Anyone had the 2006 Havens Black & Blue? Interested in TNs.

WINE TALK
1

Thanks for any feedback.

2

I found this to be a tad disjointed at this stage. Did not improve after an hour. But hey the price is great for this, buy one and see for yourself.

3

Full disclosure: We bought and sold a lot of this in the bankruptcy this year.

I popped a half btl in October. Very oaky and hard on day one. On day two, the wine was very tasty. The oak had blended into the juice very well, and it was good stuff.

That was a half btl, FYI.

4

Bought a case (mostly for X-mass gifts) and we’ve had two bottles so far. An OK wine for $17 but I can’t believe that this was selling for $50? Lots of fruit, some oak, good cocktail wine for non-winos but kind of simple and somewhat of a one-trick-pony to my tastes.

5

Daniel and others,
This was one of their signature wines obviously. Do you think it just needs time or is an off year versus the prior many years? Some friends of mine are fans of Black & Blue, but I’ve never had it. Just wondering if the fruit settles down and oak integrates to unveil complexity as it ages. I think I had always read that this needs several years in the bottle to show its true self and it can age for 10+? I’m a fan of the hudson syrah, merlot reserve and some other havens bottlings.

Any thoughts appreciated.

6

I recommended to my clients to put in the cellar for a few years, or if they were going to open it now, to decant in the AM, or open on day in advance (without decanting).

7

Maybe a $17 wine in a $50 costume. [stirthepothal.gif]

8

Who was the winemaker in '06??

9

I’ve been told the Black & Blue is an altogether different style by design that the other Havens wines. Perhaps Havens made a more expensive bomb-y wine knowing this could sell better and be more profitable than his more Old World styled wines? I though Havens was a Right Bank Merlot and Syrah guy, so an Aussie or Southern France blend is a bit out of place. Wouldn’t be the first time a winemaker made wines for others so he can make wines for himself.

Or, Billington interfered with the blend to make it more bomb-y. They apparently messed with the '05 Napa Merlot blend, so the '06 B&B wouldn’t be out of the question either.

10

I could be wrong, but I believe in 06 Michael Havens was no longer the wine maker. Havens Bourriquot was one of my first loves in Napa wines - the 90’s vintages were almost all absolutely stellar and many are still drinking great today. Once Michael sold out to corporate interests, the quality really slipped IMO.

11

Apparently he was there until May 2008, so I assume he had strong influence, but maybe not total control over the 2006s.

"HAVENS STATEMENT ON BILLINGTON & WINERY COLLAPSE

Below is Michael Havens’ emailed statement, reprinted with his permission.

My partnership (Mobius) sold Havens Wine Cellars to Billington Imports in August 2006; in December of that year the real estate and winery were sold separately to Vinreit, which then leased it to Billington.

After working within this new arrangement for 19 months, I was summarily dismissed in May, 2008. I have had nothing to do with managing Havens Wine Cellars since then.

Less than one year after my departure, Billington and their California subsidiary, Sin E Wines, imploded and closed doors, abruptly dismissing virtually all employees.

I am not involved in any attempt to repurchase either the brand or the real estate.

Currently I have a few select winemaking consulting clients, both startups and large corporate wineries.

I will start this year, with my friend Morgan Twain-Peterson, a new wine brand focused on white varietals originating from Galicia. "

12

Rich - Thanks for the clarification and info. I’ll look for his next project as I think he is quite a talented winemaker.