Purchased at auction from the collection of the winemaker who had stored the bottle at the winery since release. Solid old Napa, drinking well, but not particularly memorable and was very much outclassed by the 84’ Diamond Creek we drank next to it.
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A lonesome single hiding in a box. Lovely fruit, beautiful wine. A nice surprise, although it shouldn't be a surprise. Mid 80's was a great period for Cali cabs.
Impressive. A tangy savoriness like you find in traditional Rioja and Brunello. Lots of cigar and leather. Bursts of rose and menthol aromas. Big tannins. It's a wild ride of a wine.
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Beautiful, very deep, youthful color. Nice balance on the palate, fruit and pleasant secondary notes try to peek through, but the overall package is marred by a bitter cedary element. No improvement with air.
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decanted 3 hours. impeccable provenance. Color shows no sign of age. Nose is so fresh and full of red fruit. The red fruit carries into the first sip, still tannic structure present, starting to have secondary flavors but tastes 20 years younger than it is.
Older Californians Surt & Turf Dinner (McKay's, The American Club, Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong): Drank alongside the 1996.....great pairing. Very fresh looking deep semi opaque ruby jewel. Nose is mint and cedar. Palate is very fresh and lifted with good acidity. Complex blend of cigar box, cedar, lots of blackberry fruit with nice blackberry pips tannin. Resonant and quietly reverberant on a mounting finish. Lovely. Still so fresh and years ahead of it. So moreish. Loved it and was a clear notch above the 1996. 93+
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Brought to the restart of our Philly centric wine group. Decanted several hours before bringing. Color was bright medium to dark garnet with just a little bricking, apparently much less so than when first decanted. Still delicious with lots of both primary and secondary flavors just bordering on tertiary. Nose and palate run the gamut from black plum, blackberry, tobacco, cedar, sous bois, graphite, lavender and chocolate. Great texture and mouth feel. Superb balance. Lovely wine. Plenty of life left. I always love the 1987 Cali Cabs I have tasted!
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Wines Done Blind (Zoom!): This was served blind. There were lots of guesses as to what it was: Nebbiolo, Cab, etc. My guess was aged Cab, given the tobacco, cigar box aroma that the wine beautifully exhibits. Tangy, plummy, with creamy red berry that is alive, vibrant. I decided to not drink the entire 4 ounces, instead saving a few ounces to retry the following day. I really wanted to appreciate this wine, to give it the air and another context to taste it once more. There is no fade at all in the color, as it is showing what I'd deem to be a color more consistent with a much younger red wine. The aromatic persists from yesterday, and as one of our guys last night called it, an 'intoxicating' aroma. I agree. This wine is damn near 35 years old, and it's still frigging fresh. Yes, some of the spice box/tobacco note is into the palate, yet all that does is add more to the complexity and beauty. It has the same plummy, cedary, currant fruit, and while I typically don't get all that excited (well, not much at all) for older wines, this is a beauty. Still plenty of tannin and freshness here and I don't see why this can't go another decade, perhaps to the 40 year old mark? Really a treat to drink something like this.
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Bottle and cork in pristine condition. Very smooth with the tannins beautifully and completely integrated. Still full of life and fruit. Mature leather and earthy notes balance the stewed blackberries. Just enough acidity on the finish to keep it from being flabby. This is not as explosive and fruit forward as other 87 Cali cabs but nicely understated and elegant. Really enjoyable.
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Opened to enjoy on Xmas Eve with my younger daughter who was born that year. The wine was dark with almost no bricking. The palate was silky smooth with nice aged dark fruit. Still has a few years left in it but it is on the downward slide. Some subtle secondary notes. Lovely is the word that came to mind.
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Even though the cork was saturated the wine was quite enjoyable. Certainly at, but not beyond its peak. One can tell this was made in the days before over ripening became fashionable. The wine has a solid structure with the customary earthy notes one gets with a well made 30+ yr cab
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Easy to drink, the wine is soft, full-bodied, and quickly provides a juicy sweet mouthful of ripe, dark red fruit. But there is not much complexity. It is basically one nice note. I like the note, but the wine seems to be fading. Drink up if you are sitting on any as it is only going to continue declining from here.
Nose of black berry, saddle leather, and plum, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, elegant, delicious, time to drink up, Bordeaux like as typical with Beringer Vineyards, mouth filling fruit, and a long, flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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Nose of black berry, tobacco, saddle leather, and floral notes, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, at peak so enjoy now rather than later for sure, Bordeaux like as typical with Beringer Vineyards, mouth filling fruit, savory, elegant, and a long finish.
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13.3% ABV. I let it breathe for 30 minutes. With a wine this old, doesn't seem like it should require much time out of the bottle. Still has a lively nose. On the palate, leather, dried herb and plum notes. Light, but that can be expected for late 1980s Cab I suppose.
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Still very alive, this wine showed a rusty garnet body indicative of its maturity. The nose was meaty, floral, tar, leather while the palate profiled blackberry & glimpses of its original acidity/tannin.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, spring flowers, tobacco and earth, same on the palate, big body, almost elegant, delicious, very tasty, Bordeaux like with both finesse and fruit, and a long finish, time to drink up.
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What a wine after all these years!! Was incredible and youthful and vibrant. Let open in glass as we drank and did not decline at all. For 30 years old it’s a real testament to the producer and possibly vintage too I guess. If you ever see some, get it. Worth any penny it cost.
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"Cult Cali" Night at Garth's Apartment in Philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA): One of Garth's contributions to our "Cult Cali" night in Philly. The wine had been decanted when I arrived and was medium garnet in color with an effusive nose that faded some as the evening wore on, but resurrected after a few hours in the decanter as the final sips were had. The nose and palate had tar, earthy forest floor, leather and dark red and black fruit. I think the only thing I thought disappointing was the finish which was just a bit short. Overall a lovely example of the wines made in CA in the 1970's and 1980's that continues to age well, especially the 1987's. This was one of my favorites tonight.
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Did a coravin taste of this, really pleased given its age and the hell she’s been through. Cherry and Smokey tobacco, leather, soft tannins. Very excited to take her to a dinner party with us.
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Quite the charmer, this is a solid example of delicious, fully mature, California Cabernet Sauvignon with loads of sweet, ripe, cherry fruit, with the right hint of cassis and a dollop of cranberry. There is freshness, soft tannins and roundness on the palate. Fully mature, this is not going to get better, but it's just great today. Pop and pour was all it needed.
