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
This was probably the wotn for me. Loved. Sleeper hit. Didn't know what to expect, but this was in an amazing place.
This was probably the wotn for me. Loved. Sleeper hit. Didn't know what to expect, but this was in an amazing place.
Jul 17th, 2016
California, USA
