1985 Diamond Creek

B

Bill Bounds

Bill Bounds
At one time I had a 65 bottle vertical of Diamond Creek from 1979 to 1987. Over the years I was not sure that I would ever drink a mature Diamond Creek. Now I have.
Last night was my daughter-in-law's 29th birthday. So we drank a 1985 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill and a 1985 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow. Both bottles were drinking beautifully. I double decanted both bottles 1 1/2 hours before dinner. I have always thought that the 1985 Cab vintage to be flawed and that the fruit wouldn't outlast the tannins. I was wrong. Like so many times I was drinking the wines too early. The bottles were bought on release and cellared ever since. The two corks looked beautiful after the capsule was removed but each one broke up about 2/3s down. As usual SueSue was masterful in removing the remaining cork.
Drinking these two bottles make me nostalgic for the 80s California cab style. Maybe someone has or will revive that style. Unfortunately I don't think that I have another 29 years.
RIP, Al.
What a genius.
 
In the last 18 months or so I have opened with friends a half a dozen Diamond Creeks from the 80s from my cellar. Each one was a solid wine and very enjoyable to drink. So I was not surprised with your results. Still have 8 or 9 bottles left, I wonder if I'll be so lucky with them?
 
1984 Lake was really outstanding last year. Almost made me want to keep an eye out for some, until I found out what the bottle goes for now. Nevermind.

ETA: I don't have a California vintage chart so I have no idea if a 1984 ranks higher than a 1985 - so if I'm just agreeing with a vintage chart, please carry on.
 
Michael, sorry for a tardy reply - traveling with little connection to the tubes. The name that cannot be spoken rated the 1985 vintage much higher than the 1984. The 1985s were big and tannic whereas the 1984 vintage was big but also very forward. The thought, I guess, was fruit forward - won't last or maybe "no pain, no gain" Calvinism. Turned out the 1984s were spectacular from day one, and they also go the distance. I think that the greatest Cali Cab that I've had is the 1984 Dunn Napa, and I had 3 1984 Diamond Creek Lakes. Drank my last 1984 Lake a couple of years ago and it still hadn't come around at least for me, but I'm tannin adverse. I confess that I had given up on the 1985s and thought that the fruit wouldn't outlast the tannin. The only reason that I pulled the 1985 Diamond Creeks was that it was my daughter-in-law's birth year. So they actually came around, and I have one 1985 DC Volcanic Hill and a 1985 Dunn Howell Mountain. But given the choice I would always pick the 1984s.
 
Bill, No question, many of the '80s, including the '85s, were delightful.

The late '60s and the '70s were no slouches either.

(Still marveling over our enjoyable visit to Tei An!)

. . . . Pete
 
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