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1974 Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Zinfandel Proprietor’s Reserve - USA, California, Sonoma County (6/22/2018)
On a lark (I think Steve C & Don M were humoring me), we purchased this high shoulder fill bottle for $25 (release price ~$5) at Troquet on South’s annual Summer Wine Sale (Boston, MA). Decanted for us by owner Chris Campbell, and enjoyed immediately following several 60’s and 70’s vintage Bdx. Excellent cork. Medium dark red-purple, with little or no bricking. From the first sniff, this was something unexpected. Medium, sweetish red-black fruit, some tobacco and leather, anise, soy, umami on the nose. On the palette, medium-rich black-red fruit, spices, a bit of chocolate, with light+ smooth tannins. 30-45 second finish. Could have easily have passed a bottle 20+ years younger. Would not have guessed it was a Zin, certainly of this age. Described as a lovely red Burgundy when served blind to Jud R and Carlos D at another table. A wonderful bit of history! More proof that the aging potential of Zins is greatly under-appreicated. (92 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
My first ‘legal’ wine, in 1984, was the '68 Sebastiani Reserve Cab. I remember thinking, “Oooh, this is GOOD!”
What a treat! Thanks for sharing your tasting notes!!!
Awesome note! Love when you snag an old zin on the cheap and it overperforms.
Thanks for posting!
Unique “Bramble” Flavor. Love that. Thanks for the note and trip down memory lane.
Very cool to hear it still had beauty!
IIRC my introduction to Sebastiani was a 76 Zinfandel.
I quickly found the path to the Private Reserve Cabernet, and I think there was a white, but which one escapes me now.
The labels had changed somewhat for 1976 or 1977, but the QPR was there a long time before I was… I would buy two or three at a time if I had the cash back then.
Thanks Kevin - that was a treat to try. Fully resolved, but still a beautiful peppery note and plenty of fruit. I guessed aged Cali cab, so was a little closer, but never would have guessed Zin.
Great note. I’d love to know which vineyard the fruit was sourced from.
A couple of other bottles from the same source were crap.
As they say…
Ughhh. Bummer man. Sorry the others didnt shine. Hate when that happens