Recommendation for special gift

My employer is retiring in December. He started this business in 1974. I am looking to purchase a Napa 1974 Cab. Any suggestions on what to buy and where to buy it?

In 1978 I had two excellent 1974 Cal Cabs: Raymond (Napa) and Chateau St. Jean (Sonoma). I don't know where you would find such wines now or if they'd be dead by now, but it was an excellent vintage.

Winebid (from briefly scanning the site, thanks, Jenise!)

Chateau Montelena or Stag's Leap Winery might be worthy reds with some life in them. Or, Maybe Beaulieu?

Winebid (from briefly scanning the site, thanks, Jenise!)

Chateau Montelena or Stag's Leap Winery might be worthy reds with some life in them. Or, Maybe Beaulieu?

Chateau Montelena and Stag's Leap most certainly, along with Ridge Monte Bello, Caymus Special Selection, Heitz Martha's Vineyard and the various Diamond Creek bottlings. If properly stored, they should all still be drinking well, though none of them will come cheap. In fact, probably the only way to get any of those wines at this late stage would be at auction.

Mark Lipton
(did I just recreate the Judgement of Paris?)

[Jenise]

Mark, what about Beaulieu Georges Latour? I've had many a fine older bottle of this wine (thought not '74) and would think it a good candidate.

I found some bottles in the $100-150 range using winesearcher:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Bv+Beaulieu+George+Latour+Prvt+Rsrv+Cab+Sauv+Napa+Valley+County+Northern+California+Coast/1974/USA-/USD/A/-/12347

Chateau Montelena or Stag's Leap Winery might be worthy reds with some life in them.

Not sure, Brian, but you might mean Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. Stag's Leap Winery is a different producer (with less cachet, I'm pretty sure).
It was the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973 "S.L.V." that won the famous blind tasting in Paris in 1976. Montelena's Chard, IIRC, won in the white category.

The only two I've had in last 5 years are Mondavi Reserve and BV GdlT. I much preferred the Mondavi (though I am usually a BV fan). I noted that in a recent "View to the Cellar" Gilman (who furnished the Mondavi Reserve I tasted) said the regular Mondavi was almost as good. And that's probably less than $100.

Mark, what about Beaulieu Georges Latour? I've had many a fine older bottle of this wine (thought not '74) and would think it a good candidate.

Jenise,
BV went through a fairly serious "down" period in the '70s after Tchelistcheff's retirement in '73, though I don't know if it affected the quality of the '74 GdL or not. Based on Dale's experience, I'd be a bit careful (should have mentioned Mondavi, though: they're almost always underestimated).

Mark Lipton

I just looked up Gilnman's report on 60s and 70s Cabs. He gives a rather poor score to the '74 BV George Latour, but notes apparently it was bottled over a long period, not all at once. And the "early" bottles have a much better rep than the later ones. But who would know at this point?

In addition to '74s named above (both Mondavis, Caymus, Heitz Martha's, Diamond Creek) John gave excellent reviews to Sterling, Mt Eden, Mayacamas, and (are you ready) Fetzer.