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Red fruit predominates, mixed in with tertiary flavors of earth, tobacco, mushrooms and leather. The tannins were soft, but the body still had structure, carrying through the flavors to a long finish. A lovely, textbook example of an older California cab.
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Cellar diminishment party. Courtesy of Joe B. Dark fruit with a lovely minty edge. Just a hint of leather on the back end; dark fruit and dried herbs. Long finish. Balanced.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose is a bit tainted with lots of green pepper and some wet cardboard, but they faded with more time in the glass. Palate is sweet and ripe with good intensity. A bit one dimensional especially when its drank next to 87 opus one and 87 montelena. My previous btl was better.
Despite some difficulties with the cork, this wine drank beautifully. Mature but retains great fruit, primarily blackberry and blueberry. Smooth and balanced. Should be good for a few more years but no reason to wait.
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I was amazed at how this one drank. It outperformed a Mondavi 87 Reserve. The cork crumbled out, but the wine had not completely saturated the cork. Decanted. The entry of this wine was still a rather hearthy blackberry and some mint. Middle of the wine had some darker fig, but the primary note was still blackberry. I think this one might be over the hill, but only JUST on the other side, remarkable given its age. Very happy that I still have 3 of these, because this wine is really quite good. Definitely 93 or 94 point wine.
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Opened and enjoyed two bottles for my daughter's 30th birthday. One had red fruit and the other was dark fruited. Both were bright, balanced and fragrant. Good acidity led to plus finishes. Some tobacco and spice. Beautiful!
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Decanted for 1 hr. Nose has leather, iron, blood, tobacco, mushroom and black fruit. Palate is deep and fresh with expressive black fruit sweetness. It is so young. It can age for another 15-20 years. Excellent classic napa. 92+
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Once again shows why I love the 87 vintage in California. Beautiful and vibrant fruit. Stewed strawberries with nice secondary flavors. Great body and medium to long finish. Really jammy and delicious.
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5 Cabernet Sauvignons tasted from the 1980s. best nose of the night, very floral, blackberry, black currants and cassis, big body on the palate, elegant, delicious, easiest to enjoy tonight, medium/long finish, faded slightly on the finish and aftertaste but what a wine!!! My #2 of 5, Two members voted it #1. 1984 Caymus Estate 1985 Spottswoode 1987 Beringer Private Reserve 1987 Silver Oak Alexander Valley 1987 Chateau Montelena
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This almost 30 year old bottle held up very well - tannins and acids resolved - lovely and lush robe - nose is light but plenty of fruit - dark cherry and leather.
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Popped and poured, and the wine delivered from the start. Everything is balanced and working well together. Nose is a little dark fruit, earth, tobacco. Palate has some tannins still showing with light touch of oak and some fruit. Over all one of the nicest bottles of Napa Cab I have drank in few months. Maybe on the back side of it's life, but still drinking well.
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Decanted for an hour. The cork split but did not bleed through. The nose gave a freshness of dill and finished with a delightful cocoa scent. Taste was smooth with still some fruit of blackberry plus plum left. Then came the tabacco and finished with some leather and cherry. Plenty of tannins left. Was surprised it showed this well. Keep in mind the bottle was stored well. Paired with a filet and loved every minute. Have one more left. Can't wait to see if it can last another five years. Usually a young CA cab guy, but loved this wine. In my top ten.
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Wine Scout tasting. Tasted blindly. Nice colour with hints of brick and development. In the nose bit of cooked cabbage wich brings me to think of over the hill development. Still nice blackurrant and red berries in the nose and mouth, soft tannins, astonishing nice wine for its age.
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Incredibly, took a good hour to open up in decanter. Breathtaking intensity of fruit -- cassis, red currant -- plus mint and pipe tobacco flavours. Loads of primary fruit -- this bottle has been well taken care of, and still had 10+ years of life. Long sweet cassis & tobacco finish. Spectacular.
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Stunningly good. Good fill level in the bottle; cork was good. Beautiful bouquet. Multi-layered, mature CS fruit. Balanced wine with long finish. Three perfect scores from the group with everyone scoring at 90 or higher.
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Smooth. Still good acidity and fruit, despite age. Does not taste like fruit was ever very ripe, so struck a good balance with the oaking. Very enjoyable. .
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Evan Sandra enjoyed this mature smooth Cab that had strong hints of dark fruit, tabacco, cedar and smoke. Perfect with the lamb/steak for dads 80th, complemented the food. It was not showing any signs of age in the color, it was red to the rim. The nose was integrated and the tannins resolved, this was lovely. Not too oversized, it was a decent finish. Cellared for 19 years. Wish I had more but the 3 were drunk in 3 different decades and all were worthwhile.
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DC Offline (Cedar, Washington, DC): Surprisingly youthful red currant fruit, but without the earthiness and Bordeaux like characteristics of some other producers from this era. The lower alcohol and ripeness, and higher acidity still made for a more reserved, less New World wine compared to today's styles with nice balance and complexity from the bottle age.
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Still lovely after all these years. Last bottle I had was not nearly as vibrant. Classic Napa Cabernet nose, excellent depth. Delicious, particularly with a steak!
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Truly remarkable, this offered a balanced approach and a decently long finish. Hugely rewarding notes of cigar and cedar that balanced the fruit, whivch was wonderfully fresh (given its age). An awesome display.
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No bricking in my second bottle, and what a difference. Lovely attack of berry fruit, vanilla, cocoa on the nose. Palate had similar flavors with a little spice to it, followed by a nice lingering herb and mocha finish.
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Diminishing but still very good. Bottom half of cork fell off inside bottle. Soft bouquet. Brown rim. Needed 30 min of air to remove funk. Nice tannins, well balanced.
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Just like my last bottle, cork began to come apart at the bottom. Able to get it out. Screened and poured into Reidel stems. First taste was the best. Olive mix followed by a beam of cherry with cocoa dust. Downhill after that. Good, just no longer great. If you have it, drink now.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Double blind tasting. Ripe red and black fruit, emerging secondary character is perfectly balanced on nose. Lots of spice - pepper, tarragon came through to me. Good length. The wine's balance and elegance fooled everybody into thinking this was Left Bank Bordeaux. Oops.
