96 vs. 97 gallo sonoma county

[newsguy]

i'm curious to hear which folks out there think is the better wine to drink NOW, the '96 or the '97 gallo sonoma county?

thanks!

keith

[Drew]

Keith, my humble palate sez I like the '97. I like them both but the 96 is more tannic and I think the '97 is richer and a little more complex...FWIW.

Drew

[newsguy]

thanks, drew. since i'm looking for a wine to drink now, i'll definitely go with the less tannic -- and better taste to boot!

keith

[winoweenie]

Ditto! WW

[Drew]

Keith, why don't you pop em both with a couple of friends and post the notes/differences? [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

Drew

[newsguy]

good idea, drew.

i'll get a bottle of each and pop them the next time we have wine with our friends.

post will follow.

keith

[newsguy]

well, my wife spent the weekend battling allergies, so we didn't have friends over to do a tasting of the '96 vs. the '97. i'll get to that eventually.

however, i threw some marinated t-bones on the grill last night and decided to open an orphan i found a month ago: the 1995 gallo of sonoma cab.

wow! strong nose of brilliant red fruit and sweet oak. tasted of same, with a nice, long finish and perfectly integrated tannins. my only complain would be that the wine appeared a little soft at this point. (and my guess is that comes from how this wine was kept for the past two years in a backroom of this store or at a warehouse).

if anyone happens to have some of the 95s, i would pop those babies NOW! they are definitely peaking.

and i must say, unless that 95 just happens to be head-and-shoulders above the 97 (which i've tasted and liked), i think i've just gotten my first real lesson on how wine improves over time. not surprisingly, i've spent some time today looking into the cost of wine caves or renting storage space locally [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

keith

[winoweenie]

In Vino Does Costes Est. WW

[newsguy]

well, i finally got to compare the 96 and 97 gallo of sonoma cabs. wasn't able to write any notes, so this is from memory.

had the 96 first. dark color, nice nose. taste was great fruit, with tannins that could use another year or two to recede to perfection. 97 was a bit lighter in color, and where the 96 tasted more of berries and darker fruit, the 97 tasted more of cherries and lighter fruit. plus the wine was rounder, had more oak, and the tannins were gone.

i liked the 96 better, which surprised me a bit cause it definitely could use a little more time till it hits its peak. but, to me, its taste was more little complex and had a better mouthfeel. because of its higher acidity it also stood up better to the steak we were having.

97 is a nice sipping cab.

... just my opinion.

keith

[This message has been edited by newsguy (edited 04-18-2001).]

[Drew]

As Col. Klink used to say.....
"Very Interesting"

Drew

[newsguy]

...and as sgt. schultz used to say: "i know nuthink!"

[newsguy]

found a couple more of the 95 gallo of sonoma cabs (can you call them orphans if u find two bottles instead of one?), and popped one last nice to go with a spicy marinated pork tenderloin off the grill. (and believe me, this marinade is big enough that a cab is a good match). anyhow, i was just BLOWN AWAY at how good this wine has become. huge nose and tastes of a classic CA. cab: plums, berries, cassis and spicy oak. there's more to this wine than some $100 bottles i've tasted, and this one set me back $9.99. and i'd say there still is enough tannin there to go a couple more years.

i'm certainly learning my lesson: a good wine from a great vintage, given time in proper storage, becomes absolutely fantastic. (actually, i learned this lesson last year, and the result is now a rented a wine locker stuffed with six cases worth and another three cases taking up temporary residence in mi casa.)

[Drew]

Verne's been singing your conclusions for ever.....

Drew

[Drew]

I still have a couple of the '97 Gallo Sonoma stashed away and popped one last night. I wish I had bought more than I did. Tannins are less harsh and the wine is a wonderful cab with solid currant flavors and a long finish. One of the better $8 wines I've had.

Drew

[winoweenie]

TA! TA!..... " Tannins Fly When You're Havin' Time" WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] ( An exerpt from "Weener Truisms " ) [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]