This is the first of my backlog of Holiday notes. The Guenoc and the Jordan were given to me by a very generous local wine lover as part of batch of wines he culled from his cellar (for those of you who didn't see my first batch of notes on these wines, they are here: viewtopic.php?f=29&t=28892&p=245903&hilit=cellar+cull#p245903 ). The Fombrauge was shared with me by a dear friend and former professor, and some of you will surely remember my previous reports on the '72 Petrus, '73 Mouton, and '79 Gruaud-Larose from his collection.
Guenoc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, Beckstoffer Vineyard, Napa Valley 1989
Dark ruby, pink at rim; very good color for its age. Excellent, expansive, aromatic nose (you can smell if from a foot away), with hints of leather and roses plus cherries and glycerin. Palate of pie cherries, hints of cassis and dark fruits, roses, leather, espresso, and glycerin. Medium-full bodied, and graceful, with nice aromatics. At the end of its plateau. One could hope for a bit more length and complexity, but this is a very pretty old wine. Excellent (87 - 90) [12/20/09]
Jordan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, Alexander Valley 1978
Light garnet. Cherry and raspberry upfront, with red and black currants, then leather, dust (with a hint of cocoa), and spruce tree aromatics. Medium bodied. Grows and grows with air. Near the end of its plateau, but holding very well indeed. A wonderful, mature, old school California Cab Sauv. Excellent / Exceptional (89 - 91) [12/23/09]
Chateau Fombrauge, St. Emilion 1970
Top shoulder. Medium-light garnet/ruby, orange at rim. Nose a bit musty and aecetic. Almost nothing on the palate at first, but opens over 10 minutes to reveal red and black raspberries and currants, with a touch of earthiness on the finish. Holds perfectly in the glass. Medium bodied. No tannin left, but very well balanced, and would clearly have been very structured in its youth. Borderline case of cork taint perhaps. Perhaps only 10 years past its peak and in very slow decline - very mature, but not old and weak. Nice old Bordeaux. Very Good (85 - 87) [12/26/09]