Coming of age

[Florida Jim]

1992 Ravenswood, Pickberry:

(65% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc)

For the last decade, this has been an angry wine. Angular, hard and so tannic it was all but undrinkable. I began to think the good Mr. Peterson had made a bad one.

But of course, that’s why he gets the big money.

Today, this is a wonderful wine.

The nose has a powerful smokey, black fruit aroma that seems a little hard or closed but on the palate this wine is well resolved, integrated, complex, ripe and has the texture of worsted cloth. Some very fine but sweet tannins persist and the finish is long, balanced and fruit filled.

I decanted this off substantial sediment and left it open for about four hours before drinking.

One mighty fine bottle.

About $35, full retail at release.

Best, Jim

[docsconz]

I have some '97 I'm waiting on. Do you have any experience with that vintage of Pickberry?

[Florida Jim]

I have some '97 I'm waiting on. Do you have any experience with that vintage of Pickberry?

Nope; 'sorry.

Best, Jim

[Mark Sommelier]

I'm a little surprised about your description of the wine as "angular and hard". The '99 is quite delicious after about 20 minutes open.

[Carema]

I think these 2 examples (92- hard & angular 99 accesible after barely a quarter of an hour) exemplify these change in Ca wine making over the last decade. I read somewhere recently that the average time elapsed between purchase and consumption of a bottle of wine was four hours. So in that context which makes more sense?

[Florida Jim]

I think these 2 examples (92- hard & angular 99 accesible after barely a quarter of an hour) exemplify these change in Ca wine making over the last decade. I read somewhere recently that the average time elapsed between purchase and consumption of a bottle of wine was four hours. So in that context which makes more sense?

And too, consider the new owners at Ravenswood. Joel may still be making, but he's not in charge of policy.

Best, Jim