Lost Treasures

Do you have a lost treasure in your wine cellar? ABNN Dining In was treated to an outstanding "I didn't think we had any of that left" wine courtesy of David and Christine MacDonald. David was pretty coy about keeping the bottle of 1986 Monticello Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon to the side of the table. David later admitted that he expected it to be over the hill. When we first opened it, there were no tell tale signs of the brick color at the leading edge of the wine in the glass. How good was it? Here is what Robert Parker writes about it.

"I would have expected a greater difference between the 1986 Jefferson Cuvee and the 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon Corley Reserve. There were perceptible variations - but on the same theme. The Corley Reserve exhibits an earthy, herbaceous, gingery, coffee-scented nose, a denser, more opaque color, sweet, full-bodied, grapy, jammy black fruit flavors, noticeable alcohol, and a soft, luscious texture. The wine is well-focused, with noticeable tannin in the finish. Big, rich, and potentially outstanding, this 1986 Cabernet has another 10-12 years of life remaining.

The tasting notes for this section are from two single blind tastings, one conducted in May, 1996, in California, and the other in June, 1996, in Baltimore."

David can really pick the ones that are keepers -- just ask Christine.