TN: 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages

WINE TALK
1

I know, I know…WS WOTY and all that. What can I say? I bought a bunch of these pre and post awarding of WOTY, and I have pretty much enjoyed each bottle consumed over the past decade or so. Last night I opened my second to last bottle. 'Twas pop and pour.

Slight bricking on the rim, but otherwise still holding its color. Immediate nose of cigar box, leather and pine needles. Tannins are fully resolved and the oak has pretty much gone away (big complaint in newer releases of CC). Secondary flavours have begun to develop, yet some good dark fruits remain. Zero to complain about with this bottle as it is right in my wheelhouse between an old CA cab and a baby…not too musty and not a fruit bomb.

I would recommend people that own some, to open a bottle and be surprised that WS actually might have gotten one right after all.

2

Thanks for this note, Tex—had no idea it was WS WOTY at one point.

My own notes from about a month ago…it should be noted that I tasted it alongside one of my own WOTYs this year, a 1997 Camigliano Brunello.

"1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages

More for its “sentimental” value, I wanted to share this with John and Dani as I’d “won” it at auction at FallTacular 2009 and Frank and Jill had come up in years past to visit with John & Dani in Kelowna. Good Cali typicity, with a little dill, some sweet black fruit and other herbs and a dash of pepper at the end of the nuzzie. This is sweeter than I might have expected, carries itself well for what it is, plenty of plum with some blueberry, light black pepper and maybe dark chocolate, but not truly convincing or special"

3

It garnered that title for 1999.

4

It was released at $28 per bottle. When the award was announced, they jacked it up to $50.

5

I specifically remember $34 a bottle pre and $45 post that I paid here locally at Centennial.

6

It must have been the first weekend after The Announcement I stopped by St. Jean to buy some Chardonnay because my mother-in-law was visiting and she loved that stuff.

The place was packed. There were two long lines to cash registers. After getting in line I figured out what was going on by the conversations. There was a two btl limit pp so husband and wife got in separate lines. When I got up to the cashier I said, “Two Robert Young Chardonnays.” She looks… I said, “Yeah, that’s all.”
LOL

7

I bought quite a few back then at $34 and had my last one late last year and remember being very pleasantly surprised.

8

I agree, they definitely got this one right. Had it in October and it was great.

9

Sensible move. Though IIRC the flack really went to WS for awarding this before the wine had been shipped.

10

Chris, I got the wine before the the award. I bought is solely on points and the reco of the wine guy at the time. I reloaded to the tune of a solid case once the announcement was made.

11

Maybe it hadn’t made it to the east coast? Or I just might not recall correctly.

12

I managed to get 6 bottles at the $28 price. Have had 5, and loved each one except the one that was slightly corked.

13

I had a bottle of a friend’s two leftovers of the '96 last year. I would say my experience mirrored Tex’s. I have been a fan ever since (though never buying it at full retail). Had a 1998-2004 vertical all opened for my wife’s 50th a few years ago and some were great and some were over-oaked. Still have a 2001-2005 vertical of the juice and I see the '07 got some high scores (if those matter for anything).

Funny enough that in 1999, the year I learned something about good wines (cause I just met my wife), we visited Chateau St. Jean. They were offering the WOTY for $28 with a two bottle limit per person. We could have bought four between us, but only bought one bottle - it was a whopping $28 at the time!!! Boy things change…