Tasting notes for Vertical presentation of Allegro Vineyards Cadenza and CS Reserve 1982-97

[Joe Beppe Rosenberg]

I was invited to a tasting conducted by John and Tim Crouch of the York
County PA Red reserve wines. Starting in 1984 these wines were called
Cadenza. Only the 1980 was missing from this tasting of the best Red wine
East of the Rockies.

All Allegro Cadenzas are aged in a combination of French and American oak
for 20-24 months unless noted. the Crouches only made a Cadenza in a good
year for Bordeaux grapes.
All Cadenza now have artist labels made by local artists.
Listed in tasting order:

1997 Cadenza(Barrel Sample) 89% CS, 11% CF. Deep rich purple color;
cassias, tobacco aroma,tight tannic flavors w/ hints of tobacco and tar;
moderate finish 87/100. Drink 2000-2010

1995 Cadenza 92%CS,8%CF Deep purple color, plumy nose, rich tannins, lactic
fruit flavors, looong aftertaste. 89/100
Drink 2001-2015.

1995 Chateau Montrose. St Estephe is the spiritual home for Cadenza. Deep
purple, cedary-cigar box flavors. Very tannic and herbaceous. Very good
finish. 88/100. Drink 2001-2015.

1994 Cadenza 85%CS 3%Merlot, 12% CF. Light red at edges rich color in
middle. Cedar and tobacco aromas;rich complex cassias flavors, sweet fruit,
long finish. 90/100. Drink now -2005

1992 Cadenza 90% CS,5%Merlot, 5%CF. Light brick red, tobacco,prune nose;
softy fruity(cherries) flavors; moderate finish. 87/100. Drink Now-2001

1991 Cadenza 90%CS,5%Merlot,5%CF. Deep red color, herbaceous raiseny nose;
moderate tannins, sweet fruit. Long finish. 91/100. Drink now -2010.

1988 Cadenza 85%CS,12%Merlot,3%CF. Good red color (little fading),Tobacco
nose, rich fruity flavors, moderate tannin. Long finish. Only 10 months in
oak. 92/100. Drink now-2005.

1986 Cadenza 65%CS,25%Merlot,10%CF. Aged mostly in American oak. Light
brown color;rich cedary nose; spicy oaky flavors. Moderate finish. 90/100.
Drink now-2000.

1984 Cadenza 60%CF,40%Merlot. Reddish brown colors. Herbaceous peppery nose;
soft tannins, moderate finish; very bordeaux like in texture. 86/100 Drink
now.

1983 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. 85%CS,12% Merlot,3% CF. Brick red color,
tobacco nose,rich fruit flavors, good sweet finish. 87/100. Drink now.

1982 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90% CS, 10% CF. Reddish brown color; cedary
nose, drying fruit, moderate finish. 85/100. Drink now.

Well stored, none of the older wines showed serious signs of decay. Overall
except for the 86 these wines tasted remarkably the same except for the
intensity of the fruit.

IMHO only the Basignani Lorenzino from Maryland and bottlings from Catoctin
and Byrd in Maryland(both made by Rob Lyons) have the consistency of quality
as the Allegro Cadenza has in the Mid-Atlantic states. Cadenza is made in
small quantities; so little of it leaves the Keystone State. East Coast
Cabernets by nature are never going to be the spectacular fruit bombs found
on the left coast, nor have the complex subtleties of Bordeaux,
whose food affinities they favor, but wines like Cadenza are at least of
third growth qualities in their better years. Not bad for $25 a bottle!