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Just had an awful wine day at a special occasion. Two highly anticipated wines were corked. This one was drinkable but not the magnificent wine I remembered and looked forward to. Cork was brittle but stayed intact and no sign of seepage.
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drank very well tonight. Big, smoky nose with minerals, sweet fruit, mint and vanilla oak. Still pretty concentrated and full-bodied. Very Left Bank in style. Yummy.
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This wine for 23 years old is still an infant. Very dark red with no bricking whatsoever. I have no doubts this wine has at least another 10 years on it. It did have a classic nose of a well aged old school Napa Cabernet. Cassis a little chocolate covered cherry and a nice spice cake to it. Also displayed some a nice herbal component that I could not pinpoint. Still has a nice tannic backbone with fruit that seems to last with a very nice long finish. Would love to try this again in another 10 years.
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This was good and far, far from fading. Lots of fruit, dark chocolate, blue berries and some dusty spices. Years to go. Very nice, be glad if you have some of these. What Napa used to produce!
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Amazing after 2 hour decant and kept getting better in our glasses. This was a great bottle in every way. Balanced, velvety, plenty of fruit and smmoootthhh. Great nose. A little cloudy and slightly bricked. It was the WOTN against a 1994 Whitehall Lane Reserve and 1999 Insignia. Prime time!
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'80s and '90s California Cab Tasting w/ Bob Macdonald (Our House): Beautiful nose. Lively and long on the palate. Layers of dark fruit, earth, fresh red raspberries, and coffee, leading to a long finish wrapped in ultra-fine tannin. Suave texture. A mid-weight, complex, beautifully balanced Cab with plenty of life ahead. Fantastic.
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Dark appearance and a full aromas of dark berries. The taste was smooth and complete with a well balanced taste of cedar and herbs and a long finish. This wine is drinking well.
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Oh My God! OK - the cork broke on opening although I was very careful. The bottom fifth of the cork just started coming apart - but I managed to fish it out and we then poured using a screen. No problem. Initial aroma of red fruit and plums. Serious bricking around the edges. Let it sit in the glass for an hour - not sure I would recommend decanting. Served with ribeyes on the grill. First taste was tricky - cherries but the finish seemed to disappear for a moment and then came back strong. Subsequent sips were outstanding on the finish - minimum 45 seconds. Tannins extremely well integrated but still present. This wine is perfect right now. I have one bottle left and wish I had a few more.
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Wonderful smell right after opening the bottle. Plenty of sediment. Somewhat bricked color. Smell of tobacco, chocolate, and smoke. This wine smells like a grilled steak. Still not too old. Highly concentrated but not over powering. Extremely well-balanced, with the typical flavors of California Cabernet: dark chocolate, ripe fruit. Long finish. At the end of the evening (2 hours later) the wine tasted rich and full bodied.
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This was a fantastic bottle! I had one last summer that did not compare. A marvelous bouquet of fruitcake and cedar, smells fresh. This is the essence of cabernet. Full, rich, lush, an elegant sweetness, piles of cabernet fruit, some earthiness and a long finish. Easily a 96-97 point bottle! Of course, listening to Ella Fitzgerald sing like an angel while drinking this may have helped the wine.
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Deep red color with very slight discoloration. Very clean Cab nose. Terrific balance of fruit and soft tannins. From 2007 tasting: * Ed's favorite vintage * Such a big vintage, classic California vintage * Still tannic, everything’s intact * Dark black fruit core with lots of spice, cedar, white pepper, menthol and rich cocoa
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OMG, this is easy 96-97pts and I rarely rate a wine that high. Still has the color and concentration of a wine half it's age, however, it has that fruit concentration paired with the leather and tobacco of an aged cab. Simply delicious and easily my WOTM.
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A wonderful bottle of a twenty year old cabernet opened at a local St. Louis restaurant. The nose was powerful and very enjoyable. Every sip began with a deep inhale of a fragrant, earthy aroma and the wine appeared to be younger than it's age. The fruit was a bit mellowed but the structure and the finish was still strong. It was a very enjoyable bottle and I didn't need to have a back available to accompany such a stunning dinner.
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This is a hell of a wine. It is at the stage where I really like my Cabs - still has good fruit, but the wine is mellowed out, smooth and refined. Gentle tannins.
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Big nose of cherries, plum and black berries. Lots of fruit on the palate, current and cherries. Long smooth finish. A very big complex wine at the top of it's game.
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May be just way past its prime. Flat, with only hints of what it used to be. Was ok with the massive ribeye at Press in St. Helena, but not worth keeping the remaining bottles I have. The sommelier agreed that it was was just OK, and he felt just slightly oxidized, although the cork and bottle appeared perfect. Very strange indeed when I read the raves from other community members.
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Flock Tasting - Delicious Wines (My Place - Chicago, IL): Ruby red with an explosive nose red and black fruit, cedar and some floral notes. The palate has concentrated currant fruits, chocolate and cedar. Tannins melted into the fruit. Delicious! Youthful yet showing maturity and complexity. I was guessing early 90s right bank.
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Outstanding. This is the last of three 1987s in my cellar. It is big and complex, with an earthy nose and fruit-forward on the palate. Despite its advanced age, it could tolerate more time in the bottle. Those with this vintage might consider laying them down for a few more years. This was a great wine--one of those wrenching experiences where you love the wine but mourn its absence.
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What a beautifully made wine -- complex, structured, with wonderful subtle fruit and a lingering finish. It had the most amazing nose -- pure barnyard, hay, and straw -- in the decanter. In the glass, the fruit emerged in the nose, and it smelled of chalk, cassis, coffee, and earth. I could not get enough of this wine at dinner, and kept stealing even more from the decanter. It was a wonderful treat, shared with great friends. It got better and better and better in the glass. Thanks again to James & Juli.
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Opened to celebrate Friday night with my sweetie! Pulling the cork was a little scary. Beautiful dark color. Initial aroma of leather, plums and black fruit. First sips - after 15 minutes in the glass. Oranges at start moving through something - and ending up with olives. Sweetie got licorice. Dark cherries start to come through mid bottle. Tannins at first are very noticable, but really modifies as it sits in the glass. Fabulous wine.
