Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, and Many More. Check out our recent press.

Award-winning SF wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more
Sold out

Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Selection 1978 (Base Neck)

$29999
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
This is a chance to taste a 1978 Cabernet from Napa Valley's oldest winery, and the fill still reaches the base of the neck, which is about as good as it gets for a bottle this old. Charles Krug was founded in 1861, and in 1882 it opened what the winery calls California's first tasting room. The Mondavi family bought the estate in 1943 and has made Cabernet Sauvignon there since 1944. Vintage Selection is the Cabernet the family has chosen to keep, year after year. Their own collection goes back to that first 1944 and was built in honour of patriarch Peter Mondavi Sr., and the winery considers it the oldest collection of Cabernet in Napa Valley. This 1978 belongs to that same line, made during the family's ownership. Mature Napa Cabernet from the 1970s rarely turns up, and opening one is the only way to find out what these wines became. Stand the bottle upright for a day before serving, then decant it gently to leave any sediment behind.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


Add your content here

More about

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Vintage

    1978

  • Size

    750ml

  • Style

    Rich

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Herb-crusted prime rib with jus; roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic; wild mushroom risotto; aged Comté or Gruyère served at the end of the meal.

Tasting Profile

Expect the profile of a mature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: dried blackcurrant and plum giving way to cedar, tobacco, leather and earthy, savoury notes. Typically the tannins have softened into a silky, medium-bodied texture, with acidity still holding it together and a dry, gently lingering finish. Think of an aged Bordeaux with a little more ripe Californian fruit.