In the second series of 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon tastings I knew some mystery wines had been inserted. When I tasted this wine I thought it was the 1982 Leoville Las Cases. Laurel Glen's 1986 Cabernet exhibits a youthful dense deep ruby/purple color with virtually no signs of age. Pure black-cherry and cassis fruit mineral notes and well-integrated wood aromas leisurely emerged with coaxing. Tannic and full-bodied as well as enormously rich well-endowed and extracted with excellent integrated acidity and a Bordeaux-like austerity this gorgeously pure rich young wine still needs another 4-5 years of cellaring. Could it possibly be a 30-year wine? A remarkable but not unexpected showing for Laurel Glen!The tasting notes for this section are from two single blind tastings one conducted in May

Tasted from magnum. This still seems on the way up. It's firm and tannic and may dry out but the currant cherry and mineral flavors are young and vibrant turning more complex on the finish where herb and tobacco flavors fold in. Well balanced for drinking now or cellar into 1999.--1986 California Cabernet horizontal. 3941 cases made. -JL