Buena Vista Sonoma Valley Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, 1978

The 1970s was a good decade for wine--at home or across the ocean. For my birthday month, I have been drinking up some of the oldest wines in my cellar, and so far I have not been disappointed. The 1975 Fourcas Hosten Haut Medoc was shockingly good at 51 years; this Buena Vista Cabernet is even better at age 48. The appellation is Sonoma Valley rather than Napa but the vines were actually in the Sonoma portion of Carneros, now reserved mainly for Napa Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The cool climate has created  a Cabernet that is elegant, silky and clearly ageworthy.

The color has lightened with garnet/amber tones. The cork was sound and dry with wine stain less than a quarter of the way up from the bottom of the cork. I bought the wine soon after release at the old Sam's Wine store near the subway on North Streetr in Chicago. $11.95 says the sticker, a markdown from $13.95. Smells and flavors are glorious after all that time in the bottle. Ripe strawberry, red currants,  sweet spices. Could easily be mistaken for a mature Pinot Noir. No tannin but enough acid to brighten the flavors. I'm sure the wine was even better 10 years ago, but tonight I have no complaints.