Did Jeb release his 2020 scores? Myriad sent out an email with his scores for their '19s, but nothing about the '20s. Regardless, I’m not planning on buying and 2020 Napa Cab this year.
“ All I can recommend is caution. I would not buy a single 2020 red from the North Coast without personally tasting it. Even then, given smoke taint’s ability to emerge in the bottle over time, I would plan on routinely opening bottles to ensure their soundness”
I can’t imagine Mike Smith releasing tainted wine but Dunnuck’s report is pretty damming. I have heard the same thing from a couple wine makers when we were in Napa last month. Will pass on all 2020 Cabs.
Coincidently, I was drinking a 2018 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico this evening. Both the '18 and the '16 have a strong wood smoke note, and I found myself asking if I’d consider this a flaw if the wine were from California. I like it on the sangiovese, but it’s quite pronounced at the moment.
FTR, the only 2020 California red I’ve had has been Bedrock OVZ, and I detected no taint at all. Quite different from 2008 Anderson Valley, where everything tasted like ashtray.
We’ve had multiple bottles. Oddly tonight’s had strong notes of star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves. Then I remembered that it was mulled wine, and all was good.
I feel a little bad using a Bedrock for mulled wine, but good wine makes good mulled wine.
I’ve had 4 northern CA winemakers come by my store and said smoke taint wasn’t an issue for them. We shall see ofc but none of the 2020 wines we’ve tried so far showed any signs of smoke taint.
Many people like that cigar box undertone in French wine. I’m thinking if a wine is just very very mildly effected it might be an interesting flavor.
I’d imagine if the smoke taint was really awful producers would just sell it off as bulk juice and all the cheap wine blends from there will have smoke taint.
I’m glad you’ve combed through all my posts. I’m honored you’ve paid such attention. There’s no point in furthering this conversation with you if you’re going to decidedly be dismissive.