This still young, promising wine exhibits admirable extraction and richness. The dark plum color with no lightening or amber is followed by a wine displaying copious quantities of high class French oak, and gobs of black fruit, full body, and layers of ripe fruit buttressed by adequate acidity, and firm, but unobtrusive tannin. An intriguing licorice and cassis character unfolds as the wine sits in the glass. The finish is long, pure, and impressive. Cellar this 1986 Cabernet for another 2-3 years and drink it over the following 10-15.
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.