2017 Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Community Tasting Note
Badmonkey wrote:
Sunday, November 10, 2019 - Decided to pop a bottle after a recent email exchange with the owners of Becklyn Cellars who surprisingly thought the 2017 vintage is at a better drinking point than the 2016 vintage with a decent decant. Figured the 2017 Quivet Napa cab can’t be far off in light of the blend. Dark ruby fruit - currants/cassis, blackberry, dark raspberry, and a little blueberry. Really smooth with a nice purity but a little lighter fruit than the last couple vintages. Really nice vibrant/full flavors of dark berries, spice box/licorice, and a little cocoa. As usual, the flavors are quite enticing as this youthful stage. Fairly long finish. Decanted for three hours and drank over a couple more. Improved with time but drinking quite well after the decant despite its youth. Drank next to the 2015 vintage and surprisingly I preferred the 2017 vintage which was more expressive/flavorful and also not as rich/sweet as the 2015 vintage - although the 2015 was quite enjoyable as well. 100% cab.
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6 comments have been posted
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Comment posted by seijaro:
11/10/2019 6:55:00 PM - At a recent tasting Russell Bevan warned that there would be a lot of mediocre (and worse) 2017 Cabs coming out of Napa on account of scorching weather at just the wrong time. He coped by shading and irrigating his vines, but those who didn't got scalded grapes. He did say that 2018 could be a blockbuster.
Comment posted by DrBad:
11/10/2019 9:02:00 PM - Gonna try to hold off until '20 on these NV Cabs but good to hear they're drinking well. I leaned more heavily towards the Napa Valleys vs the Single Vineyard Cabs for '17 hearing they would probably drink sooner and to try to save up a little for '18.
Comment posted by Yack Man:
11/10/2019 11:38:00 PM - Nice notes Badmonkey, I agree with your thoughts on the 2017 Quivet, l actually prefer the 2017 Quivet over 2016 vintage at this point. I’ll post some notes on that wine after l pop my next bottle. I popped a 2017 Becklyn last night and it was very good after a couple of hours of air. I believe many of the 2017’s will prove to be hit and miss, however both Quivet and Becklyn NV’s are hits in my book.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
11/11/2019 5:04:00 AM - seijaro, I didn’t but much wine blind from the 2017 vintage in light of the weather/vintage concerns. However, I was quite impressed with this bottle. Much better than expected. Take care.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
11/11/2019 5:07:00 AM - DrBad, I’ll probably hold-off on further bottles until at least the end of the year to let it open-up some more on its own, however, this vintage can be coaxed into a nice drinking with a decent decant. A pleasant surprise. Take care.
Comment posted by Badmonkey:
11/11/2019 5:12:00 AM - Yack Man, I just noticed your note on the 17 Becklyn. Nice note and great to hear. My bottles should arrive this week. I was really surprised how well the 17 Quivet Napa showed with a couple hour decant - way surpassed my expectations. I agree that it is better than the 16 vintage at least at this point. It appears to me that the 16 Pellet fruit still needs some time to come around with the 16 Napa.