1999 Kelham Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon $45
This is an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon.
I bought these at a special tasting with Ron Nicholsen, one of the winemakers, in July, 2003, and I’ve been dying to try one.
Pulling the cork, I got a whiff and knew instantly that this one could sit another ten, twenty or more years. It is HUGE! I poured a bit into my glass and took a sip. My first thought was that I should put the cork back in and put it back in the cellar for a couple of years because it was a very young wine. What I did instead was a little decanting. I served it with a premium dark chocolate, which turned out to be an excellent combination.
Someone in the group said “This is the best wine that I’ve ever tasted!†I will say that I’ve tasted some that I thought were a bit better but cost three times as much as this one. So for me, this one is a great bargain, and I will say that it is among the best wines that I’ve ever tasted also.
So what did it taste like, you ask? Here were the comments from the group. Black current, toffee or caramel and chocolate.
Did I mention that this one is outstanding?
What’s the appellation and how much of it was produced?
According to their web site, Oakville, Napa Valley, and 1670 Cases…
Hah! I knew that they had one left in the cellar. $50 is a bargain for this one.
What a quandary, I have been given a bottle as a gift. Should I drink it now ………..or wait a few years?
If you have a good cellar, this wine could stand to age a few years. If not, then you’ll want to drink it soon. If you open it soon, grab a couple of large empty mayonnaise jars, pour the wine into one, and then pour it back and forth between the two jars a few times to aerate it.
Grab a piece of high-quality dark chocolate to eat while tasting the wine.
You will be pleasantly surprised.
Let us know what you think when you drink it.