August 3, 2023 - PNP. Cork soft but intact. Color is dark and barely showing age. On nose this is badly corked. I think that explains the aforementioned bottle variation. Interestingly, despite the cork taint there is still fruit, which to me, adds to the general confusion. I am envious that there are non corked bottles because I imagine that they are dynamite. For those based on the fruit level and color I think this still has time ahead.
May 8, 2021 - We were given a bottle from a wine lover who has a case of this wine.
The original owner purchased in 1988. I think when you read the reviews it's all about provenanace. Look at last six reviews: 3 are throw away 3 are 91 or 92.
This wine: we know the former owner who has had it cellared for the wines entire life in the same place. Cedar is first smell, maybe a hint of basement as others have said. Color is near perfect, no brown on edge, looks like a young wine in a decanter. Smell deeply and you can pull out red fruit still deep under the basement. On the palate it is pleasant and different; nice finish. The proof is in the second pour. You have a choice to drink anything else in your basement of 800 bottles or have a second glass. I'm on my third pour. I like it especially with cheese and extra credit of 1 point for effort over time. Now an hour later the more I drink it the more the fruit shows and the more I like it.
April 17, 2021 - Both of my bottles were corked. Wine smelled like a musty basement. Poured down sink.
December 31, 2020 - ABV: 12.9%. Faint nose of black cherry and five-spice upon opening that became more prominent after 10-15 minutes. Ample amounts of fruit on the palate (think plums and raspberries) with well-integrated acidity, super soft tannins, and a pleasant finish. The fruit began to fade after about 45 minutes so this wine won't age much longer. Note: No food pairing so perhaps that can enhance its qualities?
March 8, 2019 - The bottle was in good condition, but the cork broke. The wine was dark garnet in colour and offered black currant, cherry and plenty of bell pepper as well as herbal spice on the nose. On the sour and fruit-bitter palate, the wine showed cherry, weak black currant, bell pepper, spices and herbal spice, with slightly pronounced acidity, fully resolved tannin and good length. On day two, the wine remained fruit-bitter, but was more cedary and leathery and tired. This bottle was still drinkable, but had passed its prime probably five to ten years ago. A few year past it’s best. Drink up. NR.
February 9, 2019 - Drinking really well. I don't think it will get any better, but where is is today is just right!
May 7, 2017 - From a double magnum, third of four nights, Cabernet Sauvignon at its best, floral nose of black cherry, black berry, briar, and dusty earth, same on the palate, big body, delicious, elegant, time to drink up but showing the best nose and palate tonight of all four nights, mouth filling and tasty fruit, long, long, flavorful finish.
May 5, 2017 - Nose of black cherry, boysenberry, sage, and dusty earth, same on the palate, found a double magnum in the cellar from an auction I bought for $70 two years ago, consumed over four nights at $17.50 a night and worth it, big body, showing its age and secondary taste characteristics, delicious, mouth filling fruit, time to drink up, this was a great Cabernet Sauvignon year so I bought a lot of !985 vintage wines and enjoyed them all, easy to sip and savor, long, long finish.
November 26, 2015 - I took a little time for this wine to open up. The next day the wine was better, but not great. By the third day, the wine had finally opened up and was strutting it's stuff. Notes of cranberry, cherry, old wood, and earth. Tannins were dry, tea-like. I was surprised that this wine held on it's own for three days considering the age. From a magnum.
September 4, 2015 - Short finish, past its prime.