TN: 1981 Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

WINE TALK
1

This bottle was part of a cellar purchase I made a couple months ago. First bottle I opened was a 1984 Dehlinger Merlot that was excellent so I had a good feeling about this one. We were rewarded.

  • 1981 Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/30/2022)
    Brought this on a trip to FMIII’s and forgot by Durand and he didn’t have an ah-so. Used a hinged corkscrew and crossed my fingers. If course the worm was 1/4” too short but the cork pulled short of that 1/4” intact. Was able to pull the last bit out without it crumbling.

Decanted and followed throughout the evening. Sitting here this morning with a pour for the note. Brick red towards ruby with a leathery nose but nothing more. Fresh raspberry compote, pleasant texture, really a seamless palate transition from fruit to finish. Great balance of acidity with red currant and that leather undertone. Some chalky tannins follows to round it out. Really pleased with the showing at 40yrs of age. A lot has happened since then, it’s fun to take a look back in history.


414×1024 74.8 KB

Posted from CellarTracker

4 Likes
2

First off…we need to get Frank a Durand, stat! :wink:

Second, this is an awesome note Brian! Really, really well done! Makes me hopeful for my bottle of 1980!

Thanks for posting!

1 Like
3

Frank’s not into old wine although he did like this bottle.

4

Drank the 1976, 1977, and 1978, but never the 1981. 1978 was the best of that bunch, a young Nils Venge made these thru 1983 or 1984, I believe.

2 Likes
5

Nice, great bottle–so glad it worked out!

6

The remainder sat in the decanter overnight and guests tasted it this afternoon with lots of thumbs up. Was a real good showing.

2 Likes
7

I still have a couple of the 1978.

8

This was sitting in a decanter all alone from the previous night. Brian said “there’s an 1981 Mt Eden Cab in there if you’d like to taste”

Add that to the list of things you never expected to hear in your life.

Thanks.

  • 1981 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (4/30/2022)
    Significant bricking. Smells old world with lots of shaved cedar. Strong cedar flavor and very light red fruit. Very nice.

Posted from CellarTracker

9

Will it work on a champagne cork? champagne.gif

2 Likes
10

Right wine ? The OP is referring to Villa Mt. Eden a different producer from Mount Eden …

1 Like
11

[pwn.gif]

12

Ha! Good point!

Prob would on older champagne when the cork breaks off :wink:

13

Corrected it in Cellartracker.

1 Like
14

When Frank says “still wine” it sounds like he’s swearing.

15

Then this would be too young to drink.

16

Link not working and manual search shows no result, so looks like it got pulled…?

17

Auction ended in February. $25 for a 95…

18

These were not great in the 1990s. Big changes.

19

What is the street word on this vintage?

20

Friends just drank this recent $25 purchase, over lunch at Union Square Cafe. In terms of richness, complexity, and elegance, it reminded me of Dominus 1992, of which I have drunk at least one case.
I should have bought more of this.