We will see with 2017, but the 2012-2016 range is the best run of consecutive vintages Napa has had since the 1991-1997 seven-peat. Just like that period, some are a little better than others. Here is my own current impressions of each Cab vintage since I arrived in Napa. Remember that I think Napa Cabs are best consumed between ages 8-15yrs most of the time.
2005: fruit forward, large crop, start drinking, 90pts
2006: gorgeous for last several years, improved a lot in bottle, drink over next 5yrs, 95pts
2007: tannic when young, huge early promise but hit or miss, will tannin outlive fruit? Try now. 91pts
2008: good but rarely anything spectacular. Start trying. 88pts
2009: quite ripe, lacking tannin, not long agers, drink up over next 5 years 87pts
2010: cool vintage with heat spikes, exc tannin, can age, give a try now 94pts
2011: poor, cold, wet vintage. A small number of wines are beauts. Drink now and next five. 75pts
2012: large crop, these wines have never shut down, drink now and next 5. Under-rated vintage. Beautiful 94pts
2013: has it all, fruit, tannin, depth. Should age well. The 2002 of this generation. Lay down a few years. 97pts
2014: leaner and more structured, might really appeal to some. Built to last. Lay down. 92pts
2015: a lot like 97 and 07. Very tannic, needs time. Have great potential but we will see. 90-94pts
2016: balanced and deep, showing immense promise. feels like the 06 vintage, 93-95pts
2017: lower alcohol, hit and miss, there will be excellence but not across board and we won’t know until its in bottle. 87-91pts