1983 Mas La Plana

Served blind alongside VCC 1983 and chosen because this was when this wine was riding the crest of the wave created when the 1970 did so exceptionally well in the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting. It tasted sweet-fruited but had a rather rhubarby lack of freshness. It was soft and sweet rather than great and I wondered whether it was yet another old Californian. Labelled at a time when the words Cabernet Sauvignon were a badge of honour – especially but by no means exclusively in Spain. (At this time the wine was labelled 'Gran Coronas Mas La Plana' although nowadays these are two separate bottlings.) (JR)