Marcelina 1999 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Let me start by saying, this link to the Gallo website is sort of pointless. Why they even bother I do not know.

However, poor websites aside, I purchased this wine from Safeway for $20 last week based on fond memories of the 1997 version of this wine. That wine was a delightfully drinkable wine exhibiting all the good qualities in a mid-priced Napa Cab that one hopes to find. Succulent fruit, ripe flavor, tannins well integrated from six plus years since pressing (it was available in '97), and at $12 a half bottle, a good value.

I just started noticing the '99 recently and figured, it must be time. So out comes the money and into the cart goes Gina Gallo's pride and joy. (Just guessing, Gina.)

The best place I could find to learn about this wine is at a website for the Sacramento, California distributor, the Lovotti Brothers Distributing Company, Incorporated. It's here for those inclined to care.

I need to start out by saying that most Napa area winemakers considered 1999 to be a phenomenal year for Cabernet. (Wine Spectator Magazine had this to say in 2000.) So far, (and I have a bunch) I have found them needing about 10 years in the cellar, or three days in the decanter. For the most part, whatever fruit they exhibit, is masked by tight, mouth curdling tannins. You know the ones I'm talking about. You can just tell that if you added milk to your mouth you would have cottage cheese... I am however hopeful that time will make these superb drinking. I hope I live that long. In my opinion, 1997, 1996, and 1995, were better years. So far.

In any event, back to Marcelina.... Three words; cherry cough drops. If you like these things you will love this wine. Personally, I wished I had a sore throat to test the wine with.

From the web site the description is: "exhibits classic and intense Napa Valley Cabernet aromas and flavors of blackcurrant and black cherry, balanced by hints of earthy richness and sweet vanilla." Hmmmm. The black cherry I got. I've never had blackcurrant so, maybe. Vanilla? Not that I could tell. Light tannins, weak flavor and black cherries. Ok. So for twenty bucks it has flavor and nose. And probably tastes better than many mid-pricers. But a lot of cherries. This wine may be better with foods normally reserved for Pinot Noir. Like... I don't know, maybe a mushroom chicken dish, or salmon. But I don't think it would fair well with the usual; red meats, red sauce, and red heads. (Just kidding.) Still if you got twenty dollars to spend, this might be a decent wine for the price. You will have to decide.

Webcam capture of the day: