Charles Krug, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 1968

Overview of the Wine
Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa. It’s hard to believe the winery has been producing wine since Abraham Lincoln was president back in 1861! Fortunately, many of the properties historic structures have been restored including the redwood cellar, which is the oldest, still functioning structure in the region!

The original owner, Charles Krug, has a colorful history which included a stint in prison for participating in a coup to overthrow the German Parliament. After release from prison, with tales of the Gold Rush taking place in California, Charles Krug was ready for a change. He came to California in 1852. Within a few years he moved to Napa and began a new career as a wine maker.

Today, almost 50 years later, the historic winery is trying to regain their place in the quality sweepstakes that takes place with the best wines in Napa Valley. The massive estate of Charles Krug includes 850 acres of vines planted to Bordeaux varietals. The vineyard is farmed using sustainable techniques. The family spent close to $25 Million Dollars completely rebuilding their winemaking facilities and replant much of their vineyard in an effort to once again, produce great California wine. Charles Krug continued improving their wine and reputation making some very strong wines by 2010, with their best current vintages being the 2012 and 2013. Mondavi remained active at the winery until he passed away at 101 years of age February 21, 2016. Peter Mondavi Dies,

If you’re seeking to taste fully mature, California wine at its best, the wines produced from 1945 to 1968 at Charles Krug are some of the better examples I have ever tasted. These are stunning, rich, pure, elegant tasting experiences that would fool anyone in a blind tasting when placed next to some the best Bordeaux wines of the same era. The Vintage Selection and Claret are the wines to seek out.

Low neck, high shoulder

Grape / Blend
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% each of Merlot and Malbec

Origin
Oakville, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
This medium-to-full bodied wine showcases a rich mix of berry, chocolate, and buttery caramel flavors set against a backdrop of toasted oak; all leading to a seamless, long finish of currant, blueberry, and warm oak.

It's hard to get more legendary than Charles Krug, the winery purchased by Cesare Mondavi in 1933, and run by brothers Peter and Robert Mondavi until a family dispute caused Robert to leave and start his own winery in 1966. After a decade of feuding, Peter Mondavi returned to Charles Krug in 1977 to start anew, making solid wines over the years, though they've often been overshadowed by the wines of Robert Mondavi.

John Gilman
These were tumultuous times at Charles Krug, as Robert Mondavi had only been thrown out of the family winery a few years before and the threat of the lawsuit churning its way through the courts at this time would have put a cloud over the winery, but Peter Mondavi still managed to make a very fine bottle of 1968 cabernet sauvignon. Back in these days, Peter Mondavi would still have been buying fruit from Nathan Fay’s excellent vineyard, and it is likely that the backbone of the 1968 is from Fay Vineyard (though he might have also been making a special bottling from these grapes in ’68). In any case, this wine, once it had a chance to open up in the decanter (as it started out a bit raisiny) is quite lovely, wafting from the glass in a mix of black cherries, dried eucalyptus, dried black currants, sage, a touch of saddle leather and a nice topnote of allspice. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and quite velvety on the attack, with solid mid-palate depth, melted tannins and very good length and grip on the vibrant finish. Not world class in terms of complexity, but a lovely bottle of mature cabernet sauvignon from an outstanding vintage.

Product size: 750ml