by Dr. Bob Ouellette
with the Worcester Wine Tasters
                                       at Assumption College

May 8, 2002

 
Reading the past reviews on this vintage, all we read was that it was the finest vintage of the 90’s. Well, from the scores here of 17 winetasters , you’d have to agree that there were very few reported tastings that we have had in the past several years where the scores were so identical. Summing up then, we go along with the hoopla that you need not buy the most expensive wines of this vintage to get a good appreciation of what 97 produced.

 My notes were consistent throughout and pretty much summarizes the feelings of my colleagues. The wines exhibited a nice dark ruby color, some a bit more than others, but usually intense and deep . The first inklings of things to come came from the initial olfactory offerings of generous red fruit, scents of violets, hints of gentle and warm oak, and at times some pepper and even  barnyard on one occasion

 The palate was equally rewarded with continuing cherry and strawberry flavors along with warm, soft tannins. From then on, some gave forth suggestions of tobacco, spice, cedar all integrated in smoothly balanced offerings that continued to keep me smacking my lips long after the wines were gone south.

 This offering of 97 California Cabs was one collection of reasonably priced wines. Except for one or two wines, the cost did not exceed $20-25, a mean feat in today’s offerings from the West Coast. The remarkable aspect of the tasting as I indicated above, was the unanimous agreement of 17 tasters. One further note to mention is the ageability of this vintage…You need not rush to consume these cabernets quickly. Just enjoy opening one bottle at a time over the next several years. Nothing will be lost…..Oh, yes…I still have more 97’s available and the more expensive ones…I wonder if they will prove any better than these…time will tell. Look for another 97 vintage in the near future.

drbob@oxfordwineroom.com