90

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

(14.4% alcohol; 24% St. Helena, 62% Bancroft, 11% Tre Colline and 3% Cabernet Franc; following a cool, rainy spring and a warm summer, the long harvest lasted into November): Good full red. Slightly exotic, wild aromas of red berries, flowers, leather, truffle and underbrush. Smaller-scaled than the 1992, showing sexy earth tones and sound framing acidity. Tannins turn a bit dusty on the back end but this wine is à point right now.

93

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

Production: 17,000 cases Alcohol: 14.1% Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc Harvest Dates: October 12 to November 11. A more mineral-dominated wine, the 1993 Private Reserve offers notes of cedarwood, black cherries, black currants, damp earth, underbrush and forest floor. It is the product of a lower than normal crop, some shatter during berry set and a general reduction of fruit by nearly 30% in some vineyards. August and September alternated between cool periods and large heat spikes. This was a challenging year, but the seemingly fully mature wine has turned out very well. Unlike 1992, 1991 and 1990, this vintage is best consumed over the next 5-7 years given its more fragile constitution.