So this was surprising! I was in the mood for some aged CA goodness (I know…weird, right? ) so I originally popped a 1980 Buena Vista, Special Selection Cab.
The cork looked absolutely pristine and was barely soaked along the bottom 1/3, so I was initially pretty excited. But sadly…it was shot. Totally DOA with a volatile nose that never went away, and a super thin palate that had zero fruit and tons of alcohol. Bummer.
Next I pulled a 1975 Carneros Creek Shenandoah Zinfandel. The cork on this was the exact opposite. Just in horrific shape - soaked through completely with clear signs of past seepage. But on the palate…it was awesome! Bursting with red fruits, cinnamon and an acid-filled finish. So good!
So the moral of this story boys and girls is that you just never know! Don’t lose hope until you try your wine. As they say, the condition of ones cork isn’t everything
Great to hear that the zin was still firing! Man, aren’t these old Cali labels just so cool? Really great fonts and amazing designs. That California Soul style nostalgia.
Great post - and I’ve experienced this often as well. Sure, how a closure ‘appears’ and how fill levels look are usually indicators of what’s inside, but not always. Truly makes you appeciate when you drink an older wine and it is ‘sound’ - you just don’t know . . .
Thanks Larry, and spot on!! I usually feel a little more hopeful when i see a clean cork…but as this example illustrates…you just never know if the Wine Gods are going to smile down upon you or not
Thanks Tom, i was wondering if that was where this was from, as I’ve really enjoyed some of those cabs. Even a couple NV Carneros Creek Esola cabs were really nice (from sometime in the 70’s judging by the labels).
When Frank started making Zins, they were only identified as Shenandoah Vlly (Esola Vnyd) or Fiddletown (Eschen Vnyd) and it wasn’t until later that he did them as a Vnyd-designate.
) so I originally popped a 1980 Buena Vista, Special Selection Cab.
