Community Tasting Note

Monday, May 1, 2023 - Ok.....I take it all back. There were at least a 'few' really, really good wines come out of Napa in '17 and this is one of them. I love Cab Franc, even better is mountain Cab Franc. Even better is mountain Cab Franc made by Chris Carpenter.

Right from the pnp, the nose speaks of intense, classy faint blue and intense red fruit, it's perfumed and powerful. Medium garnet in the glass. Juicy, smooth and perfectly integrated. Light brown herbs waft from the glass as well. There's medium plus weight here and good flow through from the front to the back palate. As with all CCarpenter wines in my memory bank, the balance is impeccable. Beautiful acidity ties it all together in a finish that is a good minute long, much like the finish on his '15 Merlot from last night, full of acidity and spice on the back end. This particular bottle only had about 5 minutes at the very beginning of the night, where it reminded me of the prototypical red fruited '17....and it passed quickly with the fruit deepening, adding cassis initially after an hour and only improving further over a 2nd hour in the glass when the fruit turns all red replaced by kirsch instead. My intention was to save the last 3rd of the bottle under cork for tomorrow night and rehash it on a 2nd night like I did the Merlot last night. Unfortunately, I've started binging 'Reacher' again, as I prepare myself for the release of season 2 in the fall. Not sure the rest of this bottle will make it to tomorrow......easy 95-96 for this one. No reason to decant, just pnp and enjoy over at least 2-3 hours or until the bottle is gone.

Addendum: down to my last glass late at night, so now 5-6 hours of total air. Rich cherry fruit, vibrant with riveting acidity and moderately astringent tannins at this point. There was a moment at 4 hours of air where I would have given the wine with its rich kirsch that starts and continues right through to the end of the bottle, a 97. The wine is degrading just a tad now at 95......bottle is best in hours 1 through 4 if opening now. No harm in holding, these will last quite a while but for you fruit hedonists, it's hard to pass up now.

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4 comments have been posted

Comment posted by sastewart:

5/2/2023 10:25:00 AM - Thanks for your report Mark, I am glad to hear the high praise! Great vineyard, great winemaker.
I don't buy a lot of Napa these days (mostly old world) but bought a couple of these at auction recently because I still remember the La Jota Cab Francs from the mid 90's made by Helen Turley. Absolutely the best Cab Franc I ever had from California.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

5/2/2023 11:01:00 AM - Yw, my friend. I'm a member of their club and 'had' to take these in a shipment. I bought very few of the '17s from anybody and pretty much zero '20s. Was originally planning on giving them to my son, but this is just too good. Big and juicy still, so if you like these wines with age, better lay them down for a few more years......but it's awfully good right now! Cheers!
Comment posted by Decanting Queen:

5/6/2023 7:10:00 AM - I never thought I would hear you say that!!!!
Interestingly, some of these ‘17s (the ones that escaped the ash tray effect) have been improving in the last few years. Also, I notice that cab sauv seemed to bear the brunt of the ‘17ness. I have had better luck with other varieties so maybe CF also did better with the conditions.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

5/6/2023 7:47:00 AM - I know, DQ! Can you believe it? This one and the Dakota Shy Zen Master are my 2 fav '17s from Napa. Glad I have one bottle of each left to try a little later.