I've read a lot of things about Martin Ray. Exceptional winemaker. Mad man. Shrewd businessman. Outrageous. Impossible. Story teller. Teller of tall tales. Genius. I hear he drank twice as much wine as he made and that other than perhaps Andre Tchelistcheff he was without compare as a CA winemaker in the 1950s and early 1960s. So I was pretty excited to try this. I had both a '78 and '80 cab about 10 years ago that I still remember fondly. Sadly, to me this one was D.O.A. It was still very cool to get the opportunity to try it. @Matthew Beckman just gets it.
I've read a lot of things about Martin Ray. Exceptional winemaker. Mad man. Shrewd businessman. Outrageous. Impossible. Story teller. Teller of tall tales. Genius. I hear he drank twice as much wine as he made and that other than perhaps Andre Tchelistcheff he was without compare as a CA winemaker in the 1950s and early 1960s. So I was pretty excited to try this. I had both a '78 and '80 cab about 10 years ago that I still remember fondly. Sadly, to me this one was D.O.A. It was still very cool to get the opportunity to try it. @Matthew Beckman just gets it.
Jun 6th, 2017
Something off on the nose. A high toned yet dusty note. The fruit is good- lovely ripe and precise with length. Nose 80, palate 93... I’ll give it 88
Something off on the nose. A high toned yet dusty note. The fruit is good- lovely ripe and precise with length. Nose 80, palate 93... I’ll give it 88
Jan 17th, 2018
From the day when there were only a handful Cali wineries. Because MR was not from Napa when it exploded this winery moved to the backwaters, but it was a qualitative leader in its day. This is a nice representation. Opened with a little distracting pine resin aromatic. American oak? Most likely. Once that blew off it was beautiful. Decanting recommended. Really pure fruit. Amazing color for a wine that old. Nice balance of fruit with aged tertiary character.
From the day when there were only a handful Cali wineries. Because MR was not from Napa when it exploded this winery moved to the backwaters, but it was a qualitative leader in its day. This is a nice representation. Opened with a little distracting pine resin aromatic. American oak? Most likely. Once that blew off it was beautiful. Decanting recommended. Really pure fruit. Amazing color for a wine that old. Nice balance of fruit with aged tertiary character.
Dec 11th, 2015
1977 Martin Ray: almost unctuous, with strong and wonderful acidity. Nose of plums, old cedar, earth. Not an explosion of aroma, but really nice for an old Napa.
1977 Martin Ray: almost unctuous, with strong and wonderful acidity. Nose of plums, old cedar, earth. Not an explosion of aroma, but really nice for an old Napa.
Nov 9th, 2014
California, USA
