Looking to score my brother a birth year Cab.
Really trying to scoop a Ridge, Caymus, or Mayacamus
Large format would be even better!
Thanks
Shane
Shane, when do you need the wine ? and do you have a budget in mind ? I’ll check as I think I have a few 79s in the cellar.
Some thoughts …
We opened a 5 liter of 1979 Caymus (regular, not Special Selection) a few weeks ago, and it was stunning. Fully mature, but not over the hill in any way. I’d be less optimistic about smaller bottles, but well-stored ones should still drink nicely. The 1979 Special Selection should still be good, with good provenance.
The 1979 Ridge Monte Bello was not commercially released. Ridge did release a 1979 Monte Bello Essence several years ago, but it is a very late harvest, sweet wine. I suspect most of the 1979 Zins are well past, although 1979 Geyserville was still drinking well into the mid-90s. I think there was a Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet, but I don’t have recollection of it.
Other wines to think about are 1979 Dunn Howell Mountain and the Diamond Creek bottlings.
Scott