1970 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/23/2007)
This bottle is a time-machine taking us back to another wine making epoch. It had a orange banner across the label proclaiming "Vintage Select" and sporting the signature of Cesare Mondavi. The back label informs us that Vintage Select wines were from exceptional lots that received special treatment, including aging in oak barrels and bottle aging before release! Fill was to the bottom of the neck. Though soft, the cork came out almost whole with only a small piece at the bottom breaking off. The cork showed stain marks almost to the top. Color was dark reddish orange and opaque with only light bricking at the edge. The wine had a pronounced nose of sweet chocolate. With 12% claimed alcohol. the wine showed a medium-light body, a fairly simple taste profile, and a short finish with tannins completely resolved. We followed development in the glass for 90 minutes. There was some fading of fruit, but the wine did not fall apart. This was probably an average wine in its youth. It's most impressive current characteristic is that it is still very much alive. Not bad for a $4-6 bottle of wine (release price). (84 pts.)
California cabernets from the 60s and 70s were remarkably consistent. I've had far more dead ~1990s CA Pinot Noirs, than I have had dead CA cabs from the 70s.
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