Maybe I will open some of the Caymus my dad cellared from the 1990s or some of the Cinq Cepages.
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Props to your father for collecting these, David. Montelena Cabs and Monte Bello were two of the anchors of my wine collection when I was starting out. I am sure that he has some gems there and I hope you enjoy and your wife enjoy them.
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Those 90s Caymus and St. Jean Cinq Cepages were awesome.
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$15 for the 1990 and 1991 Caymus when they came out. Bought a bunch and drank a bunch. Wish I had saved some. The 1991 Caymus SS came out at $100, IIRC. Great wine but I would rather have 6 of the ‘regular’ Caymus than 1 Special Selection.
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The Shaps wines are among the few exceptions to the rule on Virginia wine aging. His time at Jefferson in the later 90s had some real beauties, and their vineyard manager Chris Hill was and is just as much an influence. Not sure if he still has it but he also ran a label in Meursault, quite decent.
PS: 99% sure I sold your parents wine a few times here in Charlottesville. Sorry for your loss.
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I am quite sure you did sell wine to my parents.
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Michael Shaps makes exceptional wine in VA, Wine works is definitely worth visiting.
Love what you are doing with this thread…really enjoying it.
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Like zombies, there are always more wines to cull.
Another bottle of 2005 Blenheim Viognier (Virginia) was much better than the prior one, but damning with faint praise and all that. Smelled like canned fruit cocktail that had been sitting out too long. Can’t wait to see what the final bottle is like.
2002 Peter McCoy Chardonnay Sonoma Country was unspoiled but lacking in any distinguishing features. What did it taste like? Umm…wine? What kind? Wine kind!
2005 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Durell Vineyard Sonoma Valley managed to combine the aromas of a Werther’s butterscotch candy and rotting lawn clippings in an oak barrel. Yuck!
2002 Thorn Clarke Shotfire Ridge Shiraz Barossa Valley smelled of only one thing - alcohol. There was nothing else left. Do not expose to open flame.
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Just go ahead and add this thread to the WB HOF list already.
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I’m so sorry for the circumstances, but am entertained by your tasting notes!!
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Exactly! When given lemons, make lemonade (or drink it as it seems in some of those bottles!) Again, sorry for your father’s passing.
When my Dad passed in 2007, there were less than a dozen bottles remaining. All the good stuff was gone except for a bottle of '79 Suduiraut. However, there was an unopened bottle of Crown Royal that he purchased in Canada before we moved to CA in 1960. It was absolutely sublime.
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Omg that totally reminds me of the canned roses’ i bought from a beloved producer.
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Coming attractions…24 year old Freisa.
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Make sure you wear protection
This dude is stealing my bit.
Not always so happy hour on Monday 2/27 edition:
1998 Beppe Marino Langhe Freisa
Devoid of flavor. I suspect that was a blessing.
2003 Domaine “La Garrigue” Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Romaine
A little dried herb, a little brushy/briary. No fruit. No interest. Might have been decent 10 years ago, but probably more like 15.
2000 Chateau Fourcas Hosten (Listrac, Medoc)
Another wine that was likely much more interesting ten years ago. That said it was still sound, but in need of fruit it had when it was released. A clear reminder to drink up, especially with the lower level stuff.
1999 Mapema (Argentina)
Some air did wonders for this, as it was rather nondescript when first opened. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, it fully tasted like a proper Bordeaux blend with some new world leanings that did not trip into extremes. Still shows some oak, but that’s not shocking given where it came from and when it was made. While I would not seek it out, I would drink this if someone poured me a glass at a party.
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Interesting that the heat of the vintage didn’t show through.
I bought some of that later in the decade (2007 and some other vintages I don’t now remember). It could be quite tasty on release, but I had several bottles that cracked up much sooner than one would have expected. Nasty ethyl acetate – that kind of thing. I haven’t seen it around in a long time.
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Age and a “poor” vintage more definitely tamed the potential excesses of the 1998 Pahlmeyer Merlot (Napa Valley), resulting in a very balanced wine with black raspberry fruit and some lovely earthy tones.
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Last year I found a bottle of 2016 Michael Shaps Wild Meadow Vineyard Chardonnay in the bargain bin of a wine shop. Amazed at how good it was, and it seemed like it would likely get even better with time. Will definitely be visiting the winery next time I’m down that way.
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