I'll be brief......

'86 Dominus was the wine of the night - Still showing amazingly well. Has a very well aged abience to it, but theres plenty of tannin left for more time in the cellar. I personally think it is at it's peak right now, or was in the past 2-3 years. I doubt it will get much better than this. Very well rounded wine. Dark plum, toasty oak, and rich dark fruit flavors. This was a wonderful wine. 96 pts.

'90 Raymond Burr Cab. - I have never had a wine with a more potent nose of vanilla extract. I swear it was literally like smelling pure vanilla. Very nice red fruit flavors...cherry, rasberry, some plum. A hint of spice. Very well rounded wine. A moderate finish. Solid performance, but other than the incredible nose, nothing really "WOW'ed" me. An all around good wine. 91 pts.

'97 Viader - Very different than the '99 and '00. This was very fruit forward, and a bright cherry flavor dominated the palate. Afterward other subtle nuances of blackberry pie, rasberry jam, and milk chocolate melted in. Very well integrated tannins, and a moderate amount of acidity. This wine has many years ahead of it, but it is showing greatness right now. I personally like the subtleness of the '99 better, but this was no doubt outstanding. 95 pts.

-DRAB

So much wine.....so little time!!!

DRAB,

Thanks very much for the TN on the '86 Dominus. I have a bottle in the cellar and have been waiting for someone to post on its current status. Looks like I'll move it into the "drink in 2003" bin.

May I ask how I long you decanted it?

Thanks and happy holidays,

Otis

DRAB,

Glad to hear about the '86 Dominus. If you get the chance try a bottle of the '84 Dominus. Kybo and I had this a few months ago, and it was outstanding. One of top 3 wines I drank this year.

Happy Holidays,

IW

Life without wine?...... Yeah Right.<br /><br />I believe we have 2 lives; the life we learn with and the life we live with after that.

otisabdul- Actually I'm not a big fan of decanting. I hardly ever do it. Only if there is heavy sediment or the wine is a big young tannic monster. To make this long story shorter...we didn't decant the '86 Dominus.

italian wino- Thanks for the tip on the '84. I'm really tempted to buy some '99 Dominus now! I know a place that has it for $80.

-DRAB

So much wine.....so little time!!!

DRAB,

The Dominus sure is a terrfic wine. I agree with you that it is peaked and although it should hold it's own for a few more years, it will not improve. The 90 and 91 vintages are approaching ready-to-drink stage and I believe they will have the same profile as the 85 and 86- the dark fruits with cassis, toast, and italian herbs style.

On a side note, you are in the Bay Area as I am. I wonder if anyone would be interested in having a tasting of Dominus, Monte Bello, and maybe Forman, Diamond Creek, or some other ageable cab for a vertical tasting. We could focus on late-80's and early 90's vintages and everyone brings 1 bottle. Hmmm......


Steve

Bay Area Wine Project
www.bawineproject.com

Many may not be aware of the Raymond Burr Cabs from the early 90s. They were made for Mr. Burr at the Pedroncelli Winery. I still have some of the 1992 in my cellar. While not a great wine, it certainly holds its own in the under $20 (upon release) field of North Coast Cabs. Nice to see the 90 still doing well...

highdesertwine