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Stunning. Given the terrible condition of the last bottle I opened (and if memory serves they were purchased together - but that was a long time ago), I wasn't expecting much. I therefore opened on a Monday to drink by itself - OK, happened to be my birthday but no fancy dinner to pair with it or anything. Some bricking. Big, complex, secondary nose that you sense with the glass sitting on the table in front of you. Fruit is still there but well integrated with secondary notes of tobacco, forest underbrush, stone - and tannins that are suprisingly present for a California cab of this age. Huge success!
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Bad bottle - don't want to give an official rating and drag the average score of this wine down. Have had other bottles from the same batch in the past and they were great - this one was burnt out with no fruit left, with some dirty tannins and no charm.
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Dad's birthday, and this wine showed beautifully, dark without signs of orange, the classic black currant, cedar nose, warm and inviting.. perfect with Cumbrea lamb
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RICH BERRY FRUIT IN THIS ELEGANT AND COMPLEX WINE. GREAT MOUTH FEEL, FLAVOR WAS RICH ALL THROUGH THE LONG FINISH. HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED SINCE 2/98 TASTING (92) AND STILL HAS YEARS AHEAD OF IT.
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Dark red. Figs and mushrooms in the bouquet. A large-bodied wine with a firm and well-defined tannic-skeleton. Very closed and underplayed for a good long while, but then developed into a structured sweet, charming wine. This one took the opposite direction of the 1991 and just got better and better. Voloptuous and smooth in the mouth. Again, a medium-long finish that seemed to be in harmony with all the other elements.
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One of the bigger surprises for me this night. Don’t remember much about the nose – some candied cherries mostly but the palate and texture of this one were outstanding. Supple, silky, “velvety”. Loads of fruit. Very nice. Drinking absolutely beautifully.
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Was a monster with a nose of dark fruit and tobacco, opened very slowly to a concentrated tannic wine with hints of chocolate on the palate, finish is very long, tannic, and fruity. Needs at least 5 years in the cellar. $49.50.
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Tasted at winery. Dark ruby, red rim. Intense nose of chocolate, currants, blackberries and vanilla. Palate follows, with plentiful supple tannins. Long, smooth finish. Great wine! Would cellar but is quite pricey.
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Mostly 1987 Cabernet Sauvignons (Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Ca.): Big, rich, intense cabernet fruit on the nose, hint of tobacco and coffee on the nose, thorny, brambly fruit on the palate, medium body, lots of berry fruit and berry acid on the finish, showed sweet cedar later on in the tasting.
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11/24/2023 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purchased at auction from the collection of the winemaker who had stored the bottle at the winery since release. Solid old Napa, drinking well, but not particularly memorable and was very much outclassed by the 84’ Diamond Creek we drank next to it.
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11/21/2023 - BradE wrote:
A lonesome single hiding in a box. Lovely fruit, beautiful wine. A nice surprise, although it shouldn't be a surprise. Mid 80's was a great period for Cali cabs.
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10/31/2023 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Impressive. A tangy savoriness like you find in traditional Rioja and Brunello. Lots of cigar and leather. Bursts of rose and menthol aromas. Big tannins. It's a wild ride of a wine.
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4/3/2023 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blind. I was all over the map on this one but ultimately thought it was a brunello.
Dark plum and sandalwood with an oaky cherry finish. Shocking how useful this wine is.
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11/5/2022 - norsktorsk wrote: 95 Points
This has held up so well. nice fruit. big mid palate. long finish.
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10/1/2022 - petitblanc wrote: 88 Points
Beautiful, very deep, youthful color. Nice balance on the palate, fruit and pleasant secondary notes try to peek through, but the overall package is marred by a bitter cedary element. No improvement with air.
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10/17/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
They smells rasinatied. Ans on the palate too.
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8/7/2021 - adnorthup wrote:
decanted 3 hours. impeccable provenance. Color shows no sign of age. Nose is so fresh and full of red fruit. The red fruit carries into the first sip, still tannic structure present, starting to have secondary flavors but tastes 20 years younger than it is.
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6/20/2021 - the godfather wrote:
Bangin wine, plenty of life in it
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6/16/2021 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Older Californians Surt & Turf Dinner (McKay's, The American Club, Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong): Drank alongside the 1996.....great pairing. Very fresh looking deep semi opaque ruby jewel. Nose is mint and cedar. Palate is very fresh and lifted with good acidity. Complex blend of cigar box, cedar, lots of blackberry fruit with nice blackberry pips tannin. Resonant and quietly reverberant on a mounting finish. Lovely. Still so fresh and years ahead of it. So moreish. Loved it and was a clear notch above the 1996. 93+
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4/18/2021 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to the restart of our Philly centric wine group. Decanted several hours before bringing. Color was bright medium to dark garnet with just a little bricking, apparently much less so than when first decanted. Still delicious with lots of both primary and secondary flavors just bordering on tertiary. Nose and palate run the gamut from black plum, blackberry, tobacco, cedar, sous bois, graphite, lavender and chocolate. Great texture and mouth feel. Superb balance. Lovely wine. Plenty of life left. I always love the 1987 Cali Cabs I have tasted!
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1/27/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Wines Done Blind (Zoom!): This was served blind. There were lots of guesses as to what it was: Nebbiolo, Cab, etc. My guess was aged Cab, given the tobacco, cigar box aroma that the wine beautifully exhibits. Tangy, plummy, with creamy red berry that is alive, vibrant. I decided to not drink the entire 4 ounces, instead saving a few ounces to retry the following day. I really wanted to appreciate this wine, to give it the air and another context to taste it once more. There is no fade at all in the color, as it is showing what I'd deem to be a color more consistent with a much younger red wine. The aromatic persists from yesterday, and as one of our guys last night called it, an 'intoxicating' aroma. I agree. This wine is damn near 35 years old, and it's still frigging fresh. Yes, some of the spice box/tobacco note is into the palate, yet all that does is add more to the complexity and beauty. It has the same plummy, cedary, currant fruit, and while I typically don't get all that excited (well, not much at all) for older wines, this is a beauty. Still plenty of tannin and freshness here and I don't see why this can't go another decade, perhaps to the 40 year old mark? Really a treat to drink something like this.
