This was a non reserve that I picked up at auction for a few dollars. I think I caught it just as one toe crossed the top of the hill, there was the tiniest glimpse of too much age, but overall the impression was of a massive amount of fruit, leather, cedar and great oyster shell minerality. Nice finish too.I have three bottles left, and I suppose that given the fragility, I will have the awful task of finishing them before the end of the year.
Nice. I was tempted when I saw them, but didn’t pull teh trigger.
Had a '74 Chappellet tonight. Beautiful aromatics, but was fragile on the palate and didn’t last all that long. Nice burst upfront, though.
BIrthyear wines?
Just curious
I think Mark and I both wish…
My first old California wine experience was a 1971 Sterling Reserve that was madeirized but an interesting wine that I really enjoyed. I have a soft spot for Sterling as a result. I wish you the best on your work to ensure these find a good glass before it is too late.
Cheers,
fred
Well darn.
Me more than you, young whippersnapper.
Intriguing note, Mark, not sure I’ve ever picked up oyster shell minerality in a Cab before. Ironic that last week I popped a wonderful little Saumur-Champigny that express this note so vividly. Same with a cheap little South France red I love in some years, Ch. Ouipa from Minervois. Yummy stuff. I think I could like your Cab!
Oyster shell is one of the markers for Ridge Monte Bello. Very pronounced in their 1985 and 1986 (I guessed a 1986 blind a couple of months ago) I can’t say I have found a lot of it in Napa.
I have had the Sterling 1974 twice in the last few years and have been very impressed both times. Certainly not going to get better, but I don’t know that the bottles I had were on the verge of going over the hill.
Drinking this wine is both a joy and makes me sad. I wonder if any of the overpriced, overmade California Cabernet of today will taste anything like this at 40 years old. Fortunately, there are still a few wineries making wine this way where there is hope.
I had this wine with a fellow Berserker in the last year and it showed just as you described.
Forman-era Sterling wines are tremendous wines that are generally showing very well now. They must have been brutes in their youth - which was when I was but a glint in my Daddy’s eye.
Maybe by the time you had it but I (and several others) thought it was beautiful and one of the best wines of the day.
I had it fifteen minutes after it was opened Jay. You and Jaouen were flipping over it and I have to say, aromatically it was gorgeous and the initial few sips were great, but it fell apart quickly.
Re the Sterling: Mark, you know you have friends to help ease the burden of drinking these up.
I think the amazing thing is how many of these “regular” cabs are still so interesting (everyone knows about the 74 Mondavi Reserve being good, but the regular bottling is pretty damn good if totally mature).
Re the Chapellet: I’ll agree that the last sip was getting a bit too “ash-tray” for me, but it had been more than 15 minutes, I nursed that glass longer than anything else last night. I was very happy to drink that glass! I did open a magnum of that on a birthday 2 years ago (Mark was there), the big bottle was vibrant over several hours.
edited for clarity
I just had the '72 Sterling Merlot this weekend and, despite getting a bit caramelized, it was surprisingly good with a bit of fruit and plenty of cedar.
A wine I loved “back in the day” but have not seen or tasted in many moons is the 1975 Chappellet. Anyone know how that is faring?
Mark, Brad (and anyone else),
Any comparison to the Reserve Cab? I’ve one of these that I was planning on saving for a few more years. Recent CT notes seem positive, but I would love to hear from someone who has first-hand experience with both the regular and reserve.
cheers,
scott
I haven’t had the '74 Reserve, but I did have the '73 Reserve last October and it was beautiful, though time to drink up.
I have a 1975 reserve on tap to open next month. I’m expecting greatness.
When did Forman leave Sterling?