are today.

Wines were randomly ordered. I've listed them in order of my preference.

• 1985 Château Montrose 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Dark bold fruit showing fair amount of oak on nose. Nicely balanced. Plum and black cherry flavors with ok spice and very good tannin and acidity, providing good support for long finish.

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• 1985 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Elegant nose and red cherry fruit to start. Same red cherry flavor on palate along with a nice earthy finish. Great that it's still showing primary fruit at 20 years. Truly elegant and completely integrated and balanced. Wish the finish were a bit longer.

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• 1985 Château Léoville Barton 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Dark fruit from nose through finish, so still quite primary. Interesting spice on nose that also returns on the finish. Big tannic structure comes out in middle.

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• 1985 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Black fruit on nose, continues seamlessly on to palate. Big tannins and acidity a bit prominent vs. the fruit today. This needs more time and I hope will soften.

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• 1985 Château Cos d'Estournel 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Bright black fruit on nose. Still fresh and charming, this bottle was entirely fruit-driven today. Tannin niceyl integrated, good energy, but there didn't seem to be much interesting nuance to this wine tonight.

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• 1985 Château Lynch-Bages 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Big plum and black cherry nose with some chocolate hints. Same fruit starts on on palate, just short and perhaps hidden behind big tannins. Lots of new oak still stands out. Give this more time.

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• 1985 Château Gruaud Larose 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Mostly secondary character, elegant and integrated structure and very pleasant. Good mushroom character, good simple fruit, nice sweet tannins but I was expecting more.

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• 1985 Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind 85 Bordeaux vs. CA tasting. Good fruit to start with good balance as well in middle. Heat came through on finish from the first taste. Bitterness stated coming through on finish after about an hour.

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• 1985 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Blind tasting. Funky barnyard character on nose. Meaty, leathery flavors with fruit mostly gone. More acid than anything else left on finish. Very surprised to see Montelena when unveiled.

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