I have a chance to buy La Jota Cabernet Franc 1996 for ca. 45 Euro. This is wine from Helen Turley era at La Jota.
My concern is , it may be to late for this wine though Robert Parker wrote that La Jota’ cabernet Franc is the best in North America (at least for Turley period).
Do you have any recent experience with this wine from 90’s ?
I know that Anniversary Release is legendary wine but his was esspecially made for long haul flight. I wonder how about Caberent Franc.
Any thoughts?
If stored properly, the 96’ should be wonderfully and the price seems very low for the risk. I’d say take the flyer- good luck and circle back.
I haven’t had the cab franc in any vintage, but have had a fair amount of the Anniversary wines and Howell mountain cabs from the early to mid 90s. Based upon those experiences, Helen Turley’s winemaking, and the 45 euro price I’d definitely give it a shot. But I’d want to make sure the bottle appears in good condition and that I believed it was decently stored (but I know that’s difficult for 25 year old wines!).
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Thanks gents!
On the bottle there is label of the importer to Europe which is the same name as the wine shop! So it seems that it was many years ago imported to Europe and spent all that time in the same place (wine shop of this importer), it may also explain so low price. Wine level is base of neck.
Well, it seems I will buy it. TN will be here or CT.
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We just had an 11th Anniversary (1992) La Jota Cabernet last night blind and it was sound. Very Bordeaux-ish. My guess was a 2004 St. Julien and most others were 2000s decade Bordeaux.
11th Anniversary was one of the three highest rated wines by Robert Parker of 1992 vintage in California, the other two were Maya and The Eagle… all clear.
The only thing that I do not understand is that 11th Anniversary can be bought at auctions below 200 USD while Maya 1992 is 2-3 times higher and The Eagle 1992… well I will no bother
Marek,
I used to buy a case of this cab franc every year. But I drank them all over the years and have no recent experience.
The price is certainly reasonable and the wine, as I remember, was quite good then.
If you decide to try it, please let us know your thoughts.
Best, jim
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I started working my way through a case of 1994 Can Franc that I just got from auction at $36 bottle all in. Certainly worth the price. Tannins have softened but still present and the wine has nice tertiary flavors. Certainly not going to blow your doors off but if you like older Cali wines from the early 1990s, particularly Turley wines, this one is very much alive. I have 2 bottles left of the 11th Anniv 1992 from a case I got at auction for $67 all in when they just listed the wine as Howell Mountain. This one is certainly worth the hype but the price often reflects that.
The wine is almost black in color, there is no browning on the rim or other signs of old age, it looks as healthy 10 years old wine, not 25 years old …
The fragrance is only slightly evolved, as Robert Parker explained once: N.Cal cabs age differently, in that they hold their fruit/fat/textures as long or longer than Bordeaux, but rarely develop the aromatic dimensions and nuances in smell that characterize a complex bouquet. The aroma is still dominated, despite 25 years, by a classic for wines from the Howell Mountains, a blackberry and blueberry core framed by red currants, tobacco and blood. With ragards to 25-year-old Bordeaux, there would be many more secondary or tertiary nuances that are not present here. There is distinctive Californian “seal” of a sweet core made of black, blue fruits, so by the nose I would guess that it is a wine from California and not Bordeaux.
In the mouth wine is surprisingly delicate, elegant and cool style. I know that wines made by Helen Turley are known for high concentration, high alcohol, volume of tannins and new oak. Well, this is not that case. After 25 years, this wine is delicate for a cabernet (however it would be difficult to confuse it with pinot noir), made with high culture, lightness, softness and great balance. Despite its lightness and softness, it has very good concentration and focus, it is neither lean nor thin, which I personally hate in red wines. At the same time, it retains the typical cabernet franc and northern California style, which is an added advantage. The cabernet franc has a thinner skin than cabernet sauvignon, so the amount of tannins in a wine is smaller, hence probably the delicacy and lighter style than in typical cabernet sauvignon from the Napa region. 14% alcohol is well hidden. Like all Helen Turley wines, this too has not been filtered or fined.
Overall score: 95/100
I can’t imagine a man, after drinking a full glass of this wine, would not ask to refill immediately.
I had two bottles of Dalla VAlle Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 within last few years and This La Jota is exactly the same quality wine with very similiar cool style ( old school?) however Dalla Valle cost in Europe 175-200 Euro so 4 times higher. For me this La Jota is even better than Palmer 1999 or Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1996, both wine 5-6 times higher price.
Unbelivable QPR.
90’s are the period when Helen Turley became the godness of wine indeed.
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Marek - wonderful tasting note. Thanks!
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Great tasting note. I like how you embrace it for being what it is, rather than downgrading it for being different than a French wine which many reflexively do.
Great to see the update, Marek! Congratulations on drinking a well stored bottle and thanks for the tasting note.
All pleasure by my side, guys!
I envy you that you live in the US and you can buy old La Jota vintages ( 1992-97) at auctions!
Nice note and I am glad you enjoyed the bottle, Marek! Enjoying it more than the 1996 Pichon Lalande is high praise indeed!
Ed
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