March 7, 2021 - Coravin'd a glass on night one, where it showed quite youthful and oaky. Opened on day 2, and the nose has evolved pleasant earthy, savory, cigar leaf, cab franc-like aromas. The texture is quite chewy, with moderate tannins, and flavors of cassis and tobacco. Purchased 10 years ago from Chambers St, this was in perfect condition and is aging fairly gracefully, though I would drink within 5 years or so. This picked up complexity with air, lost some of its oakiness and gained some cedar and red currant notes.
December 3, 2011 - Still good, though by no means great anymore. Oak has mellowed and the fruit is really starting to attenuate. Lots of flavor still, if you like old cabs. Drink em if you got em.
July 11, 2011 - Opened by itself this evening. First not is that the oak and fruit were nicely balanced. Unlike the 97 opened earlier this week the 95 didn't lose its fruit character over the hour or so it was opened. This might have benefited from a short decant but was quite good without. Not stellar anymore, but certainly a good bottle of cab to enjoy.
December 19, 2010 - Fully mature. Drink over the next year or two. The fruit and tannin are fully integrated. This is if not my favorite year of Oakford, one of the top 3. The 91 and 99 are also fantastic. Several of the bottles I've had in the past were a bit unbalanced in terms of overt oak, but not this latest. The fruit was soft, the aftertaste was lingering, just a beautiful bottle of well aged Cabernet.
November 1, 2007 - Light ruby color. Medium bodied. Beautiful, classically styled Cab. Bright red primary fruit aromas and flavors backed by plenty of secondary characteristics: smoke, leather, tobacco, earth. Minty aromas started to emerge after a few hours. Oak and tannins are well integrated. I would guess this wine is just reaching maturity. Really great stuff!
May 12, 2007 - Just a real beauty. Cassis, raspberry and currants interlaced with leather, licorice and tobacco. Tannins are still firm, and it has reached a nice level of maturity while remaining bright and lively. One of the best mature reds I've had in the past 12 months from any appellation. Tasted next to the '97 Oakford, which is going through a dumb phase right now.
April 14, 2007 - Very solid wine. Drunk alongside a '97 Pahlmeyer which, although shrouded by oak, was clearly a better wine. But, for today's consumption, give me the Oakford. Drink or hold.
November 8, 2006 - Piemonte Wines with Futronic, BAWE and Vinocellar (The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, Livermore, CA): Candied nose, maybe some VA. Sweet cassis, overly candied black fruits, some oak. Not into this.
May 7, 2006 - Performing really well now. Time to drink up. Classy stuff.
September 3, 2004 - Before even opening the bottle I could see a thick crust of sediment in the neck so I knew decanting was in order. I was quite surprised by the amount of sediment in this relatively young bottle. Wafts of red fruit filled the air as I poured this wine. Nice color with the slightest hint of age on the rim. This is pretty impressive stuff. Silky with very ripe resolved tannins. Cassis and anise with a touch of tea on the very persistent finish. I will save the second half of the bottle for a nice meal tomorrow. No reason to wait on these but I am sure it will last a good while longer.