Tried this last night w/ low expectations:
1. DryCreekVnyd Zin OldVines DryCreekVlly (12.7%; 17% PS; Drk: '89-'99: DS) Healdsburg 1988: Med.dark color w/ some bricking; rather cedary/pencilly/oldZin somewhat spicy/blackberry/Zin/licorice/DrPepper some dusty/OV/earthy light Am.oak/vanilla complex nose; somewhat tart quite cedary/pencilly/oldZin spicy/blackberry/Zin/licorice/pungent some vanilla/Am.oak classic DCVlly Zin w/ light/smooth tannins; med.long bit tart/tangy some blackberry/Zin/raspberry/spicy light Am.oak/vanilla bit licorice/DrPepper/pungent complex finish w/ light/drying tannins; starting to dry out a bit but still plenty of spicy/blackberry/Zin fruit. $10.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Thought sure this would be pretty much shot. It was not. Still had plenty of fruit in there. Presumably this was a blend of Sommers and Beeson fruit. They were not doing vnyd-designate Zins yet; that came later.
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2. I have, of course, followed DCV from the very start w/ DaveStare's '72 Gamay; one of the prettiest Gamays I can recall from Calif. His first Zin was a '73, put up in a Burgundy btl as I recall. I remember being profoundly disappointed by the wine. It was bright/zesty/drinkable and classic DryCreekVlly Zin w/ lots of raspberry fruit. However, this was back in the days (by crackey) when power/extract/alcohol/black color was the hallmark for great Calif Zins. I expect, now, that I'd have appreciated Dave's first Zin a whole lot more.
Tom