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1/15/2021 - nywine68 wrote: 93 Points
Bottle and cork in pristine condition. Very smooth with the tannins beautifully and completely integrated. Still full of life and fruit. Mature leather and earthy notes balance the stewed blackberries. Just enough acidity on the finish to keep it from being flabby. This is not as explosive and fruit forward as other 87 Cali cabs but nicely understated and elegant. Really enjoyable.
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12/26/2020 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened to enjoy on Xmas Eve with my younger daughter who was born that year. The wine was dark with almost no bricking. The palate was silky smooth with nice aged dark fruit. Still has a few years left in it but it is on the downward slide. Some subtle secondary notes. Lovely is the word that came to mind.
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12/13/2020 - JDB's Cellar Likes this wine: 89 Points
The cork was a little soft pulling, with some seepage almost to the top.
The nose was very pleasant, but with some vigorous swirling and putting my nose deep in the glass there were faint hints of a formaldehyde aroma.
The taste is a little light, as if the bold strong Cabernet flavors are aging away. Its still a very pleasant taste.
Definitely think this wine is past its prime. If you have it in your cellar, enjoy it now before its too far past prime.
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11/21/2020 - Tony Simo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Even though the cork was saturated the wine was quite enjoyable. Certainly at, but not beyond its peak. One can tell this was made in the days before over ripening became fashionable. The wine has a solid structure with the customary earthy notes one gets with a well made 30+ yr cab
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7/14/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
blind
At his peak. Balance between fruit, and tertiary aromas. Powerful, good length. I guessed California because of the lush fruit aromas. 94
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2/26/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Easy to drink, the wine is soft, full-bodied, and quickly provides a juicy sweet mouthful of ripe, dark red fruit. But there is not much complexity. It is basically one nice note. I like the note, but the wine seems to be fading. Drink up if you are sitting on any as it is only going to continue declining from here.
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10/6/2019 - mdvillaverde wrote: 93 Points
Similar notes to May 2019 tasting. Has held up well for what it has to offer.
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9/24/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nose of black berry, saddle leather, and plum, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, elegant, delicious, time to drink up, Bordeaux like as typical with Beringer Vineyards, mouth filling fruit, and a long, flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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9/22/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still alive.
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8/19/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of black berry, tobacco, saddle leather, and floral notes, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, at peak so enjoy now rather than later for sure, Bordeaux like as typical with Beringer Vineyards, mouth filling fruit, savory, elegant, and a long finish.
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5/18/2019 - crazybird87 Likes this wine: 94 Points
WoW !! Rien d’autres à dire
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5/1/2019 - mdvillaverde wrote: 92 Points
13.3% ABV. I let it breathe for 30 minutes. With a wine this old, doesn't seem like it should require much time out of the bottle. Still has a lively nose. On the palate, leather, dried herb and plum notes. Light, but that can be expected for late 1980s Cab I suppose.
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1/3/2019 - Truthinwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still very alive, this wine showed a rusty garnet body indicative of its maturity. The nose was meaty, floral, tar, leather while the palate profiled blackberry & glimpses of its original acidity/tannin.
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12/1/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, spring flowers, tobacco and earth, same on the palate, big body, almost elegant, delicious, very tasty, Bordeaux like with both finesse and fruit, and a long finish, time to drink up.
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7/16/2018 - Trudy2015 Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a wine after all these years!! Was incredible and youthful and vibrant. Let open in glass as we drank and did not decline at all. For 30 years old it’s a real testament to the producer and possibly vintage too I guess. If you ever see some, get it. Worth any penny it cost.
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5/17/2018 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
"Cult Cali" Night at Garth's Apartment in Philly (Philadelphia, PA, USA): One of Garth's contributions to our "Cult Cali" night in Philly. The wine had been decanted when I arrived and was medium garnet in color with an effusive nose that faded some as the evening wore on, but resurrected after a few hours in the decanter as the final sips were had. The nose and palate had tar, earthy forest floor, leather and dark red and black fruit. I think the only thing I thought disappointing was the finish which was just a bit short. Overall a lovely example of the wines made in CA in the 1970's and 1980's that continues to age well, especially the 1987's. This was one of my favorites tonight.
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5/5/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Hommage a DryCab - Washington Wines release; 5/3/2018-5/5/2018 (Various spots in Walla Walla): Just goes to show that once upon a time even Beringer made good wine in the Valley. This was much fresher than you would have expected for 31 years. Leather and fruit and perhaps a touch quicker finish than you would like, but overall a nice wine.
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12/10/2017 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
Nose: A- Palate: B++
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12/10/2017 - Dagg Likes this wine: 98 Points
Did a coravin taste of this, really pleased given its age and the hell she’s been through. Cherry and Smokey tobacco, leather, soft tannins. Very excited to take her to a dinner party with us.
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12/10/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Quite the charmer, this is a solid example of delicious, fully mature, California Cabernet Sauvignon with loads of sweet, ripe, cherry fruit, with the right hint of cassis and a dollop of cranberry. There is freshness, soft tannins and roundness on the palate. Fully mature, this is not going to get better, but it's just great today. Pop and pour was all it needed.
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11/10/2017 - daved Likes this wine: 89 Points
Disappointing. I had high hopes for it. Maybe just an off bottle. I have one left and I hope it's much better.
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9/19/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
Opened by Joe Bonk. Very lively for 30 years old. Smooth texture. Notes of leather and plum. Wonderful wine. 94 points.
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9/15/2017 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruit predominates, mixed in with tertiary flavors of earth, tobacco, mushrooms and leather. The tannins were soft, but the body still had structure, carrying through the flavors to a long finish. A lovely, textbook example of an older California cab.
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8/26/2017 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Cellar diminishment party. Courtesy of Joe B. Dark fruit with a lovely minty edge. Just a hint of leather on the back end; dark fruit and dried herbs. Long finish. Balanced.
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6/19/2017 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose is a bit tainted with lots of green pepper and some wet cardboard, but they faded with more time in the glass. Palate is sweet and ripe with good intensity. A bit one dimensional especially when its drank next to 87 opus one and 87 montelena. My previous btl was better.
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6/17/2017 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stellar. A superb showing of a 30 year old Cali Cab.
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5/27/2017 - Hamersly wrote: 94 Points
Despite some difficulties with the cork, this wine drank beautifully. Mature but retains great fruit, primarily blackberry and blueberry. Smooth and balanced. Should be good for a few more years but no reason to wait.
