No clue where this came from–no clue who made it, but it shows handily what SCM can do. 25 years old and maybe the finest Cab I’ve had this year. Kinda a home-made label; nearly perfect–though soft and stained–unmarked cork; deep brownish brick with expectant sediment levels. The nose explodes in minty spice and delicate briar, lavish layers of tertiary filling the fruit-spectrum of dank cherry and easy, worn leather. Curry-comb and dusty velvet provide earthy nuances, but oh-so-clean and poignant.

You know… Kathryn Kennedy’s ‘Special Vineyard Cuvee’ or whatever it’s called sources from 17? or 19? backyard vineyards in SCM: is there a list of them somewhere? Is this on it? Somebody will know.

Supple and ridiculously delicious in the mouth, the patina of spritely cab polished down into absolute wonder. No WAY I would decant this. No bottle-funk, no pent-up anger, no fruit-fade or fatigue apparent, anyhwere. Pitchy black in mouthfeel, concentrated and gritty, stems & seeds going viral in their berry-massage throughout. Grating acidity morphs seamlessly to sharp tannin–but not bitter–the two decades of unknown provinance perfecting each sip but fruit never fades into understandable thin-ness anywhere in the finish. Arguably a timeless wine, but honestly I wouldn’t want to push it much further. Absolute perfection.

1998 THREE DOG VINEYARD Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains 13.1

Can’t find any relative www presence other than some curious K&L references.