Community Tasting Note

• Cailles wrote: 94 points

  May 1, 2024 - 23x California 1974: Do the legendary 1974s still hold up? The answer is a resounding YES, and not just for one or two top wines, but across the board. These best wines showed incredible complexity, with still vibrant fruit cores perfectly complemented by layers upon layers of tertiary aromas, a fully intact structural frame, stature, poise, and freshness. While many of these wines should continue to age well, I don't expect them to get any better than they are now. The top wines in the tasting were the Mondavi Cabernet and the Phelps Insignia (both 97pts), the Mondavi Reserve and the Mount Eden (both 96pts), and the Ridge Monte Bello (95pts). Many more wines scored in the 90-94 point range. I'm convinced that many wines would have scored even higher in a different tasting setting, where you can follow the wine over the course of an evening. Only 5 of the 24 bottles showed signs of weakness, with 1 of those already oxidized, but given the substance that could be tasted underneath, this is more likely due to weak corks or poor storage than anything nature delivered this year. All the wines had very good fill levels and had been quickly double decanted before tasting to remove the sediment.
  
  TN: The wine's nose was initially muted and not fully opened, suggesting the need for a lengthy decant. On the palate, it was more expressive, showcasing a classic Pauillac profile with notes of graphite, cool dark fruits, tobacco, and earthy undertones. It displayed remarkable elegance and balance, with a soft and integrated structure. Both Diamond Creek wines, and particularly this Red Rock Terrace, are still qiote young and would benefit from an additional 10 to 20+ years of aging. Decanting is advisable if consumed presently.

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