Accessible Napa Mountain Cabs? + introduction

Hello! Long time lurker, first post here.

A little bit about myself - I’m 28 years old, been into wine since about 22. My ah ha moment with wine was a bottle of Orin Swift’s The Prisoner (a style I still like, but not my favorite).
I’d describe my preferred style of wine to be ‘modern old world’, meaning I value structure and complexity over overt fruit flavors, but I would never turn down a well made new world wine.

Onto my question: one of my favorite styles of wine is a nice Napa Mountain cab, like Howell Mountain, Veeder, and Spring. The problem with many of these wines is that they really need cellar time before they shine.

I haven’t been collecting wine too long, so for me to acquire aged wines, I’m looking at auctions and taking chances not knowing how the wine was stored, or I’m buying at release and trying to sit on it for years (or a couple decades, like Dunn).

It seems like many mountain producers take pride in how long their wine can age, and how tight they are early, but I’m looking for something I can pick up at release and pop open within a year or two, in the $40 - $125 range.
I really like really like Smith - Madrone cabs, I think those are fairly open early, but also age pretty well.

Does anyone have any recommendations for wines of this style that I can drink near release without feeing guilty for popping years before their prime?

It seems the general consensus is that 2012 drinks well young is way more accessible young than 2013, so for something to open now, you might look to that vintage. Obviously that is subject to producer by producer variation. On the really widely available list, I had Pride Mountain 2012 recently and it was pretty good. Sherwin Family is really great Spring Mountain Cab…I haven’t had the 2012 yet. Sherwin will be toward the high end of your range.

Highly agree that 12’s are the way to go, far more approachable than 13’s which are very unfriendly for now

I like Arns and you should be able to find 2009 and 2010 at about $65 +/-5. In general terms, I prefer the 2009’and 2010 to 2012 and the few extra years of age helps as well. At the same price point is the Girard Diamond Mtn. Not sure about all vintages but the 2013 is really nice and a steal for the price but will be best with some age.

Eric, you might also want to try mountain Zins from producers such as Turley.
Also Lagier-Meredith makes some great wines from Mt Veeder. The Malbec is close in style to a cab. There is also a cab blend that L-M makes with Potts under the Chester’s Anvil label.
None of these wines are expensive.

Eric, Definitely +1 on Sean’s recommendation of Pride. You might want to check out Hess Mt. Veeder estate. I think that might line up with what you’re looking for in terms of profile/mountain fruit/approachable early. Although if you can get a hold of a 2010 its drinking really well right now. On the lower end of the price scale I’ve been really impressed with Chappellet’s Mountain Cuvee recently and it might be worth checking out too (especially if you spot it on a restaurant wine list and want something that isn’t jacked up into the price stratosphere).

Well Smith Madrone would have been my first suggestion but it sounds like you are already there. Newton is another candidate that I think fits your bill.

I am not a Napa-sseur, but I consider Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon wines to be the “tightest” on release versus the other Napa high-elevation sites.

I agree with those who suggest non-Cabernet reds for earlier enjoyment (even though most will age gracefully). Diamond Mountain has a section of a “banana belt” warmth - according to Nickel and Nickel.

The Lake Hennessey area wineries, to my understanding, are more forgiving of earlier drinking as well. Some Howell Mountain reds can be drunk earlier, as with Atlas Peak

The Petite Sirah wines from the Palisades appear to be approachable younger, although it might be a little rash to do so…

Eric- check out Robert Craig. They make Spring, Mt Veeder, Howell and Diamond Mtn cabs. If you join their club( also can find at retail) the wines are in the $70-80 range. The wines are very good and 09-13 vintages are as good as many wines that are a good bit more. They are vintage dependent in some sense for accessibility but these do show very well with just a few years age. They are made in the style i think your looking for- modern with a nod towards classic/old world.

I had the 11 Howell recently and it was excellent. 11 has been panned by the critics but the Mtn’s especially Howell are the stars and can be found at discounts.

I’d also recommend Buehler for something in that same style but at a lower price point and more of a regular drink. It’s hillside mountain vineyard above Conn Valley. You can find the estate for under $30. Welcome to the board.

cheers
Fred

Welcome to the board, Eric. Several good recommendations so far with Pride, Arns and Robert Craig. I would also highly recommend the La Jota Howell Mountain and the Mt. Brave Cabs. I think the price is around $70-$80 and the quality is very good, especially the 2012’s. I would also recommend Keenan’s Cab from Spring Mountain. And, if you are willing to go up Spring Mountain into Sonoma County, try the Hidden Ridge. Their 55% slope Cab can be found for around $50-$60 and is very good. Enjoy the search!

Thanks,
Ed

Several good recommendations there, Ed. Especially good call on the Mt. Brave wines. Their cab and merlot are both nice. I believe they also make a malbec, although I haven’t had it.

Hi Eric, welcome.

If you want some unsolicited advice, think about this comment:

My ah ha moment with wine was a bottle of Orin Swift’s The Prisoner (a style I still like, but not my favorite).
I’d describe my preferred style of wine to be ‘modern old world’, meaning I value structure and complexity over overt fruit flavors, but I would never turn down a well made new world wine.

Not sure where to start but before you start trying to stick yourself into a box, my advice is to just drink as widely as you can. There’s wine from all over the world that will fit your criteria.

If you like the S-M, go with that. Chappellet makes wine from mountain sites, Pride does, Marston, Ladera, Von Strasser, and Ridge also.

I no longer drink Pride Mtn; I guess it’s no longer style. I would suggest Chappellet Signature which is up on Prichard Hill. The tarriff is less than some mentioned.

Leonard, not sure the last Pride you have had but if it’s pre2008, you owe yourself a try. It’s very different in a good way.
Cheers!

Stony Hill.

Just had it recently and it is lovely and ready to drink fairly young. Beautiful and historic estate on Spring Mountain. Best known for their whites, so their cab can get overlooked. Very affordable too.

I’d recommend Neal Family. The Napa Valley usually has a healthy percentage of Howell Mountain fruit in it, and the current release, the 2012, lists for $50. Their Vineyard Designate bottlings include 3 or 4 different mountain vineyards.

The wines can age, but also show well young (decanting helps), as long as you’re not expecting “in your face” fruit.

I note the winery has a few older vintages available of both the Napa Valley and the Vineyard Designates, at what look like reasonable price premiums, given the assured provenance.

great suggestion…

Brandlin’s 2012 Mt Veeder Estate Cab drinks very well right now.

Wow, so many great recommendations! I’ve never tried most of these.

Thanks for the tip on 2012 vs 2013 - critics make it sound like 2013 was as good if not better than 2012, so good to know that they’re more tightly wound for now. Great tip on finding deals on 2011’s.

As for not branching out, rest assured, I’m working on that too. I really enjoy Oregon Pinots, central coast rhone styles, Spanish Tempranillo, and French rhones. In general, I’m horribly inexperienced in Italian wines, Bordeaux and Burgundy, and all European whites (esp German and Austrian). This forum is BIG on those regions, so I’m hoping to learn a lot here.

Right now, about 75% of my purchases are wines that I’m pretty sure I will like, and 25% are ‘branching out’ to try new things.

Per your suggestions, I picked up a 2011 Mt. Brave today! I’ll let this bottle mellow out for a bit, and report back after I pop it open!