Classical Californian Wineries

Zurich
Tasted Sunday, September 15, 2013 by Wine_lvr with 539 views

Introduction

This tasting was the predecessor lunch tasting for the comprehensive Stag's Leap Cask 23 tasting which took place the same evening.

The idea of this dinner tasting was that each participant brings one mature bottle from a "classical" Californian winery. The tasting brought many surprises and really showed how gracefully these traditional Cabs can age. The 1978s were still in such a good shape, one thought they are late 80s or early 90s wine.

Flight 1 - The Whites to start (2 Notes)

  • 1994 De Loach Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Tasted blind: Past its prime but still showed a nice intermingle between sweetness and acidity. Quite balanced and mineralic. Knowing that this bottle comes out of a very cool natural cellar I would expect that normally stored bottle are already past its prime for a few years. Drink

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  • 1997 Landmark Chardonnay Overlook 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Tasted blind: Past its prime, showing lactic notes and oxidative notes. the wine still shows some flesh, power and richness but it is past its prime. Knowing that this bottle comes out of a very cool natural cellar I would expect that normally stored bottle are already past its prime for a few years. Drink

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Flight 2 - Flight 1: Two awesome Californian Vintages (1978 and 1984) (3 Notes)

  • 1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon York Creek 94 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa County

    Tasted blind: My tasting note is much different than many other Cellartracker users had with this wine. I must have just hit the perfect bottle.

    I was already stunned by the first contact with this wine. It still was deep red like a young wine. The nose showed leather, barn and malt notes. Once it hits the tongue the wine is very smooth, has a long finish and is surprisingly complex. Ripe berries and coffee are the present aromas. I like it and was very surprised about the ageability of this single vineyard Ridge CS. Drink now.

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  • 1978 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 93 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tasted blind: Having recently tasted the 1985 Ridge Jimsamore I can really say the wines produced at this single vineyard are just outstanding. The 1978 showed ripe secondary flavors but still had wonderful berry flavors. Sweetness, cooked berries and elegance are the highlights of this wine. Wouldn't there be the hard and dry tannins this wine would be a candidate for 96pts. It still does not seem fully mature but I am worried that the tannins are so hard and the wine dries out. Still a great effort. Drink now

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  • 1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Tasted blind: The wine showed some age, much more than the two 1978 Ridges in the same flight. Nose of mint, berries and leather. Acidity is quite present and it shows dry tannins. Even the Dunn HM is a wine that requires patience I do not expect the 1984 to get any better with age as the sweetness is mostly gone. I expect this wine to last for at least another decade but not with any upward potential. Drink now - 2025

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Flight 3 - Flight 2: Mix and Match (3 Notes)

  • 1985 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Tasted blind: This was the teaser for the extensive Cask 23 vertical tasting that took place the same evening. This specific bottle was much more mature than the we had during dinner.

    Mature brick color. Nose of currant and herbs. Wonderfully integrated tannins, still fresh showing flavors of berries. Very elegant and round. Tannins are still present to give this wine another decade to shine. Drink now without any hurry.

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  • 1991 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Tasted blind: Ripe brick color, much more mature than the 1978 we drank in the earlier flight. Nose shows vinegar pickles and dill. Acidity is present. As my tasting experience with this wine is so much different than other Cellar tracker users had, I expect this to be a too warm stored bottle. What I had in the glass did not make more than 88-89pts. No rating from my side!

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  • 1986 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Unfortunately a flawed bottle

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Flight 4 - Flight 3: The 80s and 90s (4 Notes)

  • 1997 Ridge Monte Bello 93 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Tasted blind: Intensive deep garnet color. Nose of Creme de Cassis and cooked cherries. Nice sweetness, smooth as silk and very balanced. Dark berries and Bourbon Vanilla. Overall I am missing a bit the length and complexity, but this is complaining at a high level. I prefer the 1996 Monte Bello. For the 1997 drink now to - 2030.

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  • 1997 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Tasted blind: Deep intensive red. Nose of bacon, iodine and cherries. The tannins are still very hard and sticking to ones teeth. This wine is still massively too young. It shows enormous potential but at the moment still so closed. Wait for at least another 5 years. Dunn HM is just a wine that requires (a lot of) time to mature. Drink 2018 - 2035.

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  • 1998 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted blind: Clear garnet showing some signs of brick at the edges. Raspberries, coffee and currant are present. The tannins and the sweetness (dark berries) are well integrated. Its an off-vintage but the wine has just to special something showing the outstanding quality of the Eisele Vineyard. The best 1998 US Cab I had so far. Drink now - 2020.

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  • 1988 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Tasted blind and decanted for 4 hours: Ripe red. Typical Heitz nose of mint and barn. Nice sweetness, good balance. Overall an interesting wine but no stunner. Drink now

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