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5/26/2017 - mflesh wrote: 93 Points
I was amazed at how this one drank. It outperformed a Mondavi 87 Reserve. The cork crumbled out, but the wine had not completely saturated the cork. Decanted. The entry of this wine was still a rather hearthy blackberry and some mint. Middle of the wine had some darker fig, but the primary note was still blackberry. I think this one might be over the hill, but only JUST on the other side, remarkable given its age. Very happy that I still have 3 of these, because this wine is really quite good. Definitely 93 or 94 point wine.
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4/2/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened and enjoyed two bottles for my daughter's 30th birthday. One had red fruit and the other was dark fruited. Both were bright, balanced and fragrant. Good acidity led to plus finishes. Some tobacco and spice. Beautiful!
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1/4/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1 hr. Nose has leather, iron, blood, tobacco, mushroom and black fruit. Palate is deep and fresh with expressive black fruit sweetness. It is so young. It can age for another 15-20 years. Excellent classic napa. 92+
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10/7/2016 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Once again shows why I love the 87 vintage in California. Beautiful and vibrant fruit. Stewed strawberries with nice secondary flavors. Great body and medium to long finish. Really jammy and delicious.
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7/27/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 96 Points
5 Cabernet Sauvignons tasted from the 1980s. best nose of the night, very floral, blackberry, black currants and cassis, big body on the palate, elegant, delicious, easiest to enjoy tonight, medium/long finish, faded slightly on the finish and aftertaste but what a wine!!! My #2 of 5, Two members voted it #1.
1984 Caymus Estate
1985 Spottswoode
1987 Beringer Private Reserve
1987 Silver Oak Alexander Valley
1987 Chateau Montelena
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7/22/2016 - vcerf Likes this wine: 94 Points
This almost 30 year old bottle held up very well - tannins and acids resolved - lovely and lush robe - nose is light but plenty of fruit - dark cherry and leather.
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11/19/2015 - LoireFan wrote: 93 Points
Good fill, fair cork.
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10/10/2014 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Platinum Tasting - Best of the Bests (Andre and Sabine's House, Mountain View, CA): Excellent, but modest nose (B++). Excellent Palate (B++).
My #8, Group's #4 (82 pts). Tasted blind.
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11/6/2013 - SkeBum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured, and the wine delivered from the start. Everything is balanced and working well together. Nose is a little dark fruit, earth, tobacco. Palate has some tannins still showing with light touch of oak and some fruit. Over all one of the nicest bottles of Napa Cab I have drank in few months. Maybe on the back side of it's life, but still drinking well.
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10/18/2013 - Westywino wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour. The cork split but did not bleed through. The nose gave a freshness of dill and finished with a delightful cocoa scent. Taste was smooth with still some fruit of blackberry plus plum left. Then came the tabacco and finished with some leather and cherry. Plenty of tannins left. Was surprised it showed this well. Keep in mind the bottle was stored well. Paired with a filet and loved every minute. Have one more left. Can't wait to see if it can last another five years. Usually a young CA cab guy, but loved this wine. In my top ten.
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10/15/2013 - vinoconda Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine Scout tasting. Tasted blindly. Nice colour with hints of brick and development. In the nose bit of cooked cabbage wich brings me to think of over the hill development. Still nice blackurrant and red berries in the nose and mouth, soft tannins, astonishing nice wine for its age.
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7/5/2013 - dkfinancial wrote: 93 Points
Incredibly, took a good hour to open up in decanter. Breathtaking intensity of fruit -- cassis, red currant -- plus mint and pipe tobacco flavours. Loads of primary fruit -- this bottle has been well taken care of, and still had 10+ years of life. Long sweet cassis & tobacco finish. Spectacular.
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5/11/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Ripe black fruit aromas with cassis and hints of evolution. Not much remaining energy but ;lots of charm and fruit density, all working well with moderate spice.
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3/23/2013 - winecat9 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunningly good. Good fill level in the bottle; cork was good. Beautiful bouquet. Multi-layered, mature CS fruit. Balanced wine with long finish. Three perfect scores from the group with everyone scoring at 90 or higher.
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8/29/2012 - Wamrod wrote: 93 Points
Smooth. Still good acidity and fruit, despite age. Does not taste like fruit was ever very ripe, so struck a good balance with the oaking. Very enjoyable. .
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8/7/2012 - beachbum wrote: 94 Points
Evan Sandra enjoyed this mature smooth Cab that had strong hints of dark fruit, tabacco, cedar and smoke. Perfect with the lamb/steak for dads 80th, complemented the food. It was not showing any signs of age in the color, it was red to the rim. The nose was integrated and the tannins resolved, this was lovely. Not too oversized, it was a decent finish. Cellared for 19 years. Wish I had more but the 3 were drunk in 3 different decades and all were worthwhile.
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7/7/2012 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
DC Offline (Cedar, Washington, DC): Surprisingly youthful red currant fruit, but without the earthiness and Bordeaux like characteristics of some other producers from this era. The lower alcohol and ripeness, and higher acidity still made for a more reserved, less New World wine compared to today's styles with nice balance and complexity from the bottle age.
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5/29/2012 - Coollawyer wrote: 92 Points
Creamy chocolate nose on it. Strong oak with cherries and cassis fantastic amounts of fruit.
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2/11/2012 - ffjxc wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking nicely. Decanted and let sit for about 45 minutes. Smooth still oaked and good fruit.
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1/2/2012 - All about the wine wrote: 93 Points
Still lovely after all these years. Last bottle I had was not nearly as vibrant. Classic Napa Cabernet nose, excellent depth. Delicious, particularly with a steak!
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12/25/2011 - stufis wrote: 94 Points
Truly remarkable, this offered a balanced approach and a decently long finish. Hugely rewarding notes of cigar and cedar that balanced the fruit, whivch was wonderfully fresh (given its age). An awesome display.
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11/28/2011 - pmilne wrote: 93 Points
No bricking in my second bottle, and what a difference. Lovely attack of berry fruit, vanilla, cocoa on the nose. Palate had similar flavors with a little spice to it, followed by a nice lingering herb and mocha finish.
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11/22/2011 - cliffkol wrote: 90 Points
Diminishing but still very good. Bottom half of cork fell off inside bottle. Soft bouquet. Brown rim. Needed 30 min of air to remove funk. Nice tannins, well balanced.
