So I bought a cellar; 11/12/2022-12/31/2030: Served for my Wednesday wine committee hosting. Cut the foil and the cork looked in good shape from the top. Much better than the two CDP bottles I had just opened. Corks were not fully saturated, though one had a hint of wet cardboard, and I was worried one of the bottles were slightly corked. When decanted and poured a few hours later, it seemed to work itself out. Definitely some bottle variation between the two I opened, but both were in decent shape. That said, these were the most tired of the lineup, in my opinion. Nose and flavors were mostly tertiary, with only a hint of old fruit in the background. Calls were all over the map, with most landing on either an old bdx or old Cali cab.
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bought on release ($11.99 price tag), fill half inch in the neck, dead, gone, brown, no fruit, have had multiple other Cali cabs from the 1980s recently, this is the only one completely gone
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Deep ruby color with garnet hue. Earthy taste . Well balanced and elegant. Weekend treat with this sexy wine paired with Spanish bellota hams and other snacks .
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Disagreement between me and wife over this. I think it's still drinkable, but fruit faded and slightly pruney and acid therefore a little dominant. Obviously not great but drinkable. Wife said was pure vinegar and I should throw it out. Compromised by drinking half then threw it out.
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Surprisingly good, especially given that cellaring wasn't perfect. Bottle in good condition, with good fill, capsule and cork. Mature nose and flavors, but good. Would be great but just a bit flabby and pruney. Would have been nice five years ago.
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Deep crimson bricking orange. A touch of oxidation blows off after ten minutes of air, revealing a bouquet full of fresh and dried cherries, wet leaves, caramel, and cigar box, over aromas of carob and tomato soup. More earthy than fruity at first, but with time in the glass red fruit blooms, building and integrating into wonderful mature wine flavors and textures. Good depth, complexity, and length. Nice.
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Fruity but definitely over the hill and not improving on what seemed a well-stored bottle although I bought it recently at an online retailer. Some sherry notes but not dark in color but could be some maderisation that happened. You can tell that earlier in its life this was a very good wine. In any case I'd say if you have some to drink up now.
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Interesting. Medium red/ruby. Acidity relatively strong for the fruit. Tannins still present. Would probably have been better a few years ago; on the decline now. Nonetheless, a pleasure to drink and explore. Mellow cabernet flavours and aroma. Well-aged Caymus vintages have more to offer than the young wines, in my opinion. If you still have any, don't delay. The ullage on this wine was well up the neck, near the bottom of the capsule. The 1987 Gruaud Larose tasted along-side was the clear winner.
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Medium garnet-red color. Aged nose, more oxidized than I like and without enough compensating aromatic elements of fruit, wood, herbs or vegetable. Dang, this fellow is pretty tired. There's sweetness in the mouth for sure, but not much here to make finishing the glass worthwhile.
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Excellent older California cabernet, with overtones of leather, cedar box and black fruit. This wine has been impecccably stored and seems to have a number of years of good drinking. That said, in my opinion it will not improve from here.
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Very nice, mature Cali cab. Opened two bottles and both were much better than previous ones (which had been corked or aged). Although thinning a bit, this cab had a nice nose, berry and cassis flavors. Seems to be holding, although not getting better and I would drink now, particularly in light of my experience with other bottles.
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34th Street Extravaganza (34th Street Cafe, Austin, TX): This was a great bottle of this wine. What an awesome, restrained style of California Cab. Very dry with some hints of almost Chinon-like Cabernet Franc-ness. Superb texture and nose and deep, dark color. Must have been stored nearly perfectly. Quite possibly my favorite bottle of the evening.
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A very good, full aged cabernet. Still has good fruit and bouquet--and still quite a deep purple color with no signs of browing around the edges. Although it won't get any better with age, I expect that this will hold for another four or five years.
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Poured blind by Bob: Kevin and I both guessed Cali cab. Knowing Bob, I threw out caymus and was correct. A fully mature bottle and a tasty one! Some herbal notes on the nose, but a pleasant wine that drank cleanly with a sweet finish.
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Fully mature and starting to decline. Has the bouquet of a mature Bordeaux, but the fruit has left for a carmelized attack. The finish is smooth, but hollow and short. Drink yesterday.
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HAS IMPROVED GREATLY SINCE EARLY 90's TASTINGS. NOW A VERY ELEGANT CABERNET WITH RICH BERRY FRUITS AND EXCELLENT COMPLEXITY. LONG FINISH (2/01). NOW TIRING AND NOT SHOWING SAME FRUIT (88).
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With BLR, JET, LAL, SAS, CRM and Lori Kish at macArthur Park at lunch (going away lunch for Lori). Deep, dark, rich ruby color. Very attractive. Deep varietal aroma. Perfect marriage of fruit, oak, acid and tannin. Nice Cabernet in the mouth. Ripe, firm and deep. Tons of Cabernet fruit. Great structure and balance. Drinking well now. Wow; very impressive. Excellent wine. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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Tasting of 9 red wines, 5 Cabernet Sauvignons and 4 Bordeaux. Showed a tremendous rich, fruity nose that was intense in the mouth, needs time but a great well balanced wine. My third best, Group #1.
