Gawd, I love this stuff. Deep, expressive mountain fruit with blackberry, menthol and dirt on the nose. An expressive palate that leans a bit toward what some would describe as green, but to me is the essence of what cabernet is all about. Maybe trying to get rid of the greenies is why Napa cabernet is now gloppy and almost sweet with ABV numbers that are off the charts. This is 13.5% according to the label and it’s right in my wheelhouse.
All things considered, it needs another ten years but it’s great right now with a fatty ribeye. Improves with air.
I was lucky to sit with Patrick Campbell and the new owner, Bettina, a few months before she bought Laurel Glen, to try many vintages of his wine. They are in the Corison/Mayacamas/Forman (pre 2001) style, and age really well. At the end he took me in his personal cellar and just said “take any bottle you want.”
Super nice guy who had no interest in changing with the times. I will be curious to see if the style becomes more modern with David Ramey consulting in the background for them now.
Jay, were you at Don Rice’s house for the epic Laurel Glen vertical tasting with Patrick some years ago? Still sticks out in my memory. I remain a HUGE fan.
I picked up a 2000 (my daughter’s birth year) and a 1995 (my anniversary year) today from HDH for $35/per. I’m excited to try them but will likely sit on the 95 until my 20th anniversary in two years and potentially save the 2000 until 2021 (although I have some 2000 Mayacamas cab for that occasion). You think it will hold until 2021?
I’ve had the 85’ at least twice in the last couple of years with great showings each time. Although over 25 years old it still took a couple of hours of air to really start strutting it’s stuff. i just picked up a couple clean bottles at auction for $27/ea, a steal.
the most recent vintage I’ve had is the 2002 which is excellent and going strong. Given the overall quality of the vintage, I found the 2001 somewhat disapppointing. Lower ABV let’s the fruit do the talking.
To this day I regret being forced to take a pass on attending that tasting. I even had a magnum of '78 Kenwood Artist (made primarily from LG fruit) set aside to bring along.
The '88 Laurel Glen (last tasted in October), from a vintage worse than 2000, is still hanging on, so the 2000 might last 21 years. The '95 (last tasted a couple weeks ago) is a great wine that needs about 12 hours in a decanter to start showing well. If you ever come across the '90 or '93 LG Reserves (both bottled only in magnums), do whatever it takes to acquire them. Last spring I sold off the contents of a wine locker, and I could kick myself for not pulling the '93 Reserve that was in there. Thankfully the rest of the six-mag case was in my other locker.
Nice note. Great producer and you’re exactly right. That varietal edge is exactly what people these days want to ripen out. Is it me or are most CA cabs these days listed at 14.8%? It’s like a uniform.
The 93’ the other night was stellar on day one but grew on day 2. It’s ridiculous how much his wine goes for when you think bout how they age and become classic, when other wines fall apart. I’ve never understood how people can wait for BDX but have an issue waiting for a Cali that is less than $35…
I agree about the veggie, green going away. I really enjoy when I can taste that on the mid palate, usually from adding Cab Franc. Love those earthy bordeaux style cabs from the 80’s-90s!
I have had precious few Laurel Glen’s but all have been at least very good with the 1990 standing out.
I suspect the green character of the 2000 is more a sign of this poor vintage. The 2000 Mondavi Reserve reminded me of the start of a Nascar race as Old DW screams Green, Green, Green!
Isn’t it odd that now some El Nino 1998 Napa Cabs are showing suprising well now after an early pan from the critics.
