Community Tasting Note

• tward Likes this wine:

  November 3, 2021 - I don't drink much Cab and not much Napa, so very little Napa Cab. But I'd had such a wonderful experience with this producer picking up library wines ten years ago during the GFC that I buy a bottle every few years if I see it.
  
  This was sitting there at $35 USD, which seems like a good deal based on CT and wine-searcher info.
  
  Anyway... both of us immediately said "new world" on PnP on during that first glass. I got some fig, cassis, maybe plum, dusty tannins, blueberry (pie)? We liked it fine. Drank the bottle over four nights and liked the last glass the best, so this seems to bode well for further development.
  
  Based on the CT drinking window it seems this is barely ready to drink. I'd be curious to hear from people more familiar with this producer / Napa on whether really nice things are on the horizon for this 5 or so years down the line.
  
  14.5% abv.

  2,168 views

2 Comments

• Drewdles commented:

  11/24/21, 5:30 AM - Yes this wine will improve with age five or ten years down the line. In my opinion if you plan to tie up your storage space for a few years, spend a few extra bucks and age a nicer bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and keep drinking this one young as it’s very good for this price range. If you have a massive storage space then give it a shot! I only have space for 100 bottles so we have to be more particular with what we choose to age.

• tward commented:

  11/24/21, 6:56 AM - Thanks for the info, aklemens. I really appreciate it.
  
  I've got a bottle of this and its current drinking is not fully in my wheelhouse, so I think I will lay it down for five years or so.
  
  Between a small basement, another little structure I built, and some offsite lockers, I've got quite a bit of storage, but I do need to be more disciplined in my buying, that's for sure
  
  Your advice is sound regarding finding top bottles to lay down, but interestingly I've found the inverse of that rule to work quite well for me. Though higher end, recognized bottles do gain in value over time, they are generally available via reputable auction houses and some specialty retailers if you really want them. E.g. that Napa cab for $120 today might be $300 in ten years, but you should be able to find it if you really want it. HOWEVER, the $20 - $40 gems that turn into absolutely beautiful wines with age - good luck, there's no market for them. This is my experience with many Loires (red and white), Chianti, and all sorts of wines from non-heralded regions. (Not to mention Tablas Creek, where I'm a member - no wines >$50 for club members across the line and many of these wines become stunning with 7-15 years on them. Yet, besides the Esprit reds, it's very uncommon to find them more than a few vintages back)

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