Sometimes you just want to prove to yourself that what you’ve been saying is correct. The 1974 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, at 12% alcohol, is the way to make wine!
Yes, the Californian 1974 vintage was one for the ages, and the grapes didn’t need to be left on the vines any longer to get higher sugars as they do nowadays, and therefore, the more modern wines end up with way too much alcohol. This Charles Krug scored 19 points on the 20-point Dionysian scale and may just be one of the best American wines I’ve ever had.
I treated it like Bordeaux, opening and decanting and served with a rack of lamb, prepared simply and basic without a lot of spices or extras. The wine was the focal point of this Tuesday night stay-at-home dinner.
Its brick-edge, but still mostly ruby in color after 40 years, forecast a nose of tobacco, dried cherry and spice. It still had a long aftertaste. Wow. This bottle proved that all wine-lovers should lay away a few bottles to drink years later at some special occasion or, like I do, make an ordinary Tuesday evening into a special occasion. I savored the summer sunshine from 40 years ago! In vino veritas.
sean
Quick drinking all my wine!
Barry C. Lawrence
I’ve been wondering about that.
joe
Are you claiming this wonderful Cab ? Birth year?
sean
Birth year rights!
joe
I thought so.
Barry C. Lawrence
I like your comment that you savored sunshine from 40 years ago!
That’s the thrill of saving and opening old wines.
Sometimes the wines taste like a cloudy day but nonetheless you’re still drinking history!
Lisa Weidlich
…must have missed my invite:) Glad an ordinary night turned into a special occasion.
Tom Merighi, Jr.
I can almost taste it from the description……..