We tried these old Cabs at our tasting at Laura's Pig+Fig ystrday:
1. RobertMondavi CabSauvg NapaVlly (12%) 1974: Med.color w/ some browning; quite cedary/pencilly/oldRed bit weedy/herbal some toasty/Fr.oak light blackcurranty/Cab somewhat old Bdx-like fairly complex fully mature Calif Cab lovely nose; soft quite cedary/pencilly/old Cab some toasty/Fr.oak pretty classic old Mondavi Cab slightly dried-out elegant/complex flavor w/ light grippy tannins; very long/lingering old Cab finish w/ light grippy tannins; speaks loudly of old Mondavi Cab but in remarkably good condition. $7.00 (Q)
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2. Clos du Val CabSauvg NapaVllly (12.8%) 1974: Dark color w/ some bricking; fairly strong blackcurranty/Cab/fruity very light pencilly/oak pleasant bit simple nose; bit soft strong fruity/blackcurranty light pencilly/oakrather simple fruity/blackcurranty elegant/gentle Cab w/ light soft tannin; a bit on the soft/simple side but fairly classic CdV fully mature CS; still plenty of youthful fruit and distinctly CdV in style.
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3. Stag'sLeap Vnyds CabSauvg NapaVlly (13%) 1974: Very dark color w/ light bricking; very strong herbal/mtn Cab bit rustic/earthy/rugged classic Stag'sLeap some toasty/Fr.oak quite youthful bit complex nose; fairly tart/tangy rather earthy/rustic/savauge very strong mtn CS rugged flavor w/ bit rough/angular tannins; a fairly classic SL Cab but still pretty youthful; can go another 10 yrs at least. $8.80 (SabinoVistaLiquors)
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4. Sterling Vnyds Sterling Reserve CabSauvg NapaVlly (12%) Calistoga1974: Very dark color w/ very slight bricking; light blackcurranty/Cab fairly pencill/toasty rather fragrant/aromatic complex lovely nose; lightly tart/tangy rather lithe/CS/blackcurranty/Cab light toasty/pencilly/oak rather racy/lithe flavor w/ light grippy tannins; very long/lingering lithe/wirey finish; a fairly high-toned expression of Calif Cab. $19.00 (Quarters)
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5. Chappellet Vnyd CabSaug/NapaVlly (12.7%) 1974: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; classic blackcurranty/CS slight herbal/CS strong toasty/Fr.oak somewhat complex very aromatic rather youthful nose; lightly tart some rugged/tannic quite blackcurranty/CS rather rugged mtn CS flavor w/ modest grippy tannins; a fairly rugged/youthful mtn Cab distinctly in the Chapplellet style; still fairly youthful and has more yrs to go. $8.00 (Quarters)
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6. Mayacamas CabSauvg NapaMtn (13%) Napa 1974: Very dark color w/ little bricking; rather rustic/herbal/CS strong toasty/smokey/Fr.oak modest musty/corked/TCA some complex nose; bit soft rustic/mtn Cab some musty/TCA bit complex flavor w/ some rough tannins; very long rough/tannic finish w/ bit musty/TCA character; still lots of classic Mayacamas character in this wine; the TCA doesn't destroy this wine but is merely a distracting element; a classic Mayacamas save for the slight TCA. $13.95 (SabinoVistaLiquors/Tuscon)
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More nittlescarppa from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. These old Cabs were provided by Stacey from her late Dad's Blair's cellar. There was no substantial leakage and the corks were all pretty much in pristine condition & came out intact. They were all from the highly-regarded '74 vintage.
The Clos du Val was made by Bernard Portet. The Stag's Leap made by Warren Winiarski. The Sterling made by Ric Forman. The Chappellet by Don Chappellet, maybe some by Philip Togni. And the Mayacamas by Bob Travers. The Mondavi was the first vintage of Rich Arnold at Mondavi, when he was an intern. I don't see a Reserve designation on the label. All legendary figures in the early Calif wine industry.
I was quite surprised at these old Cabs. I was expecting some of them to be breaking up on the shoals of old age. None of them showed any signs of breaking up. They are all still sound Calif Cabs that are slowly fading into the sunset of their lives. My favorites were the Stag'sLeap & Chappellet because the showed a bit more youthful character. But quite an amazing collection of fully mature Cabs. Thanks for sharing, Stacey. Your Dad would have been delighted that they were still showing so well.
Tom