Looking to get a mag or a couple of 750’s for my wife’s upcoming 30th Birthday. From vintage reports, 84’ was a universally crappy vintage with the slight exception of California Cabernets. Her birthday isn’t until Sept. but I wanted to be sure and not get caught with my pants down either from weather preventing shipping and/or can’t find anything good. My budget is limited, but flexible.
I’m an unfortunate 84, I’ve had a good-great bottle of Beringer Reserve and have heard excellent things of the Diamond Creek (particularly the Lake) from that year if you can find any!
Try winebid. Dunn howell for 120.00
Dusty,
Not sure if this works budget-wise but here is 1984 Montelena, which probably has aged as well as any 84 could…
If you’ve got time you can get Montelena regularly for <100 on winebid. Good rec. thought from what I’ve heard!
The Montelena might be a winner. I actually had an 84’ Diamond Creek Red Rock last night that didn’t fare too well. It wasn’t flawed, but had sort of fallen apart. For a lot of the 84’s I expect the quality will lean heavily on provenance/storage conditions. $125 is in the budget, but ideally I would be able to find a magnum (better chance of showing well) and get it for less than $250.
Top two 84s I’ve tried in the past couple years are Dominus and Monte Bello. Both overdelivered and created a lasting memory of how great cali wine can age. Dominus may be in your budget, Monte Bello a bit above.
I hadn’t considered Dominus, because I’ve never had it, but it looks like HDH has it for $130, so we are in the ballpark. I was looking at Montelena Estate, but they are bit sparse and you are right about Monte Bello. . . . looks like around $225 for one of those, making it just about the most money I’ve ever spent on a bottle.
Aabalat Wines, who I have ordered from in the past with good luck and customer service, just emailed me with a list of 1984s for 30th birthday/anniversaries forthcoming:
1984 Haut Brion Pessac Leognan 750 ml - 1 avail at $295 ea
1984 Heitz Napa Valley Bella Oaks Cabernet 750 ml - 1 avail at $89 ea
1984 Marietta Cellars Sonoma Cabernet 750 ml - 3 avail at $49 ea
1984 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet 750 ml - 5 avail at $75 ea
1984 Spottswoode Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml - 12 avail at $89 ea
1984 Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml - 7 avail at $124.55 ea
1984 Stags Leap SLV Cabernet 750 ml - 6 avail at $127.80 ea
1984 Ridge Central Coast Monte Bello Cabernet 750 ml - 10 avail at $253.80 ea
1984 Caymus Napa Valley Special Select Cabernet 750 ml - 1 avail at $332.65 ea
1984 Diamond Creek Napa Gravelly Meadow Cabernet 750 ml - 1 avail at $199.65 ea
1984 Diamond Creek Napa Valley Red Rock Terrace Cabernet 750 ml - 1 at $199.65
1984 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml - 8 avail at $147.65 ea
1984 Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml - 8 avail at $118.65 ea
1984 Stags Leap SLV Cabernet 750 ml - 8 avail at $148.65 ea
Some that I haven’t considered, but may be good options. I don’t know why Stags Leap SLV is listed twice with 2 different prices, however.
I pretty well settled on an 84’ Montelena Estate, but the market dried up just as I did so. Anybody have one of these (750 or 1.5, depending on pricing)?
I actually contacted the winery direct, but they said they didn’t hold back much at all in the 80’s to their (and my) dismay.