WTN: EdmundsStJohn LesFleurs du Chaparral NapaVlly TW '87..(

Tried this wine last night w/ tomatoes & burratta (not the greatest match in the world):
1. EdmundsStJohn LesFleurs du Chaparral NapaVlly TW (Mourv/Carignane/CabSauv; MayacamasRange; U/U) Berkeley 1987: Med.dark color w/ light bricking; slight herbal/Cab rather plummy/Mourv some earthy/dusty/OV light toasty/oak some bretty quite complex slight alcoholic nose; soft/smooth rather Cab/herbal some plummy/Mourv/black cherry light toasty/oak fairly dusty/OV/earthy/mushroomy lightly bretty mature/pencilly/oldRed fairly complex flavor w/ light gentle/smooth tannins; very long bit bretty somewhat herbal/Cab/black cherry/curranty/mushroomy bit plummy/Mourv light oak/pencilly/cedary complex finish w/ light drying tannins; quite a lovely old Calif that still has plenty of life; interesting that it speaks mostly of Cab.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Not sure the source of these grapes, so will have to hear from Steve. I suspect it's BrandlinRanch, though.
After I cracked the EdStJ Zin Amaronese '86 & found it a bit shakey, I went w/ this backup w/ low expectations. Certainly a fully mature red that's speaking mostly of Cab, I was surprised by the fruit it had remaining. The brett was noticeable but just at a fairly low level. One more btl left.
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2. The Berkeley address must have been from his original address on CameliaSt in lower Berkeley, afore his move to Emeryville, behind the Oaks CardShop..where I first met him. I have, of course, followed SteveEdmunds from the very start. I'm finally coming of the mind that he knows a thing or two about making wine.
Tom

[David M. Bueker]

Wow. Never even heard of that wine.

The grapes in the 1987 Les Fleurs were: Brandlin Mourvedre and Carignan, and a 1/4 ton of Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyard on Spring Mountain planted by Travis Fretter and his father, Bill, which they called Leaky Lake, which was purchased by Duckhorn the next year. The Cabernet represented roughly 17% of the blend. By the way, the Zin "Amaronese" was 1988 (also Brandlin).
I was never completely happy with the alcohol in the Les Fleurs; it never seemed completely integrated. The Wine Specator, however, had it in the top 100 in 1989.

The grapes in the 1987 Les Fleurs were: Brandlin Mourvedre and Carignan, and a 1/4 ton of Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyard on Spring Mountain planted by Travis Fretter and his father, Bill, which they called Leaky Lake, which was purchased by Duckhorn the next year. The Cabernet represented roughly 17% of the blend. By the way, the Zin "Amaronese" was 1988 (also Brandlin).
I was never completely happy with the alcohol in the Les Fleurs; it never seemed completely integrated. The Wine Specator, however, had it in the top 100 in 1989.

Thanks, Steve. TravisFretter/LeakyLake...now there's a name I've not heard in awhile!!
You're right...the Zin was the '88.
I was impressed how the LesFleurs had held up.
Tom