Judging Young Cabs

[mrdutton]

Having never had the chance, yet, to properly cellar a wine for a long period of time (more than a year)............. I'll give it a shot anyway.

Hints of good fruit on the nose and on the tip of tongue but then slightly overpowered by a strong sensation of tannin in the mouth (astringency) might indicate a wine that is closed and is waiting for further development.

Cellar the wine properly and have enough on hand to do additional tastings. When your palate tells you that there is still some very good fruit on the nose and the tongue, decent acid and mouth-feel and a fine balance with the tannin and a nice long finish, then the wine is at its peak.

Other than that, you must have some knowledge of the source, the winemaker, the vintage and the character of the vineyard.

By that, I mean have they been producing very fine wines from very good vintages and good wines from good vintages for a long time? If the answer is yes, then you've found a source of wine to add to your list for cellaring.

Trust me....... If I am the least bit off-base here, many of our more experienced enophiles will let us both know!

But I think I am just giving you the long answer to the short answers you've already received.

It is a crap shoot.......... sometime you roll sevens, other times you roll snake-eyes.