PHMG WAG Napa Cabs: Old vs. New School

Tasted Saturday, February 1, 2014 by Grinner with 542 views

Introduction

Do wineries that have been around for 30+ years make wines different from their younger brethren? How DO you define "New School" or "Old School"? The wines for the four main contests were double decanted 4-5 hours before tasting and we were able to try them blind side by side. Dinner included some jazzy ground pork sliders brushed with a Napa Cab reduction sauce.

Flight 1 - The Opener (1 Note)

served with "New School" (rice, sweet potato, onion) vs. "Old School" Triscuits! topped with any combo of pear, Fuji apple, and Crater Lake blue cheese that you could top off with a balsamic reduction glaze

  • 2005 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Private Reserve 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Bought on release, forgotten in a cold cellar, and then opened for 2 hours. Served at a high 40's temp. I was a bit afraid I held this too long and even had a back-up (Chablis) ready. Nothing to fear! Nice young color, a nose of pear, citrus, oak and hint of petrol. Down the hatch: this had a nice full body, more white fruit and some mineral notes, and a nice, slightly flabby finish. On plateau; so unless your cellar is very cold, it's time....

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Flight 2 - Napa Cab Battle #1, the value flight (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    A great start to the tasting and some tasters would prefer 2 of these rather than 1 of the later big hitters. Black fruit, plum, stone, tar, and oak on a slightly rustic texture. Nice depth and length. Held up really well ungassed for 2 more days.

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  • 2010 Envy Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Price Vineyard 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This wine gave itself away in the pairing as the "newbie" by being a little riper and having more glycerin. Still a very nice bottle of wine with layers of jammy black fruit with spice/oak notes. Fun but not particularly complex.

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Flight 3 - Cab Battle #2 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very different than it's opposite in this tasting and easy to pick out as "new school". Ripe, dense, and glycerin laden. Blackberry fruit, spice/herbs, tar, oak, and a touch of violet. A Cab-fandel!

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  • 2009 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

    A little tight on the nose compared to many this evening. Black cherry, plum, spice, mint, and oak notable. Complex and layered on the palate. Moderately tannic. Needs time. Next one in a year.

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Flight 4 - #3 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A big black wine in every way. Dark color, a black fruit nose and palate, and a stern finish. Has a rustic texture with coarse tannins. It's a bit hot, but all the elements are there and also screaming for attention. Really good days 2-3, ungassed. WAIT.

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  • 2010 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Coliseum Block 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Wow! No mistaking this. Definite "new school" tones, ripeness, and glycerin. Tannic but seamless. Black cherry, earth, mocha, and subtle oak. Big, big , big, and yet in balance. Now or later. Didn't have any left for trying on day 3, it was too good on day 2...

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Flight 5 - #4 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A classically styled Napa Cab, with cassis, blackberry pie, mocha, mint, earth, and spice/oak notes. Nice texture and complexity w/o a hint of being over-ripe like the "newbies". Now or later.

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  • 2010 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    The least obvious "new school" wine in this tasting. Ripe, but not over-ripe. Glycerin but not too "sweet". Very nice layers of black fruit and earth tones. Open nose and just lacks a little complexity. Most likely to improve of the newbies given how it performed on days 2-3.

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Flight 6 - "Dessert" (1 Note)

What are these wines going to taste like in 15 years? Like this we hope!

  • 1994 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My WOTN (duh!). Cork was perfect. Double decanted 2 hours before trying and boy, was that a challenge to wait given what I was smelling during the decant. Garnet rim, deep ruby in the deep end, where I jumped off. Ultra-smooth black cherry, cigar, floral tinged earth and oak notes. Lingers like a beautiful sunset. Don't wait too long.

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Closing

Nary a bad wine to be found! Old School won by a large margin after tallying the votes from 13 tasters. They were also guessed correctly more than chance would predict. When New School did get votes it was for immediate drinkability and hedonism. We think the Olds will last longer.

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