Constant Vineyards Diamond Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
We tasted and acquired this wine at the estate high atop Diamond Mountain during our Napa Valley Wine Experience back in 2011. Our visit to Diamond Mountain estate at the top of the mountain, sitting at over 2100 feet elevation was one of the highlights of our wine tour.
We were hosted by the late Freddie Constant, founder and proprietor (shown right).
The property is among the oldest wineries in the valley with history dating back to the late 1800's.
For a casual Saturday night wine dinner at home, I wanted to open a special bottle and this label certainly brings back fond memories of a magnificent wine experience. Its also a premium label worthy of and befitting such an occasion, even in this somewhat 'off' vintage.
As is customary, I opted for one of the older bottles in our collection of half a dozen vintages of this label. I also selected this 'lesser' vintage as it is most likely the least age-worthy and hence should be consumed before some of the more durable vintage releases.
Constant Vineyards Diamond Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Some bottles of this vintage are at or nearing their end of life and need to be consumed. While at the end of or past its prime drinking window, this bottle was still holding its own, maintaining its fruit and some of its terroir character and profile.
Dark garnet colored with some slight bricking in color, medium bodied, the black fruit is giving way to notes of earth, spice, leather and hints of vegetable with modest tannins. Time to drink up but this was still pleasant drinking.
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=43557
We tasted and acquired this wine at the estate high atop Diamond Mountain during our Napa Valley Wine Experience back in 2011. Our visit to Diamond Mountain estate at the top of the mountain, sitting at over 2100 feet elevation was one of the highlights of our wine tour.We were hosted by the late Freddie Constant, founder and proprietor (shown right).
The property is among the oldest wineries in the valley with history dating back to the late 1800's.
For a casual Saturday night wine dinner at home, I wanted to open a special bottle and this label certainly brings back fond memories of a magnificent wine experience. Its also a premium label worthy of and befitting such an occasion, even in this somewhat 'off' vintage.As is customary, I opted for one of the older bottles in our collection of half a dozen vintages of this label. I also selected this 'lesser' vintage as it is most likely the least age-worthy and hence should be consumed before some of the more durable vintage releases.
Constant Vineyards Diamond Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Some bottles of this vintage are at or nearing their end of life and need to be consumed. While at the end of or past its prime drinking window, this bottle was still holding its own, maintaining its fruit and some of its terroir character and profile.
Dark garnet colored with some slight bricking in color, medium bodied, the black fruit is giving way to notes of earth, spice, leather and hints of vegetable with modest tannins. Time to drink up but this was still pleasant drinking.
RM 87 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=43557