10/20/2020 This was everything I expected and more especially on the third day. Good red fruit great color, cedar/mint/anise and still has plenty on the tannins drinking beautifully. This was my third bottle from a case all have taken a very long time to open This could have something to do with the ratings??
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13x 1980 Birthday Bash: hree 1980s from Napa Valley. All tasted blind. Unfortunately, only the Opus One (94+ points) delivered. Like so many old Opus, it comes across much younger, very Bordeaux but always with a touch of Californian sexiness. These old Opus from the 80s and 90s are worth any search. The Phelps Insignia (88) and Heitz Martha’s (86) didn’t show that well with low complexity and not an overly fine structure as well as subpar balance. Overall no homerun for Napa, the 1980 Bordeauxs we had in the flights before clearly won this battle.
TN: From magnum. Slightly tired nose, even TCA fault has been discussed. A bit better on the palate with lots of of minerality and herbs, the typical minty notes, with some dark fruits peeking through but overall not a giving wine with low complexity. Tannins are slightly noticeable but fairly round and the wine has a good freshness.
Decanting: Double decanted 3+ hours before service. We later tried to decant the wine for a few more hours to see if it improves but nothing really changed.
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"You only turn 40 once tasting" (At home): Double-decanted. From magnum. Mostly green and herbal with a bit of fruit, but far away from what I hoped. You could feel the similarities to the 1978 I had recently, also from magnum, but the 1980 came across less integrated, less harmonious with a more narrow flavour profile.
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High fill, and the cork seemed tight, came out intact, but was wet 80% of the way up the cork. Opened bottle ninety minutes before dinner, and decanted after 45 minutes. Very fine sediment, but not a lot of sediment. Deep garnet in color with bricking and slightly clearing at the edges. Tannins still front and center at first, but tannins faded after the first 30 minutes of dinner. Eucalyptus and mint prominent; then cedar and tobacco with dark fruit in the background. After about 45 minutes cassis, dried thyme, and a backbone of minerality. It likely won’t improve, but I doubt it will fade for another ten years or more. Remarkable. Delicious with amazing structure, and balance. If I had tasted blind, I would have guessed it was half its’ age. Wonderful.
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7/16/2021 - jhngo Likes this wine: 93 Points
smooth rich round
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10/20/2020 - comic genius Likes this wine: 94 Points
10/20/2020
This was everything I expected and more especially on the third day.
Good red fruit great color, cedar/mint/anise and still has plenty on the tannins drinking beautifully.
This was my third bottle from a case all have taken a very long time to open This could have something to do with the ratings??
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10/12/2020 - Cailles wrote: 86 Points
13x 1980 Birthday Bash: hree 1980s from Napa Valley. All tasted blind. Unfortunately, only the Opus One (94+ points) delivered. Like so many old Opus, it comes across much younger, very Bordeaux but always with a touch of Californian sexiness. These old Opus from the 80s and 90s are worth any search. The Phelps Insignia (88) and Heitz Martha’s (86) didn’t show that well with low complexity and not an overly fine structure as well as subpar balance. Overall no homerun for Napa, the 1980 Bordeauxs we had in the flights before clearly won this battle.
TN: From magnum. Slightly tired nose, even TCA fault has been discussed. A bit better on the palate with lots of of minerality and herbs, the typical minty notes, with some dark fruits peeking through but overall not a giving wine with low complexity. Tannins are slightly noticeable but fairly round and the wine has a good freshness.
Decanting: Double decanted 3+ hours before service. We later tried to decant the wine for a few more hours to see if it improves but nothing really changed.
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9/19/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 87 Points
"You only turn 40 once tasting" (At home): Double-decanted. From magnum. Mostly green and herbal with a bit of fruit, but far away from what I hoped. You could feel the similarities to the 1978 I had recently, also from magnum, but the 1980 came across less integrated, less harmonious with a more narrow flavour profile.
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6/6/2020 - derrington wrote: 94 Points
High fill, and the cork seemed tight, came out intact, but was wet 80% of the way up the cork. Opened bottle ninety minutes before dinner, and decanted after 45 minutes. Very fine sediment, but not a lot of sediment. Deep garnet in color with bricking and slightly clearing at the edges. Tannins still front and center at first, but tannins faded after the first 30 minutes of dinner. Eucalyptus and mint prominent; then cedar and tobacco with dark fruit in the background. After about 45 minutes cassis, dried thyme, and a backbone of minerality. It likely won’t improve, but I doubt it will fade for another ten years or more. Remarkable. Delicious with amazing structure, and balance. If I had tasted blind, I would have guessed it was half its’ age. Wonderful.
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