Another glorious Durney

P

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
Durney Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon '83 -- double decanted an hour ahead, extraordinary amount of sediment, solid red, lovely full bouquet, fresh and vibrant, everything in full harmony, no fading. [E+]

Bill Durney's wines never disappoint even after 39 years.

Ideal pairing with Kobe prime rib and vegetables...



. . . . . . . . Pete
 
‘Never heard of this label before. Apparently, ownership has changed hands but the vineyard was planted in 1969 in Carmel Valley.
How about that.
 
Nice wines. Surprised to hear a Disorderist talk about them. It was kind of a hidden secret, despite them being fairly widely distributed to all the smart shoppes.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Nice wines. Surprised to hear a Disorderist talk about them. It was kind of a hidden secret, despite them being fairly widely distributed to all the smart shoppes.
Click to expand...

Are you making a distinction between Disorderists and Disorderlies?
 
As the linked page says, Bill Durney died in 1988. The property drifted until Gilbert Heller bought it in 1993.

The Hellers died in 2018 and the property is now in the hands of Bill Massa. More about that transition here.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
originally posted by MarkS:
Nice wines. Surprised to hear a Disorderist talk about them. It was kind of a hidden secret, despite them being fairly widely distributed to all the smart shoppes.
Click to expand...

Are you making a distinction between Disorderists and Disorderlies?
Click to expand...

Is there one?
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
As the linked page says, Bill Durney died in 1988. The property drifted until Gilbert Heller bought it in 1993.

The Hellers died in 2018 and the property is now in the hands of Bill Massa. More about that transition here.
Click to expand...

There are some interesting wines being made off this vineyard today. Ian Brand does one.
 
Durney Cabernet Sauvignon '90 -- Still dark red, LOTS of sediment, generous Cabernet aromas, solid core of fruit, tannins evolved, good length, seems like maybe a 15-year old wine, probably at its peak. Really terrific bottle of aged California Cabernet. [E+]

Superb with rack of lamb, sweet potato fries, and sliced fresh tomatoes/onions salad...then chocolate chip cookie and fresh strawberries.

. . . . . Pete
 
First heard of Durney when (IIRC) one of their earliest releases (1978? 1979?) came outta nowhere and won a gold medal at the LA County International Wine Competition. This was back when winning a medal in these sorts of competitions really meant something. The entries were mainly boutique producers and getting that sort of exposure in the LA Times was a Big Deal. I found a couple of bottles at Wally's for maybe $8 each and they were really memorable. I'd already been buying Mount Eden and Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Cabernets and liked the rusticity compared to the Napa cabs being made back then (the Santa Cruz forestation is denser, more like Sonoma, and that seemed noticeable in the wines).(Terroir? Go figure).

That same sort of edginess shows up in the San Benito County wines, and more of the easter Monterey County vineyards. Maybe Josh Jensen was right in looking for limestone. And as noted above, Ian Brand is the real deal in terms of winemaking in that section of north-central California. His wines are beautifully made, showing a high level of winemaking ability without losing the punk rock attitude (he's a different kind of rockstar I guess.) His Cabernet Franc is about my fave in CA, but I have a particularly soft spot in my heart for anything coming from the Enz Vineyard, the source of Brand's Mourvedre. For sure a New World style (vs Tempier) and quite pleasurable.

Cory Waller over at Eden Rift also gets it. The owner has enough money to make high-pointed wines but instead is focused on making great wines from the property. They have a bunch of different vineyard blocks and a gajillion Pinot Noir clones to play with and the wines are right up there at Calera level as far as their ability to provide sensual pleasure and wash dinner down in an appropriate manner while simultaneously providing the intellectual stimulation wine geeks seek at the table.

-Eden (current aural stimulation emanating from "Savoy," the new Taj Mahal album wherein he sings songs from his youth. This was quite some time ago but he does a good job remembering them)
 
Eden, I bought Durney Cabs in fairly large quantities (for me) for numerous years. I would occasionally serve a Durney Cab when attending a tasting and it often would win the preference of majority (all?) present.

I still have a few Durneys. None has ever disappointed.

I'm going to look into the "Savoy" on the Taj Mahal album.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:


Cory Waller over at Eden Rift also gets it. The owner has enough money to make high-pointed wines but instead is focused on making great wines from the property. They have a bunch of different vineyard blocks and a gajillion Pinot Noir clones to play with and the wines are right up there at Calera level as far as their ability to provide sensual pleasure and wash dinner down in an appropriate manner while simultaneously providing the intellectual stimulation wine geeks seek at the table.
Click to expand...

I've been impressed by Eden Rift too. The Central Coast is the most exciting region in California wine right now.
 
originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
First heard of Durney when (IIRC) one of their earliest releases (1978? 1979?) came outta nowhere and won a gold medal at the LA County International Wine Competition. This was back when winning a medal in these sorts of competitions really meant something. The entries were mainly boutique producers and getting that sort of exposure in the LA Times was a Big Deal. I found a couple of bottles at Wally's)...
Click to expand...

utterly weird coincidence another thread of yours caused me to remember these vintages of Durney, 1978 and 1979. I drank the last of the bottles I found by 2010 and they were glorious. I won't forget them. Brea is bottling a Cabernet from Massa Vineyard and the little I've had has been encouraging.
 
Durney Carmel Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon '92 -- A crumbly cork somehow delivered another fine Durney, dark red, beautiful generous bouquet, solid core of fruit, tannins long gone, so smooth and delicious, stayed well in the glass, yes past its prime but nonetheless lived up to the exemplary Durney track record. [E - VG]

Ideal pairing with duck confit and green salad.

durneyc.jpg
. . . . . Pete
 
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