I tried a TN search and came up blank. The 98 has been discussed to no end, but I can't find anything on the 1997.

The ratings are all over the place:

Tanzer - 86 "too woody"
Parker - 90
WS - 95 Cellar Selection

I recently found some at $80 a bottle, and have been debating going to pick some of it up.

come on. No one has tasted this wine?

Who's right? WS, RP or Tanzer?

I've had the '97 GDL many times (I'd guess close to a dozen), twice it has been a 90 point wine and every other time it has been 94-96 points to me. Some call it pedestrian Cal Cab, but I differ, I could pick it blind for it's unique GDL qualities, a nice oak, black, black cherries, a hint of tobacco, wonderful balance and classic Rutherford Dust. I would want to be sure about storage before purchasing any outside BV at this point and it can be still had for less than $80. A local grocery got some in a couple months ago and it didn't move at $84, they just dropped it to $70. To my taste I'd buy this at $70 over 90% of the '99 $70 Cal Cab provided I could be reasonably sure about storage. I keep wanting to snag another bottle but I've been burned to many times by vintage grocery store wine.

Hey there tlily!

My sentiments exactly with stealthman1.

I too would put it in the 94-96 pt. range. It's a classic GDL from a great year. I think it's worth having a couple if you are a fan. I agree with all that stealthman1 said.

-DRAB

I had this about a month ago. Unfortunately the restaurant didn't have a decanter (after telling us by phone that they did) so the wine may not have been giving all it was capable of. Also, it was served after a '97 Cinq Cepages which just blew me away. Still in all, a delicious bottle of wine. 92 pts.

MisterQ........97 Cing Cepages..........is there a better wine? I have 95,96 and 97. The 97 is superior. I am down to two bottles each and dread the fact that I may not find anymore soon at a reasonable price.
GDL 97 is another great wine. They both have the quality and TN's that one can expound on till the wee hours of the morning. Drink in good health Tilly. Don't miss the opportunity!!!

tlily:

I have a few bottles of this, though have not tried it out yet. While $80 is a good price compared to release, I would not recommend picking up too many at that price. Here in the Denver Metro area, they go on sale every 3-4 weeks for $65.99. You may even be able to find a better price. Pick one up and try it, but hold off on stocking big time.

Mike

pgardner:

Don't know about New York, but the Cing Cepages is showing up fairly often on local Denver shelves in the $60-66 area. And I agree with you on it's quality, though I have not opened any of my remaining six this year.

Mike

Tlily,

The Boston Wine Group recently enjoyed a vertical tasting of the BV GLT. I posted the tasting notes under Board O’s 1979 BV link (which you can find if you search under “BV”). The notes that I posted for the ’97 were as follows:

‘1997 – Huge extraction and plenty of tannins. Cedar, nutmeg and cherry on the nose. Across the tongue there was less fruit than I remembered from my last experience about a year ago suggesting this wine might be closing down for a spell. Still, it was thick without being cloying and blackberry, plum, leather and spice (cinnamon?) were in evidence. Let this one sleep for a few years. 93’

I'm not sure this is worth $80 since you can find the '94 and '80 for about $90 (at least around Boston.
Hope this helps . . .

I find that BV GDL wines age well and if you need for the cellar to hold for several years, then I would buy 1 bottle. Otherwise I wouldn't. I agree with Stealth as well.

IW