Clos Saron, “Once Upon a Time” 1999

100% Cabernet Sauvignon farmed by Gideon on the ‘Slope 16’ parcel of Renaissance fame & infamy – a particularly vaunted + difficult site, it was southeast facing at 2200ft elevation on decomposed volcanic rock and only produced grapes for wine in 93, 94 (experimental cuvées) and this (final and the only commercial) bottling in 1999, the year after which the site was uprooted. 12.7% ABV and now ‘far from being either senile, old, or tired… it is in fact only now entering its “full maturity” phase, leaving it with a good decade or more of reserve,’ as Gideon notes