Duke of Bourbon - Rare Wines - Fine Spirits - Personalized Service - David, Judy and Ron Breitstein - 20908 Roscoe Blvd - Canoga Park CA 91304 - Phone: 818/341-1234 or 800/4-FINE-WINE - Fax: 818/341-9232
20908 Roscoe Blvd • Canoga Park CA 91304
Hours: Mon - Sat • 9AM - 6PM		 Phone: (818) 341-1234 • Fax: (818) 341-9232
Outside California: (800) 4-FINE-WINE

Cheers! from the Duke of Bourbon

The Duke and the OP have always been big supporters and fans of California wines. When the opportunity arose to score some older California wines, they jumped in with both feet.

Good friend and legendary winemaker Zelma Long has agreed to provide us with some wines from her personal cellar. Here is a quote from her letter explaining why she agreed to share part of California wine history with us:

I wanted to tell you how I put together the wines that you have for sale from my cellar.

Since I have some wonderfully aged Simi and Robert Mondavi Cabernets, I considered how I enjoy trying them. Personally I like to compare vintages from one winery; or the same vintage from different wineries. Since Simi and Mondavi represent Alexander Valley and Napa Valley, that is also an interesting comparison, in the same vintage (available in some of these lots).

These wines reflect those preferences. I have included some Chardonnays; although they are old by most California standards; Simi and Long Vineyards Chardonnays age particularly well and I have tried these wines and found them lovely . . . defying the often accepted maxim that California Chardonnays don't age.

You know this, but for clarity, I was winemaker at Robert Mondavi from 1973-mid 1979; then at Simi from harvest 1979 through 1990. At the same time I oversaw the winemaking at Long Vineyards. All of these wines came to me directly from those specific wineries at release, and they have been in my Long Vineyards cellar ever since; moved only once to bring them to my Chalk Hill cellar to get them ready for the Duke of Bourbon.

I have tasted, and enjoyed all these wines over the years...and have retained some for my own cellar. If I can provide some of your customers pleasure from these wines which I made, it would be very satisfying.

The list of wines follow. Please note that they will be sold as lots and not as individual bottles. Zelma's notes accompany the lots to explain her mindset while she personally assembled these wonderful collections.

LotYearProducer QtyCost
11974Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2 -
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$720.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
21974Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3-
- Lot Totals12SOLD
$720.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
31974Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3-
-Lot Totals 12SOLD
$720.00
ZL:These lots are a vertical of Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve bottlings beginning with the famed 1974 vintage. In 1984, at a tasting of the 1974 vintage, Michael Broadbent declared the Simi wines to be the best of that vintage. What an honor!
LotYearProducer QtyCost
41979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3 -
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$699.99
ZL:This lot offers the chance to compare Simi Reserve bottlings from 1979 through 1988.

LotYearProducer QtyCost
51985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon2-
1987 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1989Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1991Simi Chardonnay, Reserve1-
1993Simi Chardonnay, Reserve1-
1994Simi Cabernet Sauvignon1-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$480.00
ZL:This lot offers the chance to make the following fascinating comparisons:
  1. 1985 (an excellent vintage) and 1994 (an excellent vintage)
  2. Simi's Cabernet Sauvignon and the Reserve bottling from the same year - 1987
  3. Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from both 1988 and 1989
  4. Simi's Chardonnays have been very ageworthy; here is a chance to see two great examples

LotYearProducer QtyCost
61985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1987 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 2-
1989Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1993Simi Chardonnay, Reserve 2-
1994Simi Cabernet Sauvignon1-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$480.00
ZL:This lot offers the chance to make the following fascinating comparisons:
  1. 1985 (an excellent vintage) and 1994 (an excellent vintage)
  2. Simi's Cabernet Sauvignon and the Reserve bottling from the same year - 1987
  3. Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from both 1988 and 1989
  4. Simi's Chardonnays have been very ageworthy; here is a chance to see two great examples

