January 23, 2024 - This bottle has been open 24 hours, but it's still in good shape...
Aromas of very ripe and dried black fruits, berry pie drippings, dark chocolate, tobacco, bbq spice, a little camphor, dried mint and bay leaf... full and tangy on the palate, chunky tannins feel a bit rough, bitterness builds on the finish, this is complex and engaging but it could use a little more fruit, though it maybe that it's just suffering from being open for a day. This may be past its prime, it has a certain youthfulness, but I'm not sure it will improve, the structure feels too rough and large, and the fruit doesn't feel fresh enough to hold it together, but again, I didn't get to taste this yesterday so my view is tainted. All said, this is a very impressive showing for a 29 year old wine open 24 hours.
January 22, 2024 - PNP using Durand. Cork is soft but completely intact. Color is dark garnet with a hint of bricking at edges. Nose is mostly tobacco and dark plum fruit. Swishing this shows mostly oak tannin remaining but there is such fruit density that it balances pretty nicely. There is some acid here too but structure is mostly tannin c/w house style. Sipping this shows its beauty - lush fruit beginning secondary characteristics and amazing polish and length. This is pretty awesome for 29 yo CA Cabernet and would fool many with its youthfulness. I would say that this is middle of its peak drinking. Plenty left in the tank for well cellared bottles
December 15, 2021 - Cellared at 55 since release - dark youthful ruby opaque black at core - clean shy fresh blackberry and coffee nose - alcoholic heat and spicy tannins along with aptly low enough pH make this 26 y/o a very lively wine and a vindication for cellar keeping.
March 6, 2021 - Fragrant black cherry, dark raspberry, and tootsie roll bouquet is flanked by inviting notes of sous bois, leather, and violets. It shows attractive weight, structure, and bottle age maturity, yet brightness and a youthful edge to the fresh, dark fruit and Jolly Rancher candy flavors. Polished tannin lingers on the long and flavorful finish.
December 25, 2020 - Repeat of earlier tastings recently.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/12/pride-napa-valley-cabernet-1995.html
November 26, 2020 - At twenty-five years, this is amazingly showing well and not exhibiting any diminution from age. I noted in earlier posts several years ago that this was showing its age. Perhaps these were bottle variations which might explain the negative review, not the positive. Ideal provenance of this bottle in our cellar since release shows the true age worthiness of the label. While likely at its apex, it will not improve with any further aging and should be consumed as it will start to diminish in due course.
Consistent with earlier tasting notes, "Dark, full bodied, firm, initially closed and tight, after a while it opened up to reveal big full complex dark blackberry and black currant fruits accented by anise, with hints of spice, dusty cedar, and a subtle sweet dark mocha on the full firm lingering tannin finish."
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/11/pride-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon.html
May 25, 2020 - Consistent with earlier tasting notes, dark, full bodied, firm, the full complex dark blackberry and black currant fruits are starting to give way to leather, mushroom, cedar, tobacco, smoke and earth still showing earlier hints of subtle dark mocha on the full firm lingering tannin finish. Still life left but should be consumed over the next couple of years.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/05/vintage-napa-cab-trio-mark-celebration.html
January 15, 2017 - Still a blackish/purple ruby color (how is that possible?)!! Nice nose full of mature Cabernet aromas. Black currant, creosote, spicebox and minty new oak. Full bodied and dense, with a fantastic minerality giving lift to the dense tannin and black currant and cherry flavors. Spicy new French oak. This took quite some time to develop in the decanter. Given that and the overall freshness and density, I'd say that although fully mature and perhaps on the downswing, this has many years left. Salty minerality on the lingering finish. 93
November 9, 2016 - There is a bit of an edge/etch with this wine, a slight grittiness and grain that is not so welcome, but there is charm too. There is a pretty stiff backbone surrounded by tight tannins and dark fruit. In some ways it has held up very well to the age, but at the same time there are also some signs of fading. A bit expensive for the quality really.
Slightly better on the 2nd day. Some of the etch is gone but it's still showing some stiff tannins.
October 31, 2015 - Decanted for 45 minutes. Very good fruit up front.