Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1949

1949 Cabernet Sauvignion Charles 03/nowx2 The Charles Krug Winery is one of the oldest vineyards in California. It was founded by a Russian immigrant Charles Krug in 1861. He started from scratch and built a succesful wine enterprise which covered 123 has at its peak. Two years after his death in 1894, the phylloxera that had already been a strain on the whole wine world finally found its way to his estate and destroyed the vines totally. Shortage of new vines and the new prohibition forced the estate to give up cultivation, and soon it was re-possessed by the banks. Italian born Cesare Mondavi purchased Charles Krug´s vineyard in 1943 and modernized its wine production methods radically. The estate was a pioneer in the Californian wine industry and it was the first to generate sterilized wine cleansing, fermentation temperature control and long-term maturing in oak casks, among other things. This 1949 came from the New York auction house. Condition was excellent and level was high-shoulder. I cannot stop marvelling at the condition of these old Californian Cabernets, which seem to age exceptionally well. Very impressive, dark, bright colour to rim, an even more brilliant colour than the famous 1958. Lovely concentrated red fruit, dusty minerals and butter to nose. Quite complex, well balanced and thick with life. Big, even beefy and some soft tannin left. Has held very well, but does not improve. A unique and singular moment.

- Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine