Various other red wines

by Tom Cannavan, 02/98

This was part five of the private cellar assessment/tasting (see "Private cellar 1" for details). This was mopping up some assorted, good quality wines which we suspected might be past their best or in urgent need of consumption. Scores awarded out of 100 again.

Cabernet Sauvignon 1984, Marques de Griñon (Spain)
Blackish colour with orange at rim. Very appealing nose with sweet cassis fruit and a pencil-shaving edge. Very pure. Palate is creamy but robust. Medium weight, with peppery, blackcurrant fruit and a drying finish which shows some age. Drink soon. 86/100.

King Valley Cabernet/Shiraz 1986, Brown Brothers (Australia)
Deep ruby/purple colour. Rather thin on the nose and dominated by old wood. Decent, claret fruit, quite sweet with ripe blackberries and brambles, but flavours die quickly. Tannins are the major feature now. The wine is probably starting to go downhill fast. I would expect bottle variation. 84/100.

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1987, Cuvaison
Very intense, youthful colour. Dense purple/black. Gorgeous, sweet cassis fruit with hints of mint, eucalyptus and chocolate on the nose. Chocolatey, rich blackcurrant fruit on the palate, creamy and medium-dense, with keen, broad acidity and a lovely cloak of soft tannin. Excellent. Will hold 5 years. 90/100.

Chianti Classico Riserva 1983, Castell'in Villa
Browning, dark garnet colour. Nice, warm, clove and spice nose. Good initial cherry fruit on the palate. A wee bit thin and dies a little quickly, though a nice, mature, gutsy mouthful. 86/100

Pesquera (Spain) 1985, Bodegas Fernandez
Deep, solid, browning colour. Good, cedary, savoury nose. Very mellow and inviting. Amazingly sweet blackcurrant fruit on the palate. A big mouthful of velvety wine with generous acidity, plenty of classy oak and a raft of supportive tannins. Good for a few years. 88/100.

Go to Private cellar 1