Originally Posted by DJGMaster1

Forgive me for going off-topic, but this is kind of like the first bottle I ever tasted of Sterling 1978 Reserve Cabernet, which was mis-marked at the same $8.99 as their regular release Cabernet in a Liquor Barn. I might never have tried the Sterling '78 reserve for $30 circa 1982 when it was released, but once I did for $9, it became the benchmark by which I have judged every great Cabernet-based wine I have had since. And I subsequently bought cases of it in both 750s, Magnums, and a Jeroboam of the stuff in auctions (still at ridiculous prices, but closer the the proper price at it's release than that $9 mismark). I still have 1 Magnum and the Jeroboam left. I polished off the last 750 about a year ago, and it was fading, but still great. About 15 years ago, I threw a magnum of it into a large tasting of 1st growth Bordeaux from 1970-1990 as a ringer, and it was by acclamation, the best wine in the tasting.

On that occasion, it cleaned the clocks of 1982 and 1986 Mouton, 1982 and 1985 Lafite, 1983, 1989 and 1990 Margaux, and 1982 Cheval Blanc and 1970 and 1990 Latour, as well as the other ringer, 1985 Sassacaia. Most of these wines that the Sterling put in the shade have occasionally or frequently earned 100 point Parker scores.