Given to us by a good friend in celebration. And we did. Smooth, chewy, dark cherry, rolls off the back of the tongue.
Given to us by a good friend in celebration. And we did. Smooth, chewy, dark cherry, rolls off the back of the tongue.
Oct 11th, 2017
This 1998 was one of our house wines for years, the '98 vintage got panned in the press so badly that many wineries couldn't sell the wines, and in this case they blew the excess wine out to their employees and growers, so we bought five or six cases at $15 a bottle. From a farming perspective 1998 was a horrific year, a cold rainy spring, hot August, and cool ripening period. The wines showed terribly on release, but have aged wonderfully, this is our last bottle. The aging capacity of this vintage is more evidence that the cooler years turn out to be the best in the long run.
This 1998 was one of our house wines for years, the '98 vintage got panned in the press so badly that many wineries couldn't sell the wines, and in this case they blew the excess wine out to their employees and growers, so we bought five or six cases at $15 a bottle. From a farming perspective 1998 was a horrific year, a cold rainy spring, hot August, and cool ripening period. The wines showed terribly on release, but have aged wonderfully, this is our last bottle. The aging capacity of this vintage is more evidence that the cooler years turn out to be the best in the long run.
2 people found it helpfulMay 3rd, 2016
This is the wine that lead my interest back in 1999. However the star was 1994 reserve at the time. At first I thought there was VA. But it blew off and a lovely, silky cab emerged. Nothing like the CA cabs I am used to from the 2000s. This one has subtle dark fruit, a hint of cigar and smoke, well integrated tannins although still with a grip. The nose is misleading. The band-aid scent exists. But not at all on the palate. I'm pleasantly surprised.
This is the wine that lead my interest back in 1999. However the star was 1994 reserve at the time. At first I thought there was VA. But it blew off and a lovely, silky cab emerged. Nothing like the CA cabs I am used to from the 2000s. This one has subtle dark fruit, a hint of cigar and smoke, well integrated tannins although still with a grip. The nose is misleading. The band-aid scent exists. But not at all on the palate. I'm pleasantly surprised.
Sep 18th, 2015
Napa Valley, California, USA
