Sterling

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Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
Sterling Vineyards Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon '10 -- Dark red, black fruits, weedy dill, integrated, narrow palate profile, still adequate tannins/acid, medium dark fruits, 14.9 alcohol somehow in abeyance, pretty much what I expected, no rush to consume. [VG - E]

Worked okay with fried chicken on tossed green salad with Italian dressing.

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. . . . . . Pete
 
Fourteen years old, significant alcohol, narrow, “worked okay” - maybe there’s a time to say enough.
At least, that’s what this note says to me.
Certainly, I would taste whatever is served but, assuming I don’t have this in my cellar, I can think of other things I’d like to buy.
You?
 
Pete,
The curious thing is that I have had Sterling cabs from the ‘70’s that were excellent, that had clearly developed over time and that I was very pleased to taste. Times change but . . . you never know until you try.
 
originally posted by Florida Jim: Pete, The curious thing is that I have had Sterling cabs from the ‘70’s that were excellent, that had clearly developed over time and that I was very pleased to taste.
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Jim, Likewise with me...particular the amazing 1974. This is surely why I made the purchase that I did.

Maybe given more time my next bottle of 2010 will be better, but I'm not optimistic.

Quite a few years ago, a friend and I staged a 2-day tasting of most all of the 1974 Cabs. Without checking my notes, the Sterling was one of the MVPs along with the Mayacamas, Mondavi Reserve, Heitz Martha's, Montelena, and maybe one or two more.

. . . . . Pete
 
The early- to mid-70's Sterling wines were made by Ric Forman, and were stunning. Unfortunately, I broke my only bottle of '74 while moving cellars. It smelled amazing, though.
 
Yeah, the ‘70s wines were a completely different beast. Sterling was purchased from Peter Newton by Coca-Cola in 1977, who later sold it to Seagrams, who later sold it to Diageo. Safe to say that their wines have been pretty formulaic since their purchase by corporate entities.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Andrew Zachary:
The early- to mid-70's Sterling wines were made by Ric Forman, and were stunning. Unfortunately, I broke my only bottle of '74 while moving cellars. It smelled amazing, though.
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Ric went independent in the 80s, and a few Cabs from that period that I tasted in the 00s were very good. They are still in business, but I haven't had any of the wines in a long time.
 
originally posted by MLipton:
Yeah, the ‘70s wines were a completely different beast. Sterling was purchased from Peter Newton by Coca-Cola in 1977, who later sold it to Seagrams, who later sold it to Diageo. Safe to say that their wines have been pretty formulaic since their purchase by corporate entities.

Mark Lipton
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Diageo was the death knell; their management applied the same milking strategy to all the high end brands they bought. Those execs are mostly gone now I believe. The current winemaker at Sterling estate, Laurie Kopit, is sharp and talented but I don't know how much leeway she has.

CM
 
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