Community Tasting Note

• csimm wrote:

  June 6, 2023 - TOP SHELF WINE WEEKEND: The roots (literally) and history of this wine are indeed an interesting lineage to follow insofar as the To Kalon fruit and the MacDonald connection. For that, I am forever appreciative to have tried this wine. I have to respectfully differ from a few of my Cellar Tracker colleagues in that it feels as though the wine itself is past its prime. A noteworthy academic assignment to be sure, and one that is fodder for curious conversation and debate, but it did not offer much to me beyond a light brown Colheita tawny port thing, with sherry, leather, nuts, and maybe a fleeting hint of golden raisin to add “complexity.” In reality (my reality at least), the profile is mostly just walnut powder and wood at this point, with a bitter finish signaling that the departure of the fruit happened some time ago. One can certainly embark on an archeological mental expedition with this wine and try to pick pieces out of it that may have been or could have been back in the day, but for me it’s more of a fossil hunt at this stage.
  
  I see a lot of high scores here, so I don’t know how much of that is the romance of what this wine represents for folks (which is pretty cool) or how much is just a complete wiffle on my part to not “get it.” The scapegoat is usually, “Well, you just don’t understand old wines.” I mean, I kinda think I do, every once in a while at least. It’s not that complicated, right? Maybe I’m just someone who, when the breakup happens, I don’t ever feel the need to look up my old high school girlfriend decades later. Sometimes things end and it’s over. Keep calm and carry on; the beat goes on; keep on keepin’ on, and all that.
  
  A moment of silence for the ’94 Mondavi. A precious light that once shone down from the heavens like a beacon of hope to all grapes of the world, red and white alike. May those who continue to taste its fictional fruit carry the palate memory across the threshold of wine eternity. Life may end, but love for the 94 is evermore. Vinespeed my once-joyous juice.

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17 Comments

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/6/23, 5:11 PM - Just askin'.....but do you think perhaps drinking some much bigger wines before this one may have somehow influenced your ability to taste some of the subtleties of this wine? I know I needed to cleanse my palate and drink a second pour to fully appreciate this wine, and I only did that because I knew what this wine should taste like....it is very nuanced, and it is hard to appreciate after drinking some of the younger and bigger wines. At least that is my humble opinion.

• csimm commented:

  6/6/23, 5:22 PM - I think that’s a more than fair point. In this case, at least for me, I don’t think that necessarily influenced my ultimate assessment of this wine. I made sure to distance myself as much as possible, and cleanse my palate before going back to it a number of times because it was very curious to me from an academic standpoint. I guess I just think from an enjoyment standpoint that there comes a threshold where something is so “nuanced” or subtle that it’s just not there anymore.

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/6/23, 6:12 PM - LOL....I totally get that! Just have never been on this end of that statement before!!

• csimm commented:

  6/6/23, 7:02 PM - Haha. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to try it. I do think the whole history of it is super interesting.

• StevinoW commented:

  6/6/23, 7:41 PM - Thanks for sharing these notes and the reflection on this wine. I've been fortunate to have this wine on many occasions and will look for a reason to open my next bottle. Regarding the '94 vintage, I still find many of them quite youthful and they've had the benefit of proper cellaring since release and most are still quite vibrant. I don't make comments here (perhaps this is my second or third) but I wanted to weigh in on this one as this is a wine I've had many times since its release and it provides me the motivation to grab another soon. Thanks for sharing!

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/6/23, 9:55 PM - I am in your camp Stevino! I have twin nieces born on my birthday, but in 1994, so I have quite a few 94 wines....I thought the Mondavi Res was an excellent representative of an excellent vintage! I understand what Chris is talking about though because I have friends who taste fruit where I think the wine is dead......this just isn't one of them! I must admit, I find it totally ironic to be on the other end of that argument.....but then again, if I can't even remember my old break-ups to make the analogy Chris did....so go figure! I chalk this up to another example of different strokes for different folks! Sometimes I wish I didn't like older wines....would save me a lot of money and/or cellar space!!!

• csimm commented:

  6/6/23, 10:28 PM - He Stevino! Thanks so much for your insight on this. Between you and I’d Rather Be Drinking Wine, you both have much more experience than I have with a wine like this. I really do appreciate older wines, but I also love the freshness and intensity that can come from younger wines as well. I try to be open to liking both/all styles. Some just hit me right and others are less emotive. Different strokes indeed. Luckily there is plenty of wine out there for us all! Thanks again for both of your thoughts on this. It’s always helpful in my attempts to understand and appreciate wines I may not otherwise gravitate to generally.

• Cristal2000 commented:

  6/7/23, 4:58 PM - How did I know IRBDW would be commenting on your note...:)

• csimm commented:

  6/7/23, 5:34 PM - Some like hamburgers. Some like hot dogs…. Very very old hot dogs…. :)

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/7/23, 8:00 PM - ROFL....You guys don't know how much you are making me laugh! My friends here (ask Marvin), would all absolutely die listening to you say I drink over-the-hill wines! I am so used to being told I drink em too young! (Obviously, not this wine.....but most others!)

• csimm commented:

  6/7/23, 11:03 PM - Lol. The youngest BDXs I have in the cellar are 2015s. I think I might have already missed the window on those :)

• Cristal2000 commented:

  6/8/23, 4:26 PM - IRBDW's friends are also 90, so what are they waiting for? :)

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/8/23, 4:55 PM - Geez Mike.....prison has really hardened you....can see why your cell mates made you king!!! :)

• Cristal2000 commented:

  6/9/23, 11:54 AM - I am a very hardened wine snob...

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/10/23, 1:56 PM - I am surprised the Harlan wasn't dead to you guys!

• csimm commented:

  6/10/23, 4:41 PM - It had a slight pulse left… :)

• I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine commented:

  6/10/23, 5:37 PM - Yeah....I know....sorry about that! :)
  
  I can see why Alex's wine didn't fare well on Friday....never put two and two together, he brought an old man to a kids party!

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