Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Enjoyed alongside some other Napa legends from the 80’s and 90’s. Over the first hour upon opening, the 1986 Monticello showed very well alongside the Dunn, Mayacamas and Monte Bello. It has a greater umami character that reminded us of hoisin and showed more alcohol but it remained fairly balanced. I thought it did seem to fade a bit as the night went on but what a showing. Drink now.

Served to be double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a beautiful garnet with a deep but translucent core and significant rim variation; from magenta to orange to watery. There appears to be loads of sediment. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful aromas of desiccated red and black fruits: cassis, brambles, plum, pipe tobacco, some green pepper, old leather, damp forrest, mushrooms and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium(+?) acid. Confirming the notes on the notes. The finish is long and delicious. Alcohol is medium.

I was pretty confident that this was a Bordeaux-variety/blend however, I was between two minds as to whether this was left-bank Bordeaux or Napa Valley as I believe the lines truly begin to blur with age. Ultimately, I called St. Estèphe from a classified growth and a warmer vintage like 1985 or 1990. I settled on 1990. Shit. I should have known it was Napa…and as more time went on, the fruit did seem to get a little more heady. Anyway, I don’t hate my call but I should have not rushed my conclusion and considered it a little longer. As for the wine itself, this bottle has excellent provenance and was really quite lovely at 37 years old. Plenty left in the tank. There’s good color and energy with no worry at all about the fruit hanging on. Alcohol is modest at 12.5% ABV. Well-cellared examples should be enjoyed now but will drink very well over the next 5-10 years, easy.

A member of our Tasting Group provided this bottle from his cellar. It had been opened 90 minutes prior to service, poured into a decanter and, in typical Tasting Group fashion, presented double-blind. Appearance: a deep, slightly turbid, garnet color with some very slight browning towards the rim. Medium intensity. Medium viscosity. On the nose this was fully developed with notes of red and dark fruit, grilled Poblano pepper, leather, and sweet pipe tobacco and baking spices. I felt certain, from the bouquet alone, that we were in the presence of a wine that had seen some significant age. On the palate, a mix of dried fruits including cherries, dates and figs with milk chocolate, nuts, leather, and tobacco. Plush mouthfeel. The tannins were medium and fully integrated at this point. Acid was medium+ which provided youthful energy. The finish was long, lovely. In fact, the flavor on the finish reminded me a bit of a Palmer Twin Bing. I called Napa Cabernet from the 1990 vintage. I was pretty darned close! This bottle was hitting right now and well-stored examples should continue to drink well over the next 5-10 years.

Would have been a great wine in its prime. The 1986 was washed out with all the fruit gone.

1986