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Six 1987 Cabernet Sauvignons Tasted at Primas. Fruity, cabernet sauvignon nose that showed concentrated black cherry fruit in the mouth, good acid and soft light tannins at the finish suggested good balance, a Caymus trademark. Retail $15.97 third place.
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With Brett Raven at London Wine Bar. Strong ruby color. Good legs. I love the nose. Very complex, with tobacco leaf and plenty of berry fruit. Yes. This has great flavor as well – fruit and tannins. Great balance, elegant and smooth. Not quite as good as the nose. Fine wine. 5-12-16-7: 90/100.
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12/1/2023 - firstgrowth Likes this wine: 86 Points
Cough syrup at first, got better with time in decanter
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11/29/2023 - Gregmonroe wrote:
So I bought a cellar; 11/12/2022-12/31/2030: Served for my Wednesday wine committee hosting. Cut the foil and the cork looked in good shape from the top. Much better than the two CDP bottles I had just opened. Corks were not fully saturated, though one had a hint of wet cardboard, and I was worried one of the bottles were slightly corked. When decanted and poured a few hours later, it seemed to work itself out. Definitely some bottle variation between the two I opened, but both were in decent shape. That said, these were the most tired of the lineup, in my opinion. Nose and flavors were mostly tertiary, with only a hint of old fruit in the background. Calls were all over the map, with most landing on either an old bdx or old Cali cab.
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2/20/2023 - ShadowIII Does not like this wine:
bought on release ($11.99 price tag), fill half inch in the neck, dead, gone, brown, no fruit, have had multiple other Cali cabs from the 1980s recently, this is the only one completely gone
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1/16/2021 - Rainbow88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep ruby color with garnet hue. Earthy taste . Well balanced and elegant. Weekend treat with this sexy wine paired with Spanish bellota hams and other snacks .
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8/8/2020 - enthusiastic_amateur Likes this wine:
Wood, leather, tobacco on the nose. Medium body. A bit of bricking on the edges. Smooth in mid palate. Finish fades a little too fast though.
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4/18/2020 - Bert’s Stache Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent. The wine was very flavorful, was nicely balanced & had a very nice finish. Ruby red color when pouring (decanted for over an hour).
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3/21/2019 - levinml wrote:
Disagreement between me and wife over this. I think it's still drinkable, but fruit faded and slightly pruney and acid therefore a little dominant. Obviously not great but drinkable. Wife said was pure vinegar and I should throw it out. Compromised by drinking half then threw it out.
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1/26/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great color, a bit faded fruit, but enjoyable. Tasty.
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9/23/2017 - noofie2 wrote: 89 Points
Had last night at Cafe De La Presse. Pretty good but lacking in depth and tannin compared to the 1987 Chateau Montelena that we also drank.
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8/12/2016 - levinml wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly good, especially given that cellaring wasn't perfect. Bottle in good condition, with good fill, capsule and cork. Mature nose and flavors, but good. Would be great but just a bit flabby and pruney. Would have been nice five years ago.
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6/19/2016 - Baron Slick wrote: 91 Points
Deep crimson bricking orange. A touch of oxidation blows off after ten minutes of air, revealing a bouquet full of fresh and dried cherries, wet leaves, caramel, and cigar box, over aromas of carob and tomato soup. More earthy than fruity at first, but with time in the glass red fruit blooms, building and integrating into wonderful mature wine flavors and textures. Good depth, complexity, and length. Nice.
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6/13/2016 - WKava wrote: 84 Points
Fruity but definitely over the hill and not improving on what seemed a well-stored bottle although I bought it recently at an online retailer. Some sherry notes but not dark in color but could be some maderisation that happened. You can tell that earlier in its life this was a very good wine. In any case I'd say if you have some to drink up now.
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3/22/2015 - firstgrowth Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful fruity wine, still strong almost 30 years later.
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12/5/2014 - aChave wrote: 87 Points
Interesting. Medium red/ruby. Acidity relatively strong for the fruit. Tannins still present. Would probably have been better a few years ago; on the decline now. Nonetheless, a pleasure to drink and explore. Mellow cabernet flavours and aroma. Well-aged Caymus vintages have more to offer than the young wines, in my opinion. If you still have any, don't delay. The ullage on this wine was well up the neck, near the bottom of the capsule. The 1987 Gruaud Larose tasted along-side was the clear winner.
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8/28/2014 - Hodby wrote: 70 Points
Medium garnet-red color. Aged nose, more oxidized than I like and without enough compensating aromatic elements of fruit, wood, herbs or vegetable. Dang, this fellow is pretty tired. There's sweetness in the mouth for sure, but not much here to make finishing the glass worthwhile.
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6/20/2014 - Trevandy wrote: 82 Points
Way past due date
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1/5/2013 - Scorpion Likes this wine:
Cork was a problem and broke but was very enjoyable with a filter.
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5/13/2012 - Sonomatony wrote: 80 Points
Trouble with the cork, but the wine was barely hanging on. Drank it just in time!
