I am looking to do a tasting which will include half a dozen of the best 1980s wines from California. I am not sure there will be as many good wines as there were in the seventies, but i am sure we can find a few. Thoughts?
I think '84/'85 Ridge Monte Bello are candidates
I don’t think you can have a tasting of this type without including a Mondavi Reserve. I’m sure the 70s may have been better, but I’m not sure there is a more consistently good cab during this period. I had the ‘87 and it was monumental a number of years ago. I guess you could sub in an Opus, but I think the Reserves from this period of time are likely better.
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There were some good ones. A few that I’ve had in the past few years and should still be going strong:
‘82 Dunn Howell Mtn
‘84 Ridge Monte Bello
‘84 Dominus (I prefer it to ‘83 and ‘85. Haven’t had ‘86 or ‘87 recently)
‘84 Diamond Creek. Volcanic Hill is still good. Served a mag of ‘85 Volcanic Hill a couple of years ago and it was the best example I’ve had from any of the Diamond Creek ‘85s. Parker once claimed that DC fell off a cliff after ‘84, but he was wrong about ‘85).
‘82 Beaulieu George de Latour - Last bottles were DOA. Same with ‘80
‘82 and ‘84 Grace Family. Still holding on the last time I tasted them, but it has been several years or longer.
‘87 Montelena Estate may be immortal.
1980 Chalone Estate Pinot Noir. Stay clear of the '81 if Bret is an issue.
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1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
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I’ve had both 1987 Mondavi Reserve and Montelena Estate recently and they are showing very well. Another cool bottle might be 1985 Silver Oak Bonny’s Vyd. Should be a fun tasting so please post notes when you get it together!
84-87 Dunn Howell
Maybe the most memorable Pinot I’ve tasted.
Sorry, should have specified. Looking for Bordeaux blends.
‘87 Beringer PR and Mondavi RSV
‘85 Dominus
87 Beringer SS is really great, I had a bottle in the past year.
'87 Mondavi Reserve is a beauty.
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Agree with Jeremy Holmes. That wine is so gorgeous!
1985 Mayacamas, 1987 Montelena, 1985 Heitz Martha, 1985 Dunn Howell, and 1986 Phelps Eisele all great!
I’ve had most of the wines mentioned so far and 1986 Laurel Glen can match any of them.
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Sounds like fun!
My favorites that I have tried and would recommend:
1984 Monte Bello
1987/1986 Montelena
1985/1986 Heitz Martha’s
1987 Mondavi PR, Beringer PR, Dunn HM and Forman.
One that has not been mentioned so far is Spottswoode. The last time I had the 1986 it was fantastic. A real treat. Also, Mike makes a great point about the Laurel Glen’s. I would be on the lookout for bottles from 1984-1987.
Enjoy the hunt, Mark!
Besides what’s been mentioned…
84 Caymus Special has always been great.
86 Montelena is a great wine
85 Berringer Chabot was always great
Cheers
Of course, we know what Orson Welles would recommend from the 80’s…
