Spring Mountain Vineyard, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1979

Owned at the time by the late Knight Michael Robbins. Though it is unclear who made the wine, all signs point to Charles Ortman, who produced the 1973 Chardonnay that Steven Spurrier chose to represent Spring Mountain Vineyard in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting. The 1979 vintage was considered uneven with patch quality and went largely under-appreciated. A vintage report published in Decanter in 1979 describes the Cabernet qualities as 'slightly tight and austere but long-lived,' which seems to apply quite perfectly to this 1979 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet. Leading with bay leaf and red currants, eucalyptus, earth, and notes of black tea and truffle. Medium-bodied and revealing a pleasant wine framed by very chalky tannins and warming red berries, backed by ample acidity. After a bit of time, there's a subtle sharpness that develops in the nose, but not unpleasant and, overall, a joy to taste and savour. Drink up and enjoy a bit of bottled history.