1986 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace

It is interesting that in all my tastings of Diamond Creek Cabernets from the seventies and early eighties, I never seemed to have a problem with either bottle variation or disappointing performances. In such vintages as 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978 the wines are consistently magnificent, and, to my palate, among the greatest California Cabernets I have ever tasted. However, in the eighties and nineties, the wines have performed well below expectations. For example, the 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace reveals a leafy, vegetal, weedy nose, astringent, abrasive levels of tannin, and a stewed, gingery, fecal character to the fruit flavors. The wine is unusual, and seemingly troubled. The tasting notes for this section are from two single blind tastings, one conducted in May, 1996, in California, and the other in June, 1996, in Baltimore.