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3/10/2012 - SkeBum wrote: 90 Points
Very nice California Cabernet, it is still drinking well, but I won't wait much longer if someone is holding out for that special occasion.
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1/26/2011 - M DU VIN wrote: 92 Points
Excellent older California cabernet, with overtones of leather, cedar box and black fruit. This wine has been impecccably stored and seems to have a number of years of good drinking. That said, in my opinion it will not improve from here.
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11/26/2010 - cyc wrote: 91 Points
This is a well-aged wine that surprisingly still has some life left in it. Drink up now if you haven't already
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7/19/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 90 Points
Fully mature CA cab with hints of mint, red fruits and cellar dust. Nice soft mouthfeel, decent fruit, sweet nose and enjoyable to drink.
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3/25/2009 - M DU VIN wrote: 89 Points
Fully aged, but with no signs of bricking. Fruit is still there, but it is time to dirnk up.
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3/21/2008 - ricosuave wrote:
Wine well passed its time...poured down the sink.
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1/9/2008 - M DU VIN wrote: 81 Points
Clearly showing signs of fading. Perhaps it was just this bottle, as prior bottles seem to have been holding up rather well
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12/1/2007 - SteelerFan wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, mature Cali cab. Opened two bottles and both were much better than previous ones (which had been corked or aged). Although thinning a bit, this cab had a nice nose, berry and cassis flavors. Seems to be holding, although not getting better and I would drink now, particularly in light of my experience with other bottles.
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10/17/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
34th Street Extravaganza (34th Street Cafe, Austin, TX): This was a great bottle of this wine. What an awesome, restrained style of California Cab. Very dry with some hints of almost Chinon-like Cabernet Franc-ness. Superb texture and nose and deep, dark color. Must have been stored nearly perfectly. Quite possibly my favorite bottle of the evening.
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3/19/2007 - M DU VIN wrote: 90 Points
A very good, full aged cabernet. Still has good fruit and bouquet--and still quite a deep purple color with no signs of browing around the edges. Although it won't get any better with age, I expect that this will hold for another four or five years.
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3/22/2006 - jhngo wrote: 88 Points
An impeccabily well kept wine. Sweet drip fruit with a dry finish. Good tannins fill the palate. Good well aged wine.
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1/9/2006 - BradA wrote: 90 Points
Poured blind by Bob:
Kevin and I both guessed Cali cab. Knowing Bob, I threw out caymus and was correct.
A fully mature bottle and a tasty one! Some herbal notes on the nose, but a pleasant wine that drank cleanly with a sweet finish.
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2/1/2005 - JeffJo wrote: 88 Points
Fully mature and starting to decline. Has the bouquet of a mature Bordeaux, but the fruit has left for a carmelized attack. The finish is smooth, but hollow and short. Drink yesterday.
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1/24/2004 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Tasty, mature, cherry and cassis palate
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5/31/2003 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points
HAS IMPROVED GREATLY SINCE EARLY 90's TASTINGS. NOW A VERY ELEGANT CABERNET WITH RICH BERRY FRUITS AND EXCELLENT COMPLEXITY. LONG FINISH (2/01). NOW TIRING AND NOT SHOWING SAME FRUIT (88).
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3/2/2002 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Bordeaux pencil lead nose with bell pepper. Riper palate with better fruit than the nose suggests.
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2/26/1998 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Caymus Estate Tasting 1982 to 1987 (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nice, rich, berry fruit on the nose, medium/big body, good acid, high acid compared to fruit, long finish, tannins suggests cellar for 2 years, my #3 of 6.
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10/28/1993 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
DEEP FRUIT IN THE NOSE, BLACKBERRY, LICORICE, RICH AROMAS. DEEP RICH FRUIT IN THE FLAVOR, BLACK CHERRIES. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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8/21/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
With BLR, JET, LAL, SAS, CRM and Lori Kish at macArthur Park at lunch (going away lunch for Lori). Deep, dark, rich ruby color. Very attractive. Deep varietal aroma. Perfect marriage of fruit, oak, acid and tannin. Nice Cabernet in the mouth. Ripe, firm and deep. Tons of Cabernet fruit. Great structure and balance. Drinking well now. Wow; very impressive. Excellent wine. 5-11-17-8: 91/100.
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10/12/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasting of 9 red wines, 5 Cabernet Sauvignons and 4 Bordeaux. Showed a tremendous rich, fruity nose that was intense in the mouth, needs time but a great well balanced wine. My third best, Group #1.
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10/3/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Six 1987 Cabernet Sauvignons Tasted at Primas. Fruity, cabernet sauvignon nose that showed concentrated black cherry fruit in the mouth, good acid and soft light tannins at the finish suggested good balance, a Caymus trademark. Retail $15.97 third place.
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8/31/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 91 Points
With Brett Raven at London Wine Bar. Strong ruby color. Good legs. I love the nose. Very complex, with tobacco leaf and plenty of berry fruit. Yes. This has great flavor as well – fruit and tannins. Great balance, elegant and smooth. Not quite as good as the nose. Fine wine. 5-12-16-7: 90/100.
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