Charles Krug

Vintage Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

9.2245 ratings
9.196 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Cabernet Sauvignon
Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Pasta, Venison, Tomato-Based, Potato, Pork, Chocolate & Caramel, White Rice, Mushrooms, Beef, Lamb, Chili & Hot Spicy
Top Notes For
George Chen

Wow...balance and finesse of still primary fruit, racy acid and melted tannins.

Wow...balance and finesse of still primary fruit, racy acid and melted tannins.

Nov 5th, 2020
Kevin Arndt

Specialist Grand Vin Colorado

8.9

Wine is definitely showing it’s age but I have certainly tasted wines with less life and fruit.

Wine is definitely showing it’s age but I have certainly tasted wines with less life and fruit.

Feb 5th, 2020
Mark Royer

Spice, cedar, more CA like relative to the elegant 1966

Spice, cedar, more CA like relative to the elegant 1966

Dec 20th, 2018
Mark Royer

Past peak but really yummy. Baked fruits, tobacco, green pepper.

Past peak but really yummy. Baked fruits, tobacco, green pepper.

Dec 20th, 2018
Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.6

Medium garnet and brick red. Lush and layered nose with cedar, leather, animal nuances, and dried cherries. So well rounded and integrated tannins (6/10). Medium plus to full bodied. Killer palate with tons of leather, wood chips, cherries and some plums. Long and lingering finish with great acidity.

Medium garnet and brick red. Lush and layered nose with cedar, leather, animal nuances, and dried cherries. So well rounded and integrated tannins (6/10). Medium plus to full bodied. Killer palate with tons of leather, wood chips, cherries and some plums. Long and lingering finish with great acidity.

Dec 2nd, 2018
Carlo Mondavi

Owner/Winegrower RAEN Winery, Partner Continuum

9.7

That year the finest cork soakers were cork soaking (look it up on SNL). Also this wine was born... |1969| For me this was the wine of the night. Tons of energy, vibrancy and power all delicately present in each sip. Back then these wines were fermented in redwood open tops then aged in the finest barrels which were whiskey barrels that had aged the napa wines before the reserve wine. after properly seasoned and leeched of any oak flavors the best wine in the house used them... It was a different way people thought. They wanted only the best wines to have no oak flavor, to be naked and with out makeup. This is what I wish for the future of Napa... Less oak more fruit, flower and earth.

That year the finest cork soakers were cork soaking (look it up on SNL). Also this wine was born... |1969| For me this was the wine of the night. Tons of energy, vibrancy and power all delicately present in each sip. Back then these wines were fermented in redwood open tops then aged in the finest barrels which were whiskey barrels that had aged the napa wines before the reserve wine. after properly seasoned and leeched of any oak flavors the best wine in the house used them... It was a different way people thought. They wanted only the best wines to have no oak flavor, to be naked and with out makeup. This is what I wish for the future of Napa... Less oak more fruit, flower and earth.

8 people found it helpfulApr 28th, 2015
@Wineproz

Beautiful Cabernet!

Beautiful Cabernet!

1 person found it helpfulSep 6th, 2016
Dan Fredman

Chef Sommelier World of Pinot Noir

8.8

Sadly, pretty much past its prime. Aromatics are pleasingly of old wine but the fruit has certainly faded from where our was the last time I tasted this a few years ago. Interesting and educational to drink now, but better with food than on its own.

Sadly, pretty much past its prime. Aromatics are pleasingly of old wine but the fruit has certainly faded from where our was the last time I tasted this a few years ago. Interesting and educational to drink now, but better with food than on its own.

1 person found it helpfulOct 17th, 2015
Dan Fredman

Chef Sommelier World of Pinot Noir

9.9

Remarkably elegant and persistent, all components integrated and firing on all cylinders. Cedar and forest floor sessions on noise and palate, smoke acidity holds things together and echoes ofvsilky tannins are still in play. No way does this taste 55 years old. Among the three greatest California wines I've ever tasted.

Remarkably elegant and persistent, all components integrated and firing on all cylinders. Cedar and forest floor sessions on noise and palate, smoke acidity holds things together and echoes ofvsilky tannins are still in play. No way does this taste 55 years old. Among the three greatest California wines I've ever tasted.

1 person found it helpfulOct 17th, 2015
Doug Davidson

Amazing - great concentration and liveliness. Black cherry, tobacco, and leather.

Amazing - great concentration and liveliness. Black cherry, tobacco, and leather.

1 person found it helpfulOct 18th, 2014