Beaulieu Vineyard

Private Reserve Georges de Latour Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1980

9.3

Double decant for sediment and pour. A splendid still dark tawny red color. On the nose: expressive notes of stewed blackberry/plum, worn leather, musty forest floor, truffles, mint. Taste: silky, elegant, savory wine with dried strawberries, leather, cedar, earth, and a peppery chocolate espresso medium plus finish. YUM! Still delivering like a champ at 45 years and glad to have a couple more bottles — 7 days ago

with Brenda

Brenda, Paul and 14 others liked this

Shay A

Wow! Very nice.

Somm David T

Have had this several times and really enjoy the style made from that era.

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Tom Garland

9.3

Decant for sediment (lots of chunky/fine sediment) and pour. A stunning medium ruby red color with little signs of aging. On the nose: big inviting notes of dark fruit/currants, worn leather, herbaceous, smoked meat, funky earth, menthol. Taste: silky, evolved, expressive structure with brambly plum, currants, old leather, dark chocolate, graphite, and a black raspberry-iron-dried herb long finish. YUM! It's what's you want in an aged Napa cab, and glad to have just acquired 3 more bottles. — 11 hours ago

with Brenda

Brenda, Deborah and 10 others liked this

Paul T HB

I’m lost on the sediment every time, I don’t see anyone else talking about sediment?🤷🏼‍♂️

Rick Phillips

Sediment has never been an issue from the variety of Constant wines I’ve enjoyed!

Paul T HB

It’s not an issue either, but it’s always in Tom’s reviews so just curious why?🤷🏼‍♂️. I see sommeliers post but they don’t comment on sediment either. Just curious what I’m missing here?

Chateau Montelena

The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cedar, earthy forest floor, and mushroom and fig. — 2 days ago

Brenda, Ira and 4 others liked this

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2003

Conrad Green

9.4

So rounded and glossy. High toned with black cherry and some mocha and good acidity. Excellent stuff. — 6 days ago

with Rick

Jay, Shay and 10 others liked this

Heitz Cellar

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1985

Conrad Green

9.2

From mag. Dark plum and deep black cherry. Dried herbs and a bloody intensity. Something a touch off in the nose… A hint of tca? If so, very minor and not getting wise with time. Some Green notes. Pure but and intense and complex but there is that slight flaw with the nose. — 18 days ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Ira, Jeroen and 10 others liked this

Harlan Estate

Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend

Josh Betz

9.9

The 2006 was worth waiting for. Harlan is such an incredible@experience The earthy and softness of this wine yet so complex and incredible. Happy anniversary to my bride and celebrating 26 years together. — 2 days ago

Jan liked this

Far Niente Winery

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2019

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

1 of CA's oldest wineries, Far Niente, founded 1885 by John Benson. Winery flourished until Prohibition, when it was abandoned & fell into complete disrepair. Stately stone shell of a winery purchased in 1979 by Gil Nickel. A big wine! Tropical and stone fruit aromas with complex spice and oak notes. On the palate apple, peach and citrus flavors, creamy, with buttery toasty oak, fig/honey tones. Long finish ending with vibrant acidity & mineral character. Consistent. — 23 days ago

Paul, Tom and 8 others liked this

Cakebread Cellars

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1988

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears a garnet color with a near opaque core with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated and ripe dark and red fruits: currants, plums, brambles, old leather, cigar box, and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Tempranillo, Grenache-based blend from the United States, Spain, France or Italy. I felt like this leaned more towards the fruit than the non-fruit character and/or structure. Additionally, the color and desiccated nature of the fruit leads me to believe this bottle has significant age. So, my final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), from the United States, California, Napa Valley with 30+ years of age. We’ll call it 1985. Awfully close! Drink now. — a month ago

Tom, Douglas and 10 others liked this

Jay Kline

@Somm David T I think I know what you mean by more about the head…certainly once you’ve had enough of them. Did you see the ABV? This was from a different time in Napa.

Somm David T

I do not see it but imagine it’s 12-13%. I would prefer that percentage had never changed. That style aged is beautiful. When I drink wines this old, I think about the cycle of its evolution, time period, history of the region, winemaking practices and the people who made them. I generally read the “about of” the wine & its maker when I drink them. A habit I developed from studying with 6 or 7 different Master Somm’s 5 days a week over 3-4 months.

Jay Kline

@Somm David T that’s the whole reason I got into wine: sharing the story of the farmer and their relationship with the land and Mother Nature.