1997 Erich Russell Cab

[winoweenie]

The only way I can stay on the straight and narrow during these derned sabbaticals is by going back thru my tasting notes and savoring the outstanding juice experienced during the last 6 months. I forgot to make a post on the Erich Russell 97 ( Owner-winemaker of Rabbit Ridge ).This is one dynamite bottle that Jock and some of his friends tasted blind against some of the biggies and took no prisoners. Perhaps he`ll post his notes before all this great juice goes bye-bye. winoweenie

[winecollector]

Hey Winoweenie! How much longer is the drying out / cold turkey stuff going to last? There's over 2,300 people throughout the world wondering if they should open up their 92's, thanks to you, I being one of them.

Seriously though, I go through periods that I drastically limit any alcohol or carbohydrate intake, because of occasionally being on a protein diet to either stay in shape, or get back into shape. The wine itself is really not too much of a problem, but the foods I eat are. Pizza is probably my favorite food group! Throw in a good Chianti Classico Riserva, and, well, I'm sure you get the picture.....

[rdownen]

WW, perhaps you can shed some light on the question I have just posted, (topic old cabs) Coincidentally a 73, which falls in your "well balanced" years.
I bought this bottle as a gift for a friend, should I keep it and drink myself?

[winoweenie]

WC, I normally stay on the wagon either 3 or 4 weeks.Strictly a drying-out period. I`ll answer rdownen`s question on the thread if I can. WW

[jock]

I'll make a quick post now and go into more detail later if anyone really gives a hoot. A few months ago a group of wine geeks that I somehow managed to join had a tasting of recent release Calif Cabs. The tasting was completely blind.
Among the wines were many that I thought overrated including the 1996 CSJ Cinc Cepages which was very good but perhaps not worthy of all the hype.
There were two wines in the group of 14 that really caught my attention. The first had great structure, balance and depth of fruit. It also showed remarkable complexity. It was also a bit closed and very tannic. Guessed if might be mountain fruit. Needed time.
The next was very opulent a huge wine with generous fruit and great balance and so luscious that I would have been delighted to drink it right now. Guessed it might be the 96 Opus which I tasted recently and had decided that it is the best vintage yet.
I initially ranked the "Opus" number one and the "mountain" wine number two. As the evening progressed the "Opus" continued to impress but the first wine just kept getting better and better as it opened-up. During the hour or so that we tasted before the "unveiling" I kept rating the "mountain" wine higher and higher. By the end of the tasting I had rated the "Opus" 95 pts and the "mountain" wine 97 pts.
Well the "Opus" turned out to be the 1996 Bryant - a truely superb wine.
My mystery wine was the 1997 Erich Russell Cab. At a retail in the low forties I think it is a steal. It think it will be superb in about 10 years if I can keep out of it that long (and I live that long!) [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]