Reserve Du Bailly
Robert Mondavi Winery
Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1974
Happy 50th birthday! I always ask what were you doing when you drink a wine this old.
I am told by my Somm buddy who brought this bottle, this is To Kalon fruit even though it is not listed on the label. Excellent fill line. 12% ABV. 👏👏👏
Color is brickish on the edges but the color inside is still beautiful & solid.
This is a wine not to decant or a short one and pour it out w/ 6 people. It does get better in the glass.
The fruit is old but still ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, stewed plum/cranberries, baked rhubarb, almost watermelon notes, mid berry cola, steeped tea, dry crushed rocks, dry twig, dry tobacco, sandalwood to some cedar, light dark spice notes, dry herbaceous notes, pine bar, some tarriness, anise, dark forest, dry leaves, some v/a-bandaid, dry river stone, decade red, dark, florals, excellent acidity, great evolution, balance, still has tension, with elegance & smart polish that lasts a minute.
Bottle acquired recently from the winery. — a month ago
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Reserve Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Big ripe flavors of berry, plum, cassis, silky, balanced with its fresh acidity showing notes of cedar, mocha & spice — 8 days ago
Hirsch Vineyards
Reserve Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2010
Delicious and smooth - wish I had more of the 2010 it was worth the many years to wait and drink this in 2024! — 8 days ago
Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
Reserve Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
2017 with frozen pizza. Really good solid wine. — 2 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The one thing I get from this wine w/ this age is cognac notes and the 07 is just starting cognac notes on the long set. Still, rounded, medium plus, velvety tannins.
The fruits are ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, darkest cherries, & red cherries on the long set, strawberry hues. Chocolate/ cake/pudding/mousse, dark berry cola, mocha, dark chocolate, caramel, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, anise core to black licorice, dark spice w/ palate heat, dry, crush rock, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, liquid, dry herbaceous notes, fresh to withering; dark, red, slightly blue flowers framed in a field of violets & lavender, round, summer rainfall with a softly tensioned state, tall structure, well balanced, finely but deeply knitted & evenly polish finish that is nearly endless.
Photos of; sunset on a BV vineyard, their tasting from many vantage points & old Victorian House. — 2 hours ago