Earle Jones wrote:
> We opened my last bottle of the David Bruce PN from 1981.
>
> Not sure what to expect, this wine turned out to surprise us. Eminently
> drinkable, the expected brassy edge of age was there, but sufficient
> fruit carried it well. This 31 year-old bottle was much better than we
> suspected.
>
> Alcohol 12.8%.
>
> David Bruce Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
> Estate Bottled Vintage 1981.
>
> The price tag, still on the bottle: $12.50 -- probably purchased from
> Beltramo's Wines in Menlo Park.
>
> **
> Next adventu the 1970 and 1973 Mouton. The '73 has the Picasso
> label, which is probably its best characteristic. The '70 was Marc
> Chagall. Probably over the hill (like me!) More tasting notes later.

Wow, Earle! I'd bet that I had this wine in its youth, but had neither
the foresight nor the inclination to hold onto it for this length of
time. Many of Dr. Bruce's wines from that era (as you likely know) were
big and bruising, often very tannic in their youth. Glad to see that
your patience was rewarded.

Those Moutons stand a good chance of being great bottles. Best of luck
with them!

Mark Lipton