Musings from Wine Expressions

We all sat down to watch the events of the second round of the NCAA tournament.  We decided steak was in order and California Cabernet was the wine of choice.  We selected the 1990 Stag’s Leap and the 1991 Beringer Private Reserve.  Both wines are from Napa Valley.  Why these?  Two reasons; I have two bottles left in the cellar of each selection and they are wonderful wines.

What were you doing in March of 1990 or 1991?  I was working for Accenture, living in Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and working at Telekom Malaysia and Petronas.  Seems like a century ago at this stage.

Back to the NCAA.   1990 was  an exciting year - they all are.  The final game was Duke v. UNLV.  Yes, Tarkanian coahed the Runnin’ Rebels and Krzyzewski coached the Blue Devils.  The real drama this year was the death of Hank Gathers of Loyola Marymount in the conference tournament.  Loyola Marymount was an 11th seed and advanced to the West Region finals against eventual champion UNLV.  Loyola scored more than 100 points in 3 of the 4 games they played.

The Stag’s Leap scored 100 points with us as well.  This is not Cask 23, or Fay.  This is the regular bottling. What a joy.  Great all by itself and magic with the steak.   Both Parker and the Spectator would say this wine is past it’s prime.  I beg to differ.  The wine still had wonderful fruit aromas of black cherries, smoke, earth, currant.  The tannins were beuatifully balanced and very subtle as one would expect from an 18 year old wine.  I am certainly glad I have another bottle.  One thing is for sure; I will not wait another 18 years to enjoy it.  Paker rated this wine 89 and Spectator gave it 91.  Spectator made it #76 on the Top 100 wines in the world for 1993 and a Spectator Selection.  Maybe not as impressive as Loyola Marymount or as memorable as Hank Gathers but a wonderful wine nonetheless.

NCAA 1991 - not as much drama as the 1990 tournament but memorbale nonetheless.  UNLV, undefeated until they met Duke in the Final Four, lost.  Duke defeated Kansas for the national championship.  Memorable upsets in the first round with at least one team from every position except 16 advancing to the second round.

The Beringer Private Reserve was amazing.  A symphony of black and red fruits wrapped around a tannic structure that any producer would envy.  Silky smooth with hints of chocolate and smoke.  The balance was nearly perfect.  A great match for the steak and for the games.  Parker gave this wine 95 and tasted it three times between 1993 and 1995.  Specator gave this wine 94 and suggested drinking through 2010.  They rated it four times between 1994 and 2001.

I am looking forward to the Final Four in 2009 as I do every year.  My brackets were busted long ago so any hope of winning enough to buy a bottle of anything memorable have been dashed.  I will enjoy the weekend games and some additional bottles.

May your team and/or the best team win.