The 12.8% alcohol 1977 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon cost $9 back then and scored 17+ Dionysian points on its 20-point scale. The 1974 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon Northern California scored 18 points, cost about eight bucks, and had 12% alcohol. Two great wines.
The Rutherford opened first with leather and subtle red fruit. It was soft as silk. The 1974, a great vintage in California, showed its class. It had lingering dark cherry pit with leather and smoke aromas. It too, was soft as silk.
These were birthday wines for my daughter (1977) and for my son (1974) served together two days after Thanksgiving. It was a great comparison, and to have them drink something from the years they were born explains why we cellar wines.
Sadly, today’s big Cabs from California do not age anywhere near as well; too much alcohol. Drinking 39 and 42 year-old wines is becoming a thing of the past. Once the jammy fruits fade in today’s wines, little is left. In vino veritas.
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