Community Tasting Note

• violistus Likes this wine: 92 points

  May 20, 2020 - I didn't have high hopes for this bottle, for while the fill level was high, the label was in horrible condition and the loose cork slipped out (I used a Durand) as if a knife in hot butter. Plastic rip-cord top instead of a capsule. The cork smelled fine and the wine had no aromas of TCA.
  
  I decanted the bottle, and disappointingly, there was only a hint of sediment. It was clear at the rim, then a light old-Barolo-brown, then a dark carmine/faded ruby in the center. Remarkably, there is still vibrant bright fruit, salty dried strawberries and rich red cherry. And it's light and elegant, yet it has a slightly viscous texture in the mouth. JACKCMAC's comment below about cedar is spot-on. There's also a strong lifted and treble green note, green bell pepper and roasted jalapeños. It's tangy and sweetly rich, and was very stable and slow-opening over 2 days (vacuumed and refrigerated). There are some elegant tannins left, but it's incredibly easy to drink.
  
  I've had more than a dozen 1980 Cali Cabs over the last 3 or 4 years, and surprisingly, considering the humble origins of this wine, this was perhaps the most delicious and lively. I have no doubt that another well-stored bottle could offer a lot of pleasure now or for a few more years.

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6 Comments

• RichEB1 commented:

  5/21/20, 11:28 AM - Excellent note, thank you very much! Birth year for me so I also have/consume quite a bit of cabs from 1980 and hope this bottle shines for me like it did for you

• violistus commented:

  5/21/20, 8:31 PM - Birth year here too! What have been some of your favorites? Two of my favorite Cali 80's were Matanzas Creek and Johnson Turnbull.

• RichEB1 commented:

  5/21/20, 8:59 PM - Nice!! I knew I liked your style ;)
  
  Favorite cabs have been Carneros Creek, and Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon out of magnum. Best non-cabs have been Ridge Geyserville, Nevada City Winery Zin (zero expectations but it was incredible), Inglenook Petite Sirah, and Heitz Cellars Chardonnay (pretty blown away by it, and happy to have 1 more).

• violistus commented:

  5/22/20, 7:45 AM - Thanks for that, it's super interesting and I'll keep my eyes open for those! Funny you should mention Nevada City Winery, I had a bottle of their 1989 Nebbiolo (!) a few months ago and really enjoyed it. It was a 500mL bottle, as I recall. Not sure I would have been able to blind nebbiolo, it had lots and lots of fruit! Googling didn't give me much info about the winery. And I've found Petite Sirah to be quite age worthy...!! That's quite interesting about the Chardonnay, I wouldn't have expected! Thanks :)

• RichEB1 commented:

  5/22/20, 8:06 AM - Ha ha! My brother from another mother - thats crazy that you also had a Nevada City Winery bottle recently. I couldn't find anything either and nobody on WineBerserkers knew much about them. I was floored by the 80 zin though. Like you said, so much beautiful fruit left. Exceeded my expectations by a long shot. Let me know if you open any other good bottles from 1980 and I'll do the same :)

• violistus commented:

  5/22/20, 8:35 PM - My memory must have failed me about the Googling, because I'm wrong: did you see their website?? https://www.ncwinery.com/
  
  And, deal about the 1980's! I'm @violistus if you're on instagram you can contact me there.

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