Louis Martini, Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Still there. Could taste Napa fruit. What a joy to have.

Good, smoky, low tannin, low alcohol, strawberry? Good company. 19th anniversary.

Bottle: Purchased 10+ years ago from K&L so in good condition. Bottom neck fill. Cork saturated 1/2 inch. Color: Very pretty ruby/garnet with no browning. Very nice and unexpected. High hopes... Nose: Not too much going on. Earth, faded roses and red fruit. Palate: Kind of thin and tart but not bad. Still alive. Echoes the nose. Medium long finish with a bit of bitterness. Overall: Still alive and exceeded expectations but nothing to rave about.

Friday Tasting Group: In HONOR of 1 of the Group's Mentors (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA) : Dan, I found this very, VERY interesting! THANK YOU for sharing it! :) N: A bit of barnyrd blowing to not atypical, oxygenated aromas of oranges, poss raisins? P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish "frt" met by BRACING acidity, leading to a brief pucker which evolves into a LONG, though fading, finish with a tanginess & VERY slight bitterness. For N-O-W (as …

Fully resolved with soft middleweight fruit and tertiary flavors. A pointe. A touch simple but very satisfying.

Chicago Wine Flock...Jim is Playin' Those Wine Games ("Chateau La Grange" - La Grange IL) : Served double blind in what turned out to be 1964-1970 Cabernet-based flight from Bordeaux/Napa. All bottles opened three hours before serving with a quick double decant. Surprisingly fresh for its age, nicely charming. Moderate weight to start. Slightly hollow middle, then better finish.

Wine was sound with good cork and bottom neck fill. Pale garnet. Delicate nose with hints of forest loan, toast and some fruit - more like a well-aged burgundy than cab. Very smooth and light with medium finish. Fascinating 47 year cab that still has something to offer. Original release price $3.50.

Acker Pre-Auction Tasting Wines & In-Auction Dinner Wines (Zuma - New York NY) : Small glass, brief note. Very enjoyable and oddly fresh, even if somewhat simple. Never would have thought it 45+ yo.

Top shoulder fill. Cork showed a bit of seepage but it wasn't soaked through. First smell upon opening was aged leather and still a hint of fruit though it was more plum than berry. It took about an hour of time for this to reach its peak. Aromas are still aged leather, some fruit, with an edge of classiness to it all. Light to med. bodied with minimal tannins but plenty of acidity. Just a hint of fruit left along …

Bought this recently from the private cellar section of a local wire retailer. Bottle appears to be in good shape, but the cork was soaked through and almost fell into the bottle upon touching it. Nose and palate were very good, but it certainly had better days.

Smelled very old, very brown. Good cork but almost soaked through. Definitely way past peak but was drinkable for the first couple of hours and then slowly deteriorated.

Young, peppers, fruity, leather

Mature Cabs in Philly; 5/11/2009-5/12/2009 (Conshohocken, PA - Blackfish) : Pristine bottle (labels, fills). Darker colored than the '69, due to the sediment being slightly agitated. Initial notes of mature fruit (ripe plums). Sweet fruits on the palate (plums/cherries) with plenty of tar and tobacco notes in the background. Some slight steely notes in the mid-palate that were odd but not off-putting. Put on some weight with air - very nice acidity still evident in the wine, which drove to …

This wine, consumed in May, 2009, was stupendous. In the event that you have an opportunity to taste this, do so,

Nice smooth wine. eucalyptus on the nose. Nice cherry fruit.