I'm evaluating the maturity of my '97 Cali cabs. Haven't really tasted many since purchasing in volume in '99 & '00. No cork-taint, damage, or anything else obviously flawed about these wines. All purchased retail and stored in ideal conditions.
St Clement - I have read on this forum that this wine is at its peak and I agree. Despite having cellared these bottles in a refrigerated locker since purchase, this wine is at, and perhaps beyond, its peak. Unexpected because I don't remember it to be over-extracted or over-ripe like many '97s at the time I tasted and purchased. I don't believe that once a wine tastes raisiny, port-like or slightly madeirized that there's much to look forward to further down the road. Don't get me wrong. This is a 91+ point wine today, but very ripe. Lovely cherry and currant fruit. Mushroom, pencil lead and sweet cinnamon tannin on the moderately long finish. Complex - flavor profile evolves rapidly in the course of three hours. Medium body and losing integration. Although it was gone on day one, I had the impression that it would fall apart, rather than gain weight, on a second day.
Ristow Quinta de Pedras Vineyard – This wine rocks. Very smooth and well-integrated assortment of dark fruits – currant, blackberry and black cherry. Plump and supple, this wine pleases from start to the long mineral-tinged finish. This wine may improve, but why risk waiting? Nothing lacking – 95 points.
Whitehall Lane Reserve – Oak on the nose. Oak on the palate. The oak never subsides. Red fruit – acidic cranberry. Creamy vanilla and caramel. Tannic finish. 90 points now with unknown potential. I clearly opened too soon, but am perplexed by this wine. I purchased without tasting based on the strength of WS’s 97 point rating – and for $85 per, as I recall. I tasted the ’99 WHLR upon release and liked it a lot better. The ’99 is all about dark fruit and spice. I purchased 3 ‘99s for $64. To each his own, but unless I have tasted first or am highly familiar with a wine’s lineage, I am no longer buying $60+ wines based solely on anyone’s opinion.
Robert Craig Mt. Veeder – Splendid juice! Dark mountain fruit is my niche. Very plump and complex black cherry, cassis, blackberry and plum. Pure and powerful. Great structure – will continue to age. Long, long finish. A clone of the ’94, but not yet at its peak. 93+
St. Clement Oroppas – Flowers and spice on the nose. Very floral on the palate as well. Well integrated, though still young. Bright cherry fruit, good weight and long finish. This is the most interesting wine on the first day. 92 points? I will have more with dinner tonight and follow-up with additional detail. My impression is that it will continue to improve for 2-3 more years.
Only the St. Clement cab should be connsumed now. You’re safe for another year or two with the others and I have no idea when, or if, the WHLR will come around.
Let's roll...
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