1985 Diamond Creek - Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (94 pts)

ℹ️ The wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Petit Verdot from the Volcanic Hill single vineyard in Diamond Mountain AVA of Napa Valley, California. The vines were planted in 1968 on ashy soil of the south-facing hillside estate vineyard. The wines were aged in 💯 new French oak.

👁 Deep ruby color with a pale garnet rim. Incredibly youthful appearance.

👃 An expressive nose that didn't show its true potential until the end of a long evening. The nose started with ripe to overripe black fruit and pen ink, but with air showed rosemary, lavender, pen ink, sweet baking spices, and dried leaves.

👄 The palate is dry, high acidity, medium+ brawny tannins, moderate alcohol (12.5%), and medium+ body. The palate had a ton of primary fruit that was ripe but not jammy. Quite dense and mouth coating but quickly cut by the beautiful acidity. Medium+ length finish of black fruit, garrigue, and integrated oak spice.

🔔 When will the Diamond Creek wines from the 80s be ready? Well, no one really knows exactly. If you get a well-stored bottle like this one, don't be afraid to decant it or open it a day in advance. The Volcanic Hill started as my least favorite wine of the trio, and by the end of the night, it was challenging the Dominus. These wines are almost impossible to catch at their peak due to their backward nature. Yes, yes, it was beautiful, but the patience required to enjoy these wines in the modern era is almost inconceivable. I haven't had a young Diamond Creek in ages, but it seems like I should be drinking their wines from the 70s now.

 1985 Diamond Creek - Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (94

1986 Sterling Vineyards - Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (85 pts)

ℹ️ Tasted Blind. The blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This wine has been a single vineyard designated wine since 1982. Aged in French oak barrels ·

📝 Medium Garnet color with a pale and watery rim. Showing age quite well. Medium intensity on the nose. Lots of tertiary aromas of leather, sandalwood, dried leaves, stewed plum, and prune. The wine is dry, medium acidity, low resolved tannins, medium alcohol, and medium body. Less expressive than the nose. Mostly dried leaves, leather, bloody, and a touch of prune. Medium- length finish that was earthy ·

🔔 Still serviceable by all accounts, but clearly on the decline. Always fun to taste old wines, sometimes they need a touch of air to come to life. Unfortunately, this is a bit geriatric and on it's last years. Blind I thought it was early 90s Napa Cabernet not from a great vintage. In Blind, We Trust 😎·

 1986 Sterling Vineyards - Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet

_pott of Pott Wines who makes wines across Napa Valley and lives on Mount Veeder·

1985 Diamond Creek - Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (94

1986 Sterling Vineyards - Diamond Mountain Ranch Cabernet

Interview with Aaron Pott @aaron _pott of Pott Wines who