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10/29/2011 - Zingrrl wrote: 88 Points
Just like my last bottle, cork began to come apart at the bottom. Able to get it out. Screened and poured into Reidel stems. First taste was the best. Olive mix followed by a beam of cherry with cocoa dust. Downhill after that. Good, just no longer great. If you have it, drink now.
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10/11/2011 - pmilne wrote: 90 Points
Bricking at the rim and diminishing the overall color. Nose and taste of sweet tobacco and tar with faint hints of fruit. May be past its prime.
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8/27/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Double blind tasting. Ripe red and black fruit, emerging secondary character is perfectly balanced on nose. Lots of spice - pepper, tarragon came through to me. Good length. The wine's balance and elegance fooled everybody into thinking this was Left Bank Bordeaux. Oops.
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7/31/2011 - mrkb wrote: 87 Points
Very nice with a tiny arredraste.
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1/9/2011 - WineScoundrel wrote: 93 Points
Dusty, chocolate cherries with some baking spice. Very good now but I suspect, despite the opinions here, that there is not much life left.
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1/3/2011 - iamandyc wrote: flawed
Just had an awful wine day at a special occasion. Two highly anticipated wines were corked. This one was drinkable but not the magnificent wine I remembered and looked forward to. Cork was brittle but stayed intact and no sign of seepage.
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12/25/2010 - Peech wrote: 92 Points
drank very well tonight. Big, smoky nose with minerals, sweet fruit, mint and vanilla oak. Still pretty concentrated and full-bodied. Very Left Bank in style. Yummy.
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12/22/2010 - twelch wrote: 93 Points
This wine for 23 years old is still an infant. Very dark red with no bricking whatsoever. I have no doubts this wine has at least another 10 years on it. It did have a classic nose of a well aged old school Napa Cabernet. Cassis a little chocolate covered cherry and a nice spice cake to it. Also displayed some a nice herbal component that I could not pinpoint. Still has a nice tannic backbone with fruit that seems to last with a very nice long finish. Would love to try this again in another 10 years.
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12/21/2010 - cadamson wrote: 93 Points
This was good and far, far from fading. Lots of fruit, dark chocolate, blue berries and some dusty spices. Years to go. Very nice, be glad if you have some of these. What Napa used to produce!
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7/12/2010 - bamawine wrote: 93 Points
Cassis `nose, chocolate covered cherry taste, mellowed tannins and long finish -at peak but will keep for 5 years
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9/20/2009 - iamandyc wrote: 96 Points
Amazing after 2 hour decant and kept getting better in our glasses. This was a great bottle in every way. Balanced, velvety, plenty of fruit and smmoootthhh. Great nose. A little cloudy and slightly bricked. It was the WOTN against a 1994 Whitehall Lane Reserve and 1999 Insignia. Prime time!
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5/11/2009 - Siggy wrote: 94 Points
'80s and '90s California Cab Tasting w/ Bob Macdonald (Our House): Beautiful nose. Lively and long on the palate. Layers of dark fruit, earth, fresh red raspberries, and coffee, leading to a long finish wrapped in ultra-fine tannin. Suave texture. A mid-weight, complex, beautifully balanced Cab with plenty of life ahead. Fantastic.
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4/28/2009 - brynmair wrote: 94 Points
Dark appearance and a full aromas of dark berries. The taste was smooth and complete with a well balanced taste of cedar and herbs and a long finish. This wine is drinking well.
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3/12/2009 - mik wrote: 92 Points
Great bottle of wine.
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11/20/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was very young still; needed another 10 years. Drat!
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10/19/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 91 Points
A bit muted compared to other bottles.
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8/24/2008 - Zingrrl wrote: 95 Points
Oh My God! OK - the cork broke on opening although I was very careful. The bottom fifth of the cork just started coming apart - but I managed to fish it out and we then poured using a screen. No problem. Initial aroma of red fruit and plums. Serious bricking around the edges. Let it sit in the glass for an hour - not sure I would recommend decanting. Served with ribeyes on the grill. First taste was tricky - cherries but the finish seemed to disappear for a moment and then came back strong. Subsequent sips were outstanding on the finish - minimum 45 seconds. Tannins extremely well integrated but still present. This wine is perfect right now. I have one bottle left and wish I had a few more.
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3/18/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 93 Points
Excellent tasting bottle. But corked would not come out...the corkscrew created a hole. Obviously, a low-humidity stored bottle (via Bonhams).
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3/15/2008 - psmith wrote:
Still quite red with no real bricking. Minty, tannic profile, with some VA. Dark fruit. Mature, even a bit porty and raisened, but a solid wine.
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1/16/2008 - djdaqm wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful smell right after opening the bottle. Plenty of sediment. Somewhat bricked color. Smell of tobacco, chocolate, and smoke. This wine smells like a grilled steak. Still not too old. Highly concentrated but not over powering. Extremely well-balanced, with the typical flavors of California Cabernet: dark chocolate, ripe fruit. Long finish. At the end of the evening (2 hours later) the wine tasted rich and full bodied.
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1/12/2008 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Very nice!
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12/24/2007 - davergny wrote: 96 Points
This was a fantastic bottle! I had one last summer that did not compare. A marvelous bouquet of fruitcake and cedar, smells fresh. This is the essence of cabernet. Full, rich, lush, an elegant sweetness, piles of cabernet fruit, some earthiness and a long finish. Easily a 96-97 point bottle! Of course, listening to Ella Fitzgerald sing like an angel while drinking this may have helped the wine.
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11/30/2007 - HFuzzell wrote: 92 Points
Not up to par with the previous bottle, but still great
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10/26/2007 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Wish I had decanted...stil young but perhaps not improving.
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10/1/2007 - Winetree wrote: 97 Points
Deep red color with very slight discoloration. Very clean Cab nose. Terrific balance of fruit and soft tannins.
From 2007 tasting: * Ed's favorite vintage * Such a big vintage, classic California vintage * Still tannic, everything’s intact * Dark black fruit core with lots of spice, cedar, white pepper, menthol and rich cocoa
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8/24/2007 - HFuzzell wrote: 97 Points
OMG, this is easy 96-97pts and I rarely rate a wine that high. Still has the color and concentration of a wine half it's age, however, it has that fruit concentration paired with the leather and tobacco of an aged cab. Simply delicious and easily my WOTM.
