1974 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Community Tasting Notes (25) Median Score: 92 points

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  5/1/2024 - Cailles wrote: 91 Points

  23x California 1974: Do the legendary 1974s still hold up? The answer is a resounding YES, and not just for one or two top wines, but across the board. These best wines showed incredible complexity, with still vibrant fruit cores perfectly complemented by layers upon layers of tertiary aromas, a fully intact structural frame, stature, poise, and freshness. While many of these wines should continue to age well, I don't expect them to get any better than they are now. The top wines in the tasting were the Mondavi Cabernet and the Phelps Insignia (both 97pts), the Mondavi Reserve and the Mount Eden (both 96pts), and the Ridge Monte Bello (95pts). Many more wines scored in the 90-94 point range. I'm convinced that many wines would have scored even higher in a different tasting setting, where you can follow the wine over the course of an evening. Only 5 of the 24 bottles showed signs of weakness, with 1 of those already oxidized, but given the substance that could be tasted underneath, this is more likely due to weak corks or poor storage than anything nature delivered this year. All the wines had very good fill levels and had been quickly double decanted before tasting to remove the sediment.
  
  TN: The nose is moderately expressive, presenting a dark, dense character that feels impenetrable. On the palate, it becomes more accessible with dark and blue fruits, underscored by substantial minerality. The wine retains a youthful freshness but lacks some density and substance. Nonetheless, it achieves a good balance, making it a joy to drink.

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  4/5/2024 - englishman's claret wrote:

  Oxidized, alas. Others had nice things to say, but I couldn't get past it.

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  2/2/2024 - G_H wrote: 87 Points

  A 1974 Napa Retrospective (Zunfthaus zur Waag Zürich): While still drinkable, this was fairly inexpressive on the nose, slightly cool with some tobacco and leather.

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  12/10/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:

  Drinking exceptionally well which I suppose most California from this year does. This was very tasty. Darker fruits still very prevalent. Great balance. Good age. It's tasty.

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  12/10/2022 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:

  Remarkably fresh and strongly-fruited. Very impressive save for an odd flavor note that only I seemed to perceive.

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