Vichon Winery
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
Wife’s bday year and sipping the Stag’s Leap District Cab. Secondary and tertiary notes are hard to get through. Softens after an hour+ decant but still super funky. Nonetheless structure is there and a whisper of fruit remains.
Wife’s bday year and sipping the Stag’s Leap District Cab. Secondary and tertiary notes are hard to get through. Softens after an hour+ decant but still super funky. Nonetheless structure is there and a whisper of fruit remains.
Sep 10th, 2020
No better wine to have on your birthday than your birth year.
Following the 1982. Excellent purchase from WineBid.com. Medium garnet ruby red and brick edges. Lovely nose with red berries, damp berries, a touch stinky, smoky and dark minerality. Medium tannins (5.5/10) with balanced acidity and medium bodied. Tons of red cherries on the palate with cinnamon, earth and twigs. Medium plus finish. Drink now for remaining power. Acidity comes through in the finish.
No better wine to have on your birthday than your birth year.
Following the 1982. Excellent purchase from WineBid.com. Medium garnet ruby red and brick edges. Lovely nose with red berries, damp berries, a touch stinky, smoky and dark minerality. Medium tannins (5.5/10) with balanced acidity and medium bodied. Tons of red cherries on the palate with cinnamon, earth and twigs. Medium plus finish. Drink now for remaining power. Acidity comes through in the finish.
Very pleased with how this held together. Bought through WineBid.com. So far we are 2 for 2 with old wines from them. Layered nose with perfume, truffles, damp earth, wet tobacco and red plums. Medium tannins (5/10) with solid acidity and medium bodied. Elegant palate with dark plums, earth, twigs and a bit of sweet spices. Medium finish. Prefer to drink now but if it keeps holding. Maybe a year or two.
Very pleased with how this held together. Bought through WineBid.com. So far we are 2 for 2 with old wines from them. Layered nose with perfume, truffles, damp earth, wet tobacco and red plums. Medium tannins (5/10) with solid acidity and medium bodied. Elegant palate with dark plums, earth, twigs and a bit of sweet spices. Medium finish. Prefer to drink now but if it keeps holding. Maybe a year or two.
Apr 21st, 2018
Vichon, started by a group of restaurateurs who were sick of the overripe Napa wines of the 70's, refused to pick grapes above 24 brix and coined the term "food wine" to describe their revolutionary movement. Vichon was initially a hit, but by the time the 90's came around the tide had turned, ripe wines came back into fashion, and Vichon was sold multiple times, ultimately to Robert Mondavi before unceremoniously being moved to the Languedoc (!?!) where it appears to still exist if only in name. Clearly Vichon was well ahead of its time and would be the toast of Jon Bonne and the IPOB crowd if it still existed today. As for the wine, this is pretty amazing stuff and has aged magnificently. Plenty of red fruit remaining, but loamy earth and tobacco are starting to seize the day. Just the faintest hint of tannin, and their signature strong acidity make this a textbook "food wine." A real treat.
Vichon, started by a group of restaurateurs who were sick of the overripe Napa wines of the 70's, refused to pick grapes above 24 brix and coined the term "food wine" to describe their revolutionary movement. Vichon was initially a hit, but by the time the 90's came around the tide had turned, ripe wines came back into fashion, and Vichon was sold multiple times, ultimately to Robert Mondavi before unceremoniously being moved to the Languedoc (!?!) where it appears to still exist if only in name. Clearly Vichon was well ahead of its time and would be the toast of Jon Bonne and the IPOB crowd if it still existed today. As for the wine, this is pretty amazing stuff and has aged magnificently. Plenty of red fruit remaining, but loamy earth and tobacco are starting to seize the day. Just the faintest hint of tannin, and their signature strong acidity make this a textbook "food wine." A real treat.
3 people found it helpfulApr 28th, 2015
Refreshingly, delicate style that seems out of place in this era (or any era) in Napa. Bright fruit, perfumed nose, dusty and funky but really enjoyable. Overshadowed by the 1978 Conn Creek fruit bomb at the table, but all agreed that this would shine on its own if given the chance. #dodobird
Refreshingly, delicate style that seems out of place in this era (or any era) in Napa. Bright fruit, perfumed nose, dusty and funky but really enjoyable. Overshadowed by the 1978 Conn Creek fruit bomb at the table, but all agreed that this would shine on its own if given the chance. #dodobird
1 person found it helpfulApr 24th, 2016
1990 for Anna's bday was wonderful
1990 for Anna's bday was wonderful
Apr 25th, 2017
Tart fruit and dusty tannins. Showing age but this girl looks damn good for her age!
Tart fruit and dusty tannins. Showing age but this girl looks damn good for her age!
Jun 8th, 2015Very smooth Cabernet with just enough fruit left to make it very enjoyable. My brother, Alan, bought this from some winebarrel.com because our father was working in the cellar making this wine in 1982 until he left to join that wine maker at Merlion. A ton of fun to drink and has held up well!
Very smooth Cabernet with just enough fruit left to make it very enjoyable. My brother, Alan, bought this from some winebarrel.com because our father was working in the cellar making this wine in 1982 until he left to join that wine maker at Merlion. A ton of fun to drink and has held up well!
Jun 28th, 2019
Funky barn, earth, tobacco with black fruit on the finish
Funky barn, earth, tobacco with black fruit on the finish
Apr 7th, 2018