• SMWSLT Likes this wine: 91 points

    November 8, 2020 - Here we are tonight, drinking a 30 year old wine that has no right to be delicious yet continues to be, defying the odds of age. That being said, this bottle has lost a couple points in the last two years, due to a tad less fruit and a bit more obvious acidity. One new development worth noting today is a pleasing minty, eucalyptus aspect cascading across the palate. This wine remains an Alexander Valley (Sonoma County) legend, joining the 1974 Souverain.

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  • SMWSLT Likes this wine: 93 points

    September 26, 2018 - I continue to marvel at the quality and longevity of this wine. Two cases purchased new in 1992 (at a Trader Joe’s in San Diego for $7.99 a bottle) have been one fine investment. Tonight this wine is 80% Left Bank Bordeaux, full of delightful leather, tobacco, and oak notes, with plentiful sweet, forward fruit to betray its New World provenance. I can’t imagine it getting any better, but just the same, I can’t picture it’s decay any time soon. It seems immortal.

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  • vinolovers wrote: 90 points

    February 12, 2010 - Medium dark coloring with a hint of bricking around the edge. An initial beefy nose blew off to reveal aromas (followed by flavors) of blackberry, cassis, a hint of vanilla with a big backbone. Tannins are long gone leaving a very nice wine, particularly after it had been open for about an hour. Quite good and I notice a large amount of variation in the bottles I've had (no explanation comes to mind). Last of the lot!

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  • vinolovers wrote: 88 points

    March 22, 2008 - After the disappointment with the previous bottle I opened this one with trepidation. The fragrant aromas of strawberry, cherry and rhubarb wafted enticingly. However, this bottle actually had some flavor, although more earthy tones than the nose. Flavors of dark berries, chocolate, mint, tobacco and caramel. Smooth but a bit light on the finish. Not great, not a wipeout, and definitely on it's last legs.

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  • vinolovers wrote: 85 points

    March 8, 2008 - After opening the fragrent bouquet gave aromas of red fruit, violets, chocolate and cassis and then everything died. The wine acted like it was still born. Smooth, no tannins to speak of with little alcholic after taste, but no flavors either. Much different from the last bottle.

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  • MikeW wrote: 90 points

    February 25, 2007 - This wine was rated 90 by the Spectator 10+ years ago and it still has it. I was prepared to dump it but was pleasantly suprised by the nose. It's tannins are nearly gone leaving a smooth, nice finish. There is plenty of dark fruit left too. I doubt that it will hold much longer but it is drinking nice right now.

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  • vinolovers wrote: 90 points

    June 18, 2006 - The wine still possessed a nice garnet/ruby coloring with no bricking whatsoever. The aroma was a bit muted (wine opened about an hour before serving but not decanted). Aromas and flavors included blackberry, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. The tannins have dropped completely leaving a very smooth drink. This is probably at its peak and will start fading within a year or so.

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