Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, USA
Opened a couple hours prior and served double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core moving towards a slightly tawny rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated and ripe fruits: cassis, brambles, pipe tobacco, old leather bound books, dried mixed flowers, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Initial conclusion is this is a Bordeaux-style blend from the United States or France but I felt this leaned more towards the quality of the fruit. So I called Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, 1986. Whoa…just about nailed it. This is showing very well. Drink now through 2030.
Opened a couple hours prior and served double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core moving towards a slightly tawny rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated and ripe fruits: cassis, brambles, pipe tobacco, old leather bound books, dried mixed flowers, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Initial conclusion is this is a Bordeaux-style blend from the United States or France but I felt this leaned more towards the quality of the fruit. So I called Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, 1986. Whoa…just about nailed it. This is showing very well. Drink now through 2030.
Feb 11th, 2025
