I had a huge win at work on Friday so i wanted to open up something fun, so i popped a 1976 Mayacamas LH zin. These can be hit/miss (except for the 68 which is a legend and always seems to be amazing), so i wasnt completely shocked when this poured a pitiful translucent brown color. Literally looked more like liquor than wine, and was totally shot on the palate. Pure alcohol and no fruit. Saved the bottle to try again today but i know its donzo.
Next up was a 1973 Ridge Geyserville. I cut the foil on the top, went to use my Durand…and there’s no cork! WTF!? Ha! It literally fell into the bottle just by me removing the foil. The wine poured a deep, dark, murky brown color, and while still offering some pleasure, it was nowhere near the bottle i opened a few months back. Kept the remainder for today to check back in. Im lucky to have a handful of these in the cellar so hopefully the rest show better.
At this point, i said F older wine and popped a killer 2018 Carlisle Papera, and all was right in the world again
Had that happen a couple of times, once with a bottle of Barca Velha at Sparks steak house. The somm called his manager, the host, a few chefs and a few waiters came out and we agreed to share the bottle. It was shot. A second bottle was perfect.
Love the Geyserville 1973. Just FYI, according to Paul Draper, the late harvest and standard are the same
68 Mayacamas LH zin? Assuming so, that’s one of my all-time favorite wines. An absolute legend! Its REALLY hard to find anymore and when you do its PRICEY, but im grateful to have a couple left in the cellar
