1/25/2024 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Beautiful bottle - smooth soft fruit, well aged tannins- just a great bottle0

12/9/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Purchased this bottle at the infamous Sam’s in Chicago on 10/23/83 for $12.95. I agree with the experience most of the other tasters have had - an excellent bottle of cab that has held up exceptionally well over 43 years. Thank you Bernie Portet!

11/26/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

I agree with other recent tastings that this is a lovely wine that has held up beautifully over its 38 years. Still had nice deep red color, clean nose and great balance.

10/23/2023 - MJM4032 wrote:

Skunked - very musty and unpleasant to drink

10/18/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Perfect wine to go with a week day beef dinner - pleasant, balanced, very easy to drink - great price/value

8/21/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Still had very deep red color, nice balanced fruit and tannins, could easily go another 10 years

7/22/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Deep red color with no fading on the edge but had a lot of sharp edgy tannin which I wonder will ever mellow out?

5/22/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Cork was totally intact with approximately 2/3 untouched by standard neck fill wine. Color was still deep red - more like a 10 yr old Napa cab. Decanting left a medium amount of sediment, clean nose and big robust well oaked cab fruit flavors.

5/10/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

As others recently noted my bottle had a high shoulder fill and definitely needed the Durand to come out intact. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while most of the big CA cab character had aged out it still had a very pleasant taste and body that went well with our steak dinner.

5/15/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Totally agree with the others who have had this bottle recently. Enough to it was spectacular!

5/14/2023 - MJM4032 wrote:

Cork required the Durand but had no seepage issues. Wine was a great California cab well aged showing beautifully.

5/12/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Had low expectations for an $8 38 year old wine but the cork was intact, color had softened to brick red but the wine had aged beautifully with tannins and fruit softened but still there. My only bottle 😣

5/19/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Cork was totally intact with virtually no seepage. Color was still a deep red, fruit had mellowed but still there. Overall a perfect example of aged merlot.

5/7/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Purchased from long gone Sam’s in Chicago in Sept. 1984 -much as with the previous taster I was amazed at how lovely this wine was even thought the bottle had a low neck fill and the cork absolutely had to be removed with the Durand or would have shredded to nothing. Initially was very closed in although decanted 3 hours before but quickly opened up in the glass. A truly fine example of 40+ year old Bordeaux.

5/7/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Gift to Heather

2/14/2023 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Had the deep red of a 10 yr old cab. Lovely with smooth tannins, clean nose, almost untouched cork -another example of how well California cabs can age.

12/25/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Again I am amazed at how well my older California cabs and merlot are drinking today. Good deep brick color, clean nose, long smooth finish with decent fruit

12/17/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

I bought this wine in the Chicago area in Oct. 1984 for $8.99. I have stored it at 55 degrees ever since. The cork was perfect, the color looks like a 10 to 15 year old cab with a clean nose, and very balanced aged flavor notes. I continue to be amazed at how well Sonoma and Napa cabs age!

10/22/2022 - MJM4032 wrote:

Nose was different - strong veggie notes but nothing compared to actually tasting the strong vegetable components of the wine. Much different from the Chinon or other cab francs I have had. Minimal fruit.

10/8/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Always stored at 55 degrees since purchase at the winery this was a terrific absolutely typical well aged Napa cab. Not as round and subtle as a few from this era but overall excellent. I continue to be amazed at how well cabs from the late 70’s and beyond are still if not at peak still drinking exceptionally well with more fruit and balance than comparable Bordeaux.

10/4/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Still big and bold like most Sociando’s I have had over the years - this wine could go several more years as a nicely balanced Bordeaux !

9/8/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Based on some of the reviews I wondered what this bottle would hold. Almost totally dry cork, no off notes from the bottle or cork. Two hours after opening poured with typical medium red color, clean nose, and on tasting I found a marvelously balanced merlot that had lost it’s young fruit but was now a balanced lovely wine. For the other 100+ bottle holders I would say as long as the wine has been well stored you are in for a lovely experience!

