| Score: |
95+ JG.
"The 1990 Old Vine Reserve was the very first bottle to be designated as such, as the vineayrds planted in 1980 were finally old enough to go into the Estate Cabernet. This is more leafy and tobaccoey in personality than the 1997 or 1995 versions, but equally deep and classy, as it delivers a superb aromatic constellation of dark berries, cigar ash, a touch of youthful bell pepper, a superbly complex base of soil tones, cedar and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, complex and even a bit more structured today than the ’95, with still a bit of youthful tannin buried in a fine core of fruit, excellent focus and balance and a very, very long, classy finish. I would actually still give this vintage of Old Vine Reserve at least a few more years in the cellar to let the tannins further fall away before I started to drink this in earnest. Another stellar wine." John Gilman, View From the Cellar, May/Jun 2016, Issue #63 |