David Turns 30 -- 1981 Cabs

Tasted Saturday, November 12, 2011 by coremill with 647 views

Flight 1 - Champagne Starter (1 Note)

Flight 2 - 1981 (mostly) Cabs (5 Notes)

  • 1981 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Out of 5L. Old in a good way. The nose is all mushroom and earth and rosemary, with a touch of VA; after a couple hours, some nice sweet red cherry fruit starts poking out. Mostly savory, it's completely resolved on the palate, and there's a surprisingly rich and silky texture. Certainly the best aged sangio I've had.

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  • 1981 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 94 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Fantastic and easily WOTN. A bit funky at first but that blew off. Really beautiful black fruit, with a distinctive dusty/brambly quality that I usually find in Monte Bellos. Plenty of nice secondary nuances too, with slight herbal qualities and fully integrated oak. Silky and perfectly balanced, as the tannins are mostly resolved and some nice acid still hanging around. Just everything you would want in an aged Cab.

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  • 1981 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    David pretty much nails it: this is a lovely, textbook claret from a medium vintage. Fully at peak, maybe slightly past. Best nose of the night, full of cedar and currant and herbs. The fruit has faded a bit here and lacks the depth and sweetness of the other cabs, and the palate leans toward the woodsy, savory side, but the tannins are mostly resolved and it's not at all in danger of drying out.

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  • 1981 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    There's a distinctive oxidative quality here that gives a general impression of nuttiness, which for me obscures the fruit and detracts a bit. Clearly good stuff though, with real depth and power remaining and quite a bit of chewy, chunky tannin, but totally outclassed by the Monte Bello on this occasion.

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  • 1981 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Only had a small pour of this. The most youthful and primary of the bunch, but also the least interesting. Intense black fruit character, but it's a little blocky and not refined, and there's not a whole lot else going on. Still showing some tannin, but hard to see this improving a whole lot more after 30 years already.

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Flight 3 - Port and Sauternes (2 Notes)

  • 1977 Fonseca Porto Vintage 86 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Massively disappointing. Well stored, condition looks great, color looks fine ... but this just isn't that good. Totally lacking the depth and power you'd expect from a good VP in a good year. Instead it's a bit soft, plummy, raisiny, with a bit of alcohol poking through. I've had LBVs I like better. It's a little bit nutty, maybe there was some slight oxidation?

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  • 1983 Château Doisy-Daëne 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

    Most of the sweetness is gone and underneath the apricot and lemon fruit there's really nice acid showing here that makes this surprisingly light and juicy for a Sauternes. A tasty, refreshing way to end a meal and this blew the 77 Fonseca off the table.

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