TN: 1994 Estancia Meritage Alexander Valley

1994 Estancia Meritage Alexander Valley - this isn't a winery I patronize very often, but in this particular vintage it was excellent and I found that I had one 30 year old bottle left in the cellar, so....

After the usual (on older wines) failed battle with a regular corkscrew and having to resort to the Durand, I decanted and started in on it. The colour is still reasonably dark with light edges and the nose is as one would want it, a mix of cedar, dark cherry and some coffee hints, slightly high but acceptable terminal acidity and with time I noted some tobacco appear in the nose. Very decent showing. I intend to get into more of my 80s and 90s California reds this summer.

[David M. Bueker]

Not one that I would have expected to hold on.

Not one that I would have expected to hold on.

Agree - I suffered an "oh crap!" moment when I came across it while looking for something else, but figured I might as well opo it and see. A very pleasant surprise. I would think that it would have been a different result with most other vintages of the era.

[David M. Bueker]

Not one that I would have expected to hold on.

Agree - I suffered an "oh crap!" moment when I came across it while looking for something else, but figured I might as well open it and see. A very pleasant surprise. I would think that it would have been a different result with most other vintages of the era.

1995 and 1996 might have also been in good shape. After that...too much chasing ripeness.

[Jenise]

Estancia has NEVER been a brand I would have expected to show up in a cellar like yours, Bill. Impressive performance, though. Definitely wouldn't have bet even two cents on this being decent.