1997 wine special selection
1997 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Cask 23”
The Cask 23 is solid blood red and very aromatic and perfumed. The most fragrant out of the group. A nose of young dark berries. This has aggressive flavors of pan sautéed, thick reduced blackberries. They are coming out in droves. Thick mouth feel, with tons of tasty fruit coming out and tannins that are surprisingly very balanced right now.
This wine is drinking astoundingly awesome now. Briary, rustic gamey flavors surrounded by full-bodied lush oak and a tad of mint thrown into the mix. Earthy oak is all over the tongue coating finish. This tastes like black licorice that was covered with dark berries and left in an oak cask for about a month.
1997 Opus One
The Opus is a powerhouse of tannins, strong saturated fruit and oak. I took the first 3 ounces in my glass from the bottle and then decanted the rest. It needed a little air and some time to sit. At this little tasting, I would choose this bottle as the one to cellar the longest. But that could change over the years, thus the importance of opening a bottle every so often.
It got the back of my throat good with its oak and the fruit was thick and chewy. It is firm and ungiving at first but after the half hour in the decanter was mellowing enough so the concentrated fleshy black currants flavors flowed free and the leathery spice was more prevalent. Thick red in color with attractive aromas. Dark cassis, tobacco, and earth come together nice against the full-bodied spiciness and when the finish finally fades away, you know it was all worth it.
1997 Caymus “Special Selection”Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus, Caymus, Caymus. If you love Cab, you love Caymus. Deep dark ruby red with full thick and yummy plush oaked fruit. Firm tannins give you something to think about and show the fun this wine will have in the cellar for another 8 years. It will go longer, so check up on us as we taste it every year.
We will let you know in 2010 if you should drink it all up or let it rest for another 5 years. Spectacular spicy, cassis flavors that show deep Cab personality and end with a long finish that brings some muscle, tannin and oak to forefront. Balanced, charming and probably a classic. But don’t just take my word for it, pick up one of your own.
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