This bottle of Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1975 had been properly stored since shortly after release, the fill was still in the lower neck, and the cork was sound.
The color is still extremely dark. Only using a very bright light, can you detect a bit of age around the rim. There is very intense cassis, with hints of other dark fruits and cedar along with hints of mixed herbs and spices. There is a bit of oak, but the huge body of this wine nearly overwhelms the oak, even after 30+ years. There still is tannin that is mouth coating, but it is now quite soft. There is enough acid, but not excessive as in some of the very large 70s cabs. The texture is nearly thick in feel. The alcohol, however, is not excessive and hot, and is listed as 12% on the bottle. The balance is very good for such a highly extracted wine, and the wine is easy to drink alone or with food despite the huge body. The finish is quite long. This wine could last quite a bit longer, and I detected no oxidation or anything else that would indicate that the end is near. True, this wine is a bit of a monster, but it is a very friendly monster.