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8/15/2007 - brynmair wrote: 95 Points
A wonderful bottle of a twenty year old cabernet opened at a local St. Louis restaurant. The nose was powerful and very enjoyable. Every sip began with a deep inhale of a fragrant, earthy aroma and the wine appeared to be younger than it's age. The fruit was a bit mellowed but the structure and the finish was still strong. It was a very enjoyable bottle and I didn't need to have a back available to accompany such a stunning dinner.
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8/9/2007 - Jay A wrote: 95 Points
This is a hell of a wine. It is at the stage where I really like my Cabs - still has good fruit, but the wine is mellowed out, smooth and refined. Gentle tannins.
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12/28/2006 - SteveC wrote: 93 Points
Big nose of cherries, plum and black berries. Lots of fruit on the palate, current and cherries. Long smooth finish. A very big complex wine at the top of it's game.
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10/14/2006 - GZ3 wrote: flawed
May be just way past its prime. Flat, with only hints of what it used to be. Was ok with the massive ribeye at Press in St. Helena, but not worth keeping the remaining bottles I have. The sommelier agreed that it was was just OK, and he felt just slightly oxidized, although the cork and bottle appeared perfect. Very strange indeed when I read the raves from other community members.
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10/6/2006 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Flock Tasting - Delicious Wines (My Place - Chicago, IL): Ruby red with an explosive nose red and black fruit, cedar and some floral notes. The palate has concentrated currant fruits, chocolate and cedar. Tannins melted into the fruit. Delicious! Youthful yet showing maturity and complexity. I was guessing early 90s right bank.
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9/24/2006 - James B wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. This is the last of three 1987s in my cellar. It is big and complex, with an earthy nose and fruit-forward on the palate. Despite its advanced age, it could tolerate more time in the bottle. Those with this vintage might consider laying them down for a few more years. This was a great wine--one of those wrenching experiences where you love the wine but mourn its absence.
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9/23/2006 - A&C wrote: 93 Points
What a beautifully made wine -- complex, structured, with wonderful subtle fruit and a lingering finish. It had the most amazing nose -- pure barnyard, hay, and straw -- in the decanter. In the glass, the fruit emerged in the nose, and it smelled of chalk, cassis, coffee, and earth. I could not get enough of this wine at dinner, and kept stealing even more from the decanter. It was a wonderful treat, shared with great friends. It got better and better and better in the glass. Thanks again to James & Juli.
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5/26/2006 - Zingrrl wrote: 94 Points
Opened to celebrate Friday night with my sweetie! Pulling the cork was a little scary. Beautiful dark color. Initial aroma of leather, plums and black fruit. First sips - after 15 minutes in the glass. Oranges at start moving through something - and ending up with olives. Sweetie got licorice. Dark cherries start to come through mid bottle. Tannins at first are very noticable, but really modifies as it sits in the glass. Fabulous wine.
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5/15/2006 - Saint Stephen wrote: 95 Points
Stunning. Given the terrible condition of the last bottle I opened (and if memory serves they were purchased together - but that was a long time ago), I wasn't expecting much. I therefore opened on a Monday to drink by itself - OK, happened to be my birthday but no fancy dinner to pair with it or anything. Some bricking. Big, complex, secondary nose that you sense with the glass sitting on the table in front of you. Fruit is still there but well integrated with secondary notes of tobacco, forest underbrush, stone - and tannins that are suprisingly present for a California cab of this age. Huge success!
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5/5/2006 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
Figs, tobacco, prunes, pure richness. Great structure. At its peak.
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2/10/2006 - Saint Stephen wrote:
Bad bottle - don't want to give an official rating and drag the average score of this wine down. Have had other bottles from the same batch in the past and they were great - this one was burnt out with no fruit left, with some dirty tannins and no charm.
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1/18/2006 - ipp wrote: 94 Points
awesome aroma of blueberry and liquour ... round, balanced tannins ... smooth, firm finish
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12/31/2005 - ipp wrote: 95 Points
no browning, but very slight ruby to the edges ... pretty bottle bouquet of oak and earth ... soft, round and elegant ... very nice red
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11/2/2005 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Excellent.
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8/2/2005 - beachbum wrote: 94 Points
Dad's birthday, and this wine showed beautifully, dark without signs of orange, the classic black currant, cedar nose, warm and inviting.. perfect with Cumbrea lamb
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9/28/2003 - buckeye76 wrote: 96 Points
RICH BERRY FRUIT IN THIS ELEGANT AND COMPLEX WINE. GREAT MOUTH FEEL, FLAVOR WAS RICH ALL THROUGH THE LONG FINISH. HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED SINCE 2/98 TASTING (92) AND STILL HAS YEARS AHEAD OF IT.
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9/7/2002 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 93 Points
Dark red. Figs and mushrooms in the bouquet. A large-bodied wine with a firm and well-defined tannic-skeleton. Very closed and underplayed for a good long while, but then developed into a structured sweet, charming wine. This one took the opposite direction of the 1991 and just got better and better. Voloptuous and smooth in the mouth. Again, a medium-long finish that seemed to be in harmony with all the other elements.
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8/2/2002 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
One of the bigger surprises for me this night. Don’t remember much about the nose – some candied cherries mostly but the palate and texture of this one were outstanding. Supple, silky, “velvety”. Loads of fruit. Very nice. Drinking absolutely beautifully.
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5/17/1997 - beachbum wrote: 92 Points
Yvans Parents
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3/4/1992 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 88 Points
Was a monster with a nose of dark fruit and tobacco, opened very slowly to a concentrated tannic wine with hints of chocolate on the palate, finish is very long, tannic, and fruity. Needs at least 5 years in the cellar. $49.50.
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2/29/1992 - La Cave d'Argent wrote:
Tasted at winery. Dark ruby, red rim. Intense nose of chocolate, currants, blackberries and vanilla. Palate follows, with plentiful supple tannins. Long, smooth finish. Great wine! Would cellar but is quite pricey.
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2/23/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 79 Points
Mostly 1987 Cabernet Sauvignons (Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Ca.): Big, rich, intense cabernet fruit on the nose, hint of tobacco and coffee on the nose, thorny, brambly fruit on the palate, medium body, lots of berry fruit and berry acid on the finish, showed sweet cedar later on in the tasting.
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