LotYearProducer QtyCost
71982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Elegant		2-
1984Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Powerful		2-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Both elegant and powerful		2 -
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Elegant (cool vintage)		2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Balance between elegant and powerful		2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Powerful (very intense grapes in this vintage)		2-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$480.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
81982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Elegant		2-
1984Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Powerful		2-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Both elegant and powerful		2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Elegant (cool vintage)		2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Balance between elegant and powerful		2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Powerful (very intense grapes in this vintage)		2-
-Lot Totals 12$480.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
91982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Elegant		 2-
1984Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Powerful		2-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Both elegant and powerful		2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Elegant (cool vintage)		2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Balance between elegant and powerful		2-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Powerful (very intense grapes in this vintage)		2-
-Lot Totals12$480.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
101982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Elegant		2-
1984Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Powerful		2-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Both elegant and powerful		2-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Elegant (cool vintage)		2-
1987Simi Cabernet Sauvignon
ZL: Balance between elegant and powerful		2 -
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve
ZL: Powerful (very intense grapes in this vintage)		2-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$480.00
ZL: Here is a vertical of vintages from the 1980s, some of which are Reserve bottlings. The excellent 1985 vintage is represented. See the individual vintage notes.

LotYearProducer QtyCost
111979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3 -
1982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1983Simi Chardonnay
ZL: A wine Angelo Gaya described as fabulous. Still in good shape		3-
-Lot Totals12$420.00
LotYearProducer QtyCost
121979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1983Simi Chardonnay
ZL: A wine Angelo Gaya described as fabulous. Still in good shape		3-
-Lot Totals12$420.00
ZL: A comparison of three different Simi Cabernet vintages of different characters:
  1. 1979 - elegant, European style
  2. 1980 - concentrated fruit
  3. 1982 - elegant fruit

LotYearProducer QtyCost
131979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 1-
1979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon2-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1983Simi Chardonnay3-
-Lot Totals12$365.00
ZL: An opportunity to compare:
  1. 1979 Cabernet, Reserve, and
  2. Early Simi vintages of Cabernet

LotYearProducer QtyCost
141980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon6-
1980Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon6-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$420.00
ZL: 1980 was a wonderful vintage; giving very concentrated wines. A chance to enjoy and compare Simi (Alexander Valley) and Mondavi (Napa Valley)
LotYearProducer QtyCost
15 1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon6-
1980Simi Zinfandel6-
-Lot Totals12$390.00
ZL: Two varietals from a wonderful vintage; concentrated. Simi Zinfandels aged like clarets.

LotYearProducer QtyCost
161979Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 1-
1980Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1982Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve1-
1988Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve2-
1989Simi Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve3-
-Lot Totals12SOLD
$720.00
ZL: Wonderful Simi Reserve vertical of Cabernets from the best vintages of the 1980s (plus 1979)
LotYearProducer QtyCost
171981Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1981Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1986Simi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
1986Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon3-
-Lot Totals12$420.00
ZL: Compare Simi (Alexander Valley) and Mondavi (Napa Valley); in two different vintages: 1981 - a warm vintage giving powerful wines; 1986 - a cool vintage giving elegant wines

LotYearProducer QtyCost
181982Simi Chardonnay, Reserve2-
1983Simi Chardonnay, Reserve2-
1986Simi Chardonnay, Reserve3-
1989Simi Chardonnay, Reserve2-
1993Simi Chardonnay, Reserve3-
-Lot Totals12$360.00
ZL: Simi Chardonnays are noted for their ability to age. This lot showcases a set of the Reserves through the 1980s up to 1993. Amazing how they have aged and evolved.

LotYearProducer QtyCost
191985Long Vineyards Chardonnay2-
1985Simi Chardonnay2-
1985Simi Cabernet Sauvignon4-
1985Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon4-
-Lot Totals12$420.00
ZL: Two fine Chardonnays to compare from the great 1985 vintage and two fine Cabernets from that same vintage

It would be a shame to miss out on this slice of California wine history!
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