After enviously reading Winebrat’s account of his Thanksgiving encounter with a 1960 Inglenook Cask H-11 Cabernet, imagine my surprise when I was in Paso Robles this weekend and encountered the 1967 H-11 on the wine list at Alloro for $68.00! Small price of admission to taste a piece of California history, so I didn’t hesitate.
The bottle itself was in absolutely pristine condition. If it didn’t have 1967 printed on the label you would never have believed it. High neck fill, perfect label and capsule. Given the apparent inexperience of our waiter, I was pleasantly impressed with the care he showed in removing the cork, which he extracted fully intact without so much as a single piece of cork dropping away. On examination, the cork was in remarkable shape, with just a hairline fracture midway which no doubt developed as a result of extraction. Only the lower 25% or so of the cork was saturated.
Opened and poured immediately without decanting for fear it might fade quickly – a fear which, as it turned out, was unwarranted.
Color was a muddled, brownish red and fairly consistent throughout, remarkable for it’s lack of fading on the edges. The first whiff of this wine was enough to know we had a winner on our hands, as it displayed that wonderful nose of a mature Cab, with cedar, earth, cherries, and dried rose petals. Tannins are gone but the fruit remains, showing remarkable depth, elegance, and subtlety. Far from a fruit bomb, this is more restrained, graceful, and ‘feminine’, smooth and polished, with a medium-long finish. No longer improving with age, this is definitely in a holding pattern and will almost certainly continue to be fine for several years to come. The oldest Napa Cab I have ever experienced, this was a real treat and a wonderful surprise.
[This message was edited by Eric White on Dec 13, 2002 at 08:42 PM.]
Posts: 4345 | Location: San Ramon, California | Registered: May 07, 2002
The early Inglenooks are unbelieveable-----John Daniels was a visionary, a great wine-maker far ahead of his time. May he rest in peace and contentment in the knowledge that he made fantastic wines that outlived himself!
I've been reading "Fine Wines of California" Copyright 1971. I think this wine is reviewed in that book. I'll try and dig it out this weekend and see what the review was like 30 years ago.
Paul paul@hockeyguy.com
Posts: 5232 | Location: San Jose | Registered: May 24, 2002
On friday i went to alloro and i had the last bottle. The waiter had a little more trouble with my cork, so he had to decant it out. I would have to agree with your Tasting Notes. This was a great piece of history that i was able to be a part of, and I am pleased that i was able to drink it to celebrate my graduation. Thanks for the Tasting Notes and the info on Alloro!
Jake - Very glad to hear you were able to enjoy this also. Sad that he is sold out, and I just learned that Fabrizio (the owner and the one who secured the wine) never got a chance to taste it!
Posts: 4345 | Location: San Ramon, California | Registered: May 07, 2002
I have had the 1958 Inglenook and I'll tell you what,WOW!I think what is so cool the old Cali Cabs is they still are holding on.At the same tasting we poured a 1931 Simi.Still very drinkable and enjoyable-for all 10 minutes. Question, how come they can't make wine like that today?I mean classic in style showing true Cabernet flavors and lovely balance.Not over oaked,over ripe etc.Think of what they had to work with back then.I just read that Coppola made a big purchase in Napa that included the old Inglenook Vineyard.Very cool.
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink.When they get up in the morning thats the best there going to feel all day" F.Sinatra
Posts: 41 | Location: Santa Monica, Ca. | Registered: Nov 27, 2002
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