Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Franc 1977, Rutherford - Napa County,
Niebaum-Coppola Vineyards, alcohol 13.5%.

I had only 2 bottles of this wine. I opened the first about 15 years
ago. I placed it near the top of my monster wine list. It was completey
unready and only a masochist could have enjoyed it then. There was some
dark fruit and spice, but it was hidden by an extreme level of tannin.
Also it was all but black in color. India ink with green persimmons was
a good description of it then.

The color now is still very dark ruby with only hints of age. There is
still much tannin, but it is now smooth enough to enjoy the wine. There
is plenty of acid. It is of a weight of the largest Rhones or Barolos or
Brunellos. There is good dark fruit, more plum-like than cassis-like.
There are hints of tobacco, mushrooms, and spices. This wine likely
would work with strong game about as well as anything. It is still a
monster, but at least likable monster now rather than a ogre.

My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

"Cwdjrx _" > wrote in message
...
> Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Franc 1977, Rutherford - Napa County,
> Niebaum-Coppola Vineyards, alcohol 13.5%.
>
> I had only 2 bottles of this wine. I opened the first about 15 years
> ago. I placed it near the top of my monster wine list. It was completey
> unready and only a masochist could have enjoyed it then. There was some
> dark fruit and spice, but it was hidden by an extreme level of tannin.
> Also it was all but black in color. India ink with green persimmons was
> a good description of it then.
>
> The color now is still very dark ruby with only hints of age. There is
> still much tannin, but it is now smooth enough to enjoy the wine. There
> is plenty of acid. It is of a weight of the largest Rhones or Barolos or
> Brunellos. There is good dark fruit, more plum-like than cassis-like.
> There are hints of tobacco, mushrooms, and spices. This wine likely
> would work with strong game about as well as anything. It is still a
> monster, but at least likable monster now rather than a ogre.

I remember the Mt. Veeder wines from that era. Their 1975 Petite Syrah was
practically _black_; their Cabernets weren't far behind.

I've always said that 1977 was one of the best unknown vintages for Napa
Valley. There were a lot of really excellent wines produced then that went
for very reasonable prices. Phelps "Eiselle" and Ridge "Monte Bello" were
both *stunning* '77s, just to name a couple - although those weren't exactly
inexpensive.

Tom S

Tom S wrote:

> I've always said that 1977 was one of the best unknown vintages for Napa
> Valley. There were a lot of really excellent wines produced then that went
> for very reasonable prices. Phelps "Eiselle" and Ridge "Monte Bello" were
> both *stunning* '77s, just to name a couple - although those weren't exactly
> inexpensive.

4 years ago, I had the good fortune to attend a party at
which the crusty old stuff was dragged out of several people's
cellars (and crawlspaces). Two of the many wines we had were
1977 Cabs; Franciscan (Napa) and Kenwood (Sonoma). They were
*excellent*... and not reserves or expensive when released.

Dana

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 16:58:13 -0600, (Cwdjrx _)
wrote:

>Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Franc 1977, Rutherford - Napa County,
>Niebaum-Coppola Vineyards, alcohol 13.5%.
>
>I had only 2 bottles of this wine. I opened the first about 15 years
>ago. I placed it near the top of my monster wine list. It was completey
>unready and only a masochist could have enjoyed it then. There was some
>dark fruit and spice, but it was hidden by an extreme level of tannin.
>Also it was all but black in color. India ink with green persimmons was
>a good description of it then.
>
>The color now is still very dark ruby with only hints of age. There is
>still much tannin, but it is now smooth enough to enjoy the wine. There
>is plenty of acid. It is of a weight of the largest Rhones or Barolos or
>Brunellos. There is good dark fruit, more plum-like than cassis-like.
>There are hints of tobacco, mushrooms, and spices. This wine likely
>would work with strong game about as well as anything. It is still a
>monster, but at least likable monster now rather than a ogre.

Cabernet Franc has been one of my favorite, under-appreciated
varietals for quite a while. I seldom see it as a principle offering
(usually a blending varietal at 5-10%), but when I do I'll try to pick
up a couple of bottles. Last memorable Cab Franc I encountered was
from Fife and a case of that only remained around the cellar for about
three months. Wonder if it improved with age?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 16:58:13 -0600, (Cwdjrx _)
wrote:

>Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Franc 1977, Rutherford - Napa County,
>Niebaum-Coppola Vineyards, alcohol 13.5%.
>
>I had only 2 bottles of this wine. I opened the first about 15 years
>ago. I placed it near the top of my monster wine list. It was completey
>unready and only a masochist could have enjoyed it then. There was some
>dark fruit and spice, but it was hidden by an extreme level of tannin.
>Also it was all but black in color. India ink with green persimmons was
>a good description of it then.
>
>The color now is still very dark ruby with only hints of age. There is
>still much tannin, but it is now smooth enough to enjoy the wine. There
>is plenty of acid. It is of a weight of the largest Rhones or Barolos or
>Brunellos. There is good dark fruit, more plum-like than cassis-like.
>There are hints of tobacco, mushrooms, and spices. This wine likely
>would work with strong game about as well as anything. It is still a
>monster, but at least likable monster now rather than a ogre.

Cabernet Franc has been one of my favorite, under-appreciated
varietals for quite a while. I seldom see it as a principle offering
(usually a blending varietal at 5-10%), but when I do I'll try to pick
up a couple of bottles. Last memorable Cab Franc I encountered was
from Fife and a case of that only remained around the cellar for about
three months. Wonder if it improved with age?


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

Tom,
mybe not just Napa, Sonoma too? At a dinner featuring some 1985 & 1990
Napa Cabs, a bonus bottle of 1977 Davis Bynum North Coast Cabernet
Sauvignon (28% Napa 72% Sonoma) shocked me by tying for my wine of the
night (with '85 Phelps Backus).

Tom,
mybe not just Napa, Sonoma too? At a dinner featuring some 1985 & 1990
Napa Cabs, a bonus bottle of 1977 Davis Bynum North Coast Cabernet
Sauvignon (28% Napa 72% Sonoma) shocked me by tying for my wine of the
night (with '85 Phelps Backus).

DaleW wrote:
> Tom,
> mybe not just Napa, Sonoma too? At a dinner featuring some 1985 & 1990
> Napa Cabs, a bonus bottle of 1977 Davis Bynum North Coast Cabernet
> Sauvignon (28% Napa 72% Sonoma) shocked me by tying for my wine of the
> night (with '85 Phelps Backus).


You might have seen a similar note I posted; I was at a party
where some of the "lesser" bottles we opened were '77 Kenwood
(Sonoma) and '77 Franciscan (Napa) Cabs. Both of them were
outstanding, and only overshadowed at all by the '78 Mouton-Rothschild
we also had.

I'm salivating as I think about it.

:-)

Dana