88 1997 Cline Ancient Vines Zin Contra Costa County 5/11/06 ($14)
Has some brown, but still looks surprisingly healthy and deep. The bouquet is the most impressive part with ripe fig and blackberry fruit and fine Madeira and gray ash nuances, the latter often found in fully mature Zin. It has held together well, showing just a touch of acetic acid with excellent acidity propelling very ripe, but not over ripe fruit. The flavor shows its age more than the bouquet with Madeira and acetic acid starting to mar the fruit. The finish parallels the bouquet with fine Madeira and ash complexity adding to the relatively long finish.
An amazing wine for its price and age that has remained delicious. It was probably at its best at 5-7 years old.