| 1976 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Domaine de Nalys |
| Amber/garnet in color; aromas blend baked fruit and spices ; dry on the palate, but still showing some sweet fruit ; finishes with some sweet fruit - delicate, but reasonably attractive. Well on the decline, but after 24 years, that was to be expected. |
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| 1978 Santenay - Chevalier du Tastevin - Henri de Villamont |
| Bright ruby color ; aromas are quite light, but the flavors of sweet cherry are quite good ; light bodied, and with only a modest aftertaste. Quite surprising, as we didn't anticip[ate that the wine would be this good. |
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| 1976 Griotte-Chambertin - Henri de Villamont |
| Attractive ruby color ; light bouquet, but very pleasing spicey edged fruit ; light bodied - likely due to age ; harmonious and balanced, with nutty ( hazelnuts ) coffee-like flavors, mixed with spicey cherry fruit ; finish is attractive, but not a blockbuster wine. |
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| 1970 Chateau Cos Labory - St. Estephe |
| Excellent, deep ruby color, with a garnet edge ; perfumy bouquet - some floral, but mainly penetrating dark black currant fruit ; dries out a bit on the palate, carrying through to a medium long finish. Tasty ! In decline, but probably still has a few years left. Drink up soon ! |
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| 1975 Chateau Taillefer - Pomerol |
| Very deep color - excellent ; on the nose it's a bit unidimensional - oak dominates ; on the palate the wine is full bodied - a mix of dark berry fruit and oak. Finish lasts, but really isn't developed. Behaves like a young wine, but, despite fruit level, question its future development. It may not develop any further. |
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| 1985 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Very full and deep colored - black ruby - opaque ; full penetrating aromas, mixing berry fruit and oak ; rich, round on the palate - spicey black currant flavor; elegant and supple - fine structure - some underlying tannins ; extremely long aftertaste. An excellent wine that still have some more development ahead. Hold. |
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| 1964 Castillo d'Ygay Reserva Especial - Marques de Murrieta |
| Excellent ruby color - medium full ; broad layers of aromas - typical cigar box/spices/warm and penetrating ; fine flavors - excellent balance, with lots of berry fruit accented with spices; extremely long finish - just goes on and on. An outstanding example of the traditional Rioja style. Believe this wine can last for another 20 years. |
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| 1980 Napa Valley Zinfandel - Chateau Montelena |
| Remarkably good color - dark ruby with slightly browning edge ; light aromas - detect some blackberry ; sweet edged blackberry flavors - medium full bodied ; seems high in alcohol ; lasts quite well, extending out on a berry fruit note. Amazing - it's 20 years old - and remains attractive ! |
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| 1990 OFS Zinfandel - Sonoma - DeLoach Vineyards |
| Fine, dark purple ruby in color ; deep penetrating blackberry aromas; solid on the palate - full bodied - balanced, with tremedous blackberry fruit flavors ;a massive lasting finish, full of fruit. Very attractive, but should continue to hold for several more years to come. |
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| 1977 Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley - Caymus Vineyards |
| Light garnet color; aromas delicate - toast and cedar ; a hint of molasses in the flavor; it's drying out - not much fruit left ; not a particularly attractive style - obviously well over the hill. Should have shown better,but didn't measure up. Purchased years ago at Caymus - cellared well. |
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| 1988 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - " Sonoma Cuvee " |
| A blend of two vineyards - 65% River West Vineyard (Russian River)and 35% Alta Vista Vineyard (Alexander Valley) - from Windsor Vineyards - blended by Hank Gillespie. Good medium full ruby color ; spicey blackberry and currant aromas ; good berry fruit flavors - currants/blackberry ; medium bodied; lasts quite well, with good fruit/slight oak edged. |
