I’m building up my cellar of Napa cabs and have a bit of a dilemma. Would I be better off stocking up on '10s or putting money aside to go big on '12s? If it makes a difference, my preference is for cabs which balance fruit and structure. Thanks for your advice in advance.
Between the two, I think '12 is likely to be considered superior, but then there’s '13 as well (see the Ridge Monte Bello futures thread)…I wouldn’t go huge on '10, but split between '10, '12, and '13…
What do you like? For me 10 is a great vintage but I usually like cooler vintages with a touch more structure. I look at 2010 like 2006, and 1996. I am going pretty big on 10. 12 is a more “classic great” vintage like 97, 02, 07. Some wines are great some are a bit heavy handed for me. I am staying the mountains and cooler areas of the Valley. I am going to avoid 2013 like crazy - to me it is like 2004. A loved vintage that many love. But for me, the flavors are a bit riper than I enjoy and they lack brightness. BUT - you mileage will and should vary. If 2004 is a banner year for you GO FOR IT! I think it is better than 04 as it does not seem to have the raisin and fig that many 2004 have.
Interesting. I have a slightly different take, but I’m not saying mine’s right. The '10’s that were done correctly are really great, but it WAS a cool vintage until the just before pick, wasn’t it? I recall most vineyards were trimmed way back, exposing berries because there was so little sun that year, then a heat wave hit late in the season. I’d compare '10 more to '97 and '07, but then again I don’t see either '97 or '07 as a ‘classic’ vintage - I am very cautious of how they will age.
I guess one thing to truly consider, also, is what producers does he want? '10 was NOT good for most, but fantastic for some. I imagine great variety in '13 as well, and it depends on the producer.
Todd - Bill Lumbergh…one of the greatest movie characters of all time!
I think the best advice is not to overly “stock up” or “blow your budget” either place while building up your cellar. It’s not like 2010 or 2012 is the last good vintage in Napa.
Buy some wines you like, a mix for earlier drinking and ones to set aside, but retain some flexibility in your budget and storage space for other wines and vintages that are certain to entice you in the coming months and years. Most of us have realized that loading up on the first wines we fall in love with turns out to have been a mistake to some degree, as we discover new things and our tastes change.
[Having said that, you do hear the stories here and there of the guy who first got into collecting when 86 Bordeaux was coming out and First Growths were $30 or something and now has all these incredible wines he bought for peanuts. I don’t think we’re going to look back 30 years from now on 2010 or 2012 Napa as the one great chance we had at the brass ring, though.]
Well said, Chris, though I have a hard time believing what we saw in the last 20-30 years in the wine market will repeat itself - it’s a massive bull market at the top of the curve. Or…at least we think so!!
I haven’t had enough of the 2012’s to make any real statements, but I wouldn’t hesitate to stock up on the 2010s. Like Kenny, I prefer more structure and I think that the 2010s will age extremely well. I think in our contemporary age that 2010’s “cooler” growing season will be seen as insufficiently ripe physiologically compared to some other years, but I think this is mostly within a modern context - these are not “unripe” wines. I thought the 2010s had great structure, acidity and texture/mouthfeel.
I wouldn’t be afraid to look at some 2011s from producers in the mountain districts or hillsides. I think that 2011 Howell Mountain Cabernets are likely safe buys.
LOL. Aaron basically has every possible permutation recommended to him.
Well done, Berserkers!
Todd, depending on the canopy management it’s possible grapes were sunburned, but I think the late heatwave probably pushed ripeness just over the goal-line in many places. Alcohols are still naturally lower than other years and I think that the wines are very balanced with a lot of character.
I’ve got Ridge Monte Bello, Keever, and many other '10’s, as I LOVE them when done well, and they drink great but seem to have great stuffing, too.
BTW, I saw some of those vineyards - the raisined grapes were amazing, as literally half the grape was raisin, the other half just fine, as if exposed to gamma rays or something.
Haha - It likely depended greatly on canopy management from producer to producer. Even then, if the fruit is truly raisined then that’s more a matter of quantity not quality. Some producers may have watered back to rehydrate some shriveled berries, but it’s likely the grapes that weren’t excessively exposed had great structure, acidity and ripeness. I know some producers were turned off by any greeness in the wines, but I think this is more of a modern Napa perspective. I think this is likely to be an underappreciated vintage that should cellar well and reveal themselves as balanced, elegant wines in time.
Todd, Avatar win, nice ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Don’t buy anything you don’t taste first or have a decent track record with. If 2012 turns out anything like 2007, you will be best served with the best 2010 and 2009 have to offer. So much great info here on this board about many 10s right now. Keep your powder dry and never jump into big commitments untested. Nothing sadder than a cellar full of stuff you find don’t suit you.
Welcome aboard. Post often and post alot.
Mike and I are like twinsies when it comes to Napa cab vintages
2010 is Victor, The Cleaner. 2012 and 2013 are what remains in the bathtub after he’s done pouring acid on them.
If you didn’t see the movie, just buy 2010s
Aaron- welcome to the board. Lot’s of good ideas and i would reiterate balancing across a few vintages and producers as you hone in on style at the same time realizing your palate might change with time( at least it does for some of us). Keep in mind you can usually backfill the producers and vintages you like down the road. I am buying 02, 05 and 07 now for my favorite producers.
Kenny- i’ve never been a fan of 06. Found the tannins a bit course and always preferred the 05’s to them. That continues to be my favorite current vintage. Was hoping 10 would be similiar.
Cheers
F- I can see that. My drinking is about 75% to 80% Northern Italy so I like the Tannin. I try to avoid any over ripe fruit and my needle moves to just ripe more than fully ripe. One of the more controversial issues I have is the Oak use by many in Napa on the riper vintages. I am not just talking % new but bigger more opulent barrels and heavier toasts - because the “wines can take it” So when I see riper more lush vintages (12 & 13) I always see the heavy toasts and more new Darnajou and oak from limousin than you can shake a big fat stack of cash at.
As far as 01 & 02 I go back and fourth. I like 02 from more valley floor and 01 from Eastern Bench and Mt. Ava’s. But it is more of a producer by producer thing.
I do not have a single 2012 Napa cab. Good to hear it will be a great year to own.
No, no . . . to close out the circle, don’t we have to recommend that Aaron split his stockpiles between comparably classic years of Bordeaux? And just to show off our Street Cred, toss in some Cornas, Fleurie, Chinon and Bourgueil?!
Sorry, I have no Cab recommendations of merit, well, except for some Ridge and Dunn.
![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}