8/10/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Mellowed out tannin reduced Barolo reflecting 27 years of age. Color still young appearing, nose with no flaws, overall a lovely wine to have with a sausage and pasta dinner

6/19/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Still a little cool from the cellar and given no chance to open up the wine seemed austere and hard. An hour later after decanting it had opened up with classic aged Bordeaux nose and complexity. Color was deeper than most 43 year old similar quality Bordeaux.

4/11/2022 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Agree with other recent tastings. Beautiful color - wonderful example of mature Bordeaux.

2/4/2022 - MJM4032 wrote:

Cork showed some leakage - flawed even with cellar storage since purchased at retail

12/16/2021 - MJM4032 wrote:

This a bottle J&H gave us several years ago - they finished their last a week or so ago - now they will get one more shot at it!

12/5/2021 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Very balanced aging with moderate brick red color, subtle tannins, and smooth finish

8/16/2021 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Have had in my cellar since purchased at retail at Sam’s in Chicago in 1993. Lovely bottle - very typical Bordeaux from this vintage with balanced tannin acidity and mature fruit.

7/2/2021 - MJM4032 wrote:

Had lost most of its fruit - nose had some off notes - drinkable but past it’s prime. My other ‘97 Brunello’s are still drinking well

2/5/2021 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Had surprising deep color, clean nose and while flavors had faded still very drinkable celebrating 75th birthday! Not bad for an off vintage.

12/5/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Still young and vibrant in color and flavor.

11/21/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Color was comparable to most high end cabs in the 10-15 year old range- lots of subtle fruit with a lovely overlay of soft tannins -

11/17/2020 - MJM4032 wrote:

Intact cork but wine was totally skunked - undrinkable. TCA strikes again!

11/16/2020 - MJM4032 wrote:

WA 90

10/4/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Incredible bottle - drank like it was only 10 years old for my daughters birthday. Still had fruit, plenty of depth, excellent rich red color. Amazing bottle!

9/29/2020 - MJM4032 wrote:

Entirely agree with Wine Enthusiast this is a wine with plenty of green veggy notes and not much pleasant fruit!

8/8/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Looked and tasted much younger than a 35 year old. Still decent fruit with soft mellow tannins.

7/2/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Lean Burgundy style - minimal oak - lots of acidity

5/23/2020 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Bigger more robust than most Beaujolais

12/11/2019 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Still big and vibrant with great deep red color lovely nose - always stored at 55 degrees

10/14/2019 - MJM4032 wrote:

Very disappointed - had in my cellar less than a year stored in 55degree temp - was totally cooked - deep urine yellow - no bubbles and undrinkable!

9/23/2019 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Wow - still had rich medium red color, very balanced mellow character. The merlot and cab components balanced the lighter Sangiovese base. Made by two of the best winemakers in the world!

9/15/2019 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Everything a fine aged Duckhorn should be!

9/9/2019 - MJM4032 wrote:

Had with 5 other 1982 Bordeaux and Napa bottles from my cellar all of which had aged beautifully (Leoville Las Cases, Talbot, Montelena, La Dominique, Le Bon Pasteur). The BV had a definite sour nose (not the cardboard TCA smell) but almost as if pickle juice had been poured into it. One of those who joined me said BV had had some bacterial contamination issues around that time?

5/12/2019 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Strong eucalyptus nose - almost no signs of aging in the color - big cab flavors

3/23/2019 - MJM4032 Likes this wine:

Huge big wine with the deep purple color of the few Tannats I have had - let a small part of the bottle left over sit overnight and it was even better

12/11/2018 - MJM4032 wrote:

Wine was corked

11/18/2018 - MJM4032 wrote:

Clearly past its prime with a well aged brick red color and slight Madeira type notes it was still a good steak dinner companion.

11/13/2018 - MJM4032 wrote:

Wine was skunked - one sniff from the glass and the bottle was poured out. Had just purchased from Total Wine a few days before.