February 29, 2024 - At first leathery, herbal and packed with undergrowth. After 15 minutes of aeration in the glass, the most remarkable transformation - an explosion of beautiful, ripe and still remarkably fresh fruit took center stage. Still structured; tannins are powdery and mild-mannered now but nevertheless retains backbone. Extraordinary. What generosity to share this!
July 22, 2023 - Outstanding. Still so fresh even after 48 years. Refined, balanced, juicy. If only winemaking like this were more commonplace these days in California…
A superb wine.
July 4, 2022 - Still has a nice core of fruit, perfectly rounded and integrated. Certainly aged but still youthful, not showing signs of tiredness or burn out. Beautiful bricking on the edges. Full body through the mid palate, very well balanced. Incredible wine!
January 1, 2020 - has not changed much since my last note: dark red with a brick rim and just a touch of orange - intense cassis nose with classic mature cabernet fruit, some Rutherford dust, and subtle vanilla/oak - very youthful in the mouth with a mellow round fullness and sweet fruit - great acidity that gives brightness to the fruit - tannins still notable but not obtrusive - 20-30 second finish - beautiful expression of what mature California cabernet can develop into after 40+ years - an outstanding bottle that was better received than the accompanying 75 Petrus
January 13, 2018 - dark red with brick rim and just a touch of orange - intense cassis nose with classic mature cabernet fruit, some Rutherford dust, and subtle vanilla/oak - very youthful in the mouth with a mellow round fullness and beautiful sweet fruit - great acidity that gives the fruit its brightness - tannins fully resolved - 20-30 second finish - this is a beautiful expression of what mature California cabernet can develop into after 40+ years - an outstanding bottle that continued to grow in the glass 2 hours later.
September 1, 2009 - 8/09 Earthen hay nose - dark ruby red with tawny aged adge - vibrant concentrated cherry fruit with rounded balanced oak finish - can conitnue for years to come. 95 pts.
August 31, 2009 - Aureole with Peter Michael, CC, DP, Caymus, Sloan, Colgin and more (Aureole, New York, NY): Great bottle of wine. Very hard to believe this is 30+ years old. Fresh and brimming with dark, sweet fruits. Great acidity and totally in balance. I think this has years to go.
March 13, 1991 - Caymus Special Selection 1975-1986+ (San Francisco, Ca.): Nice cabernet berry nose with hint of burnt toast, pleasant, nice, open cabernet fruit, nice, medium finish but great aftertaste.