When I was younger, there were vintages in California that were considered great - 1968, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1991 and 1994, for example. After that, it seemed like some vintages that initially were termed great, turned out to be overripe and I am no longer sure what the more recent great vintages are.
So, let us say from 2000 to the present, what do you think of as the great California Cabernet vintages - please feel free to make distinctions by regions like I have the sense that 2011 was a much better vintage for SCM wineries (like Ridge or Mount Eden) than in Napa.
I recommend ignoring the last few vintages on the basis of (1) do we really know (see 2009 Bordeaux and 2005 Burgundy) and (2) ITB always tout the vintage they have to sell as the greatest vintage of all time.
I really liked 2002, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019 overall in CA. Sun and heat really drive up ripeness with temps rising, so you may not like the wines too much. Try some and find out!
For Napa, I think of 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013 as great vintages with aging potential.
I have had wines from these years recently and they are drinking well albeit with decanting time.
2012 is drinking well now but I doubt it has as long a life as other vintages, imho.
I personally love the 2015 vintage but the aging potential is doubtful as well.
If you’re sensitive to overripe you may want to avoid.as it was a very warm year.
2013 and 2019 for me, otherwise 2016 not a huge fan of 2018 seems too much. with certain producers 2011 is drinking really nicely now, but careful because a lot of green wines, interested to hear others on good vintages pre-2010
@Roy_Piper posted a breakdown of the last 20 years or so in another thread. You would have to go back through his posts to find his vintage notes.
I think 2013 is the best vintage this century from Napa. After that, I defer to others but there was a very good string of vintages from 2012-2019 + 21.
This is a bad take. 2013 is an exceptional vintage and yes it does need more age. I would skip drinking my 13s and drink the 14s and start opening some 15s to see where they are at.
Everything from 2013 I have tasted has been very high quality.
Looking only at the last 15 years or so, which are the vintages I have by far the most experience with in terms of tasting and, later, working, the ones that stand out to me are 2010, 2013, 2018, and 2019. I expect to add 2023 to that list but won’t do so yet.
2011, 2017, and 2020 were the trickiest years on the North Coast, and depended a lot on individual vineyard sites and growing/picking decisions because of weather and fire.
Im curious, if im looking to replicate some of the better 20-30 year old wines ive had from the 80s/90s, are any of the vintages matching up to, say, 87, 81, 94, 95?
I think the BIG caveat here - everything has changed post 1997 or so. With a move towards greater ripeness AND the ability of tools like concentrators, reverse osmosis, and micro filtration available, the differences between vintages truly are minimized.
A ‘good’ vintage in the past meant that weather was favorable for picking at appropriate times - that is not the case as much anymore.
Would love to hear @Roy_Piper or others’ takes on that.
Agree to disagree! I like 16, 18, 19, and 21 better. Most 13s ive had have been good, but not great. Granted, 13 may be better down the line but i currently like the above vintages more.
Coincidently @Roy_Piper just posted a new article on the Vintner Gazette where he outlines Napa vintages 2005-2024 and his past and current ratings/brief thoughts.
My opinions-
2001 is very nice and most have seemed to retain the structure for aging. The string of vintages 2007-2010 are all quite fabulous with 10 being the tannic bruiser that might age forever (so needs a lot of air) and 2009 having just beautiful fruit.
I don’t think anyone made bad wine in 2013, great vintage that I think is stunning. I like mountain cabs and the 13’s seem to have more flavors or complexity in them.
The 14’s & 15’s were very nice, approachable young and continue to drink great.
16 &18 are heralded vintages with the 16’s just beginning to drink well, imo. Nearly all 18’s I’ve had have been wound too tight and left me thinking I opened them too early. I don’t know how well the 19’s will age, but I’ve been drinking them before the 16’s and 18’s, because they’re so plush with gorgeous fruit right now, they’re just beautiful wines.
