How about compared to 10 or 12? Compared to other years?
Decent ?? Much less of a difference? That doesnât sound appealing to me. I get those who dont like the ripe years, but compared to 10 and 12???
I have been drinking Napa cab since the 1960s⊠Of the last ten year my favorite vintage is 2016. It has lots of fruit but some acid and some complexity. This to me was the Goldilocks vintage. Not too ripe, not too lean, not to many tannins but just enough. Lots of leather and tobacco, but still fruit forward. This is great now but will improve in six or seven years.
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Let me also clarify that when I say 2011 is fantastic from good producers, it is absolutely because I think it is drinking exceptionally well right now (not above average or good) and is absolutely comparable (or in some cases) better than well perceived vintages like 2012 and certainly better than other years that did not get the bad wrap it did on release (like 2009 and 2014).
Spottswoode is a great example. I personally like the 2011 better than the 2012 and I would say it is as enjoyable as the 2010.
This is not a complete list by any means as I have had other very good to great 2011s, but these are ones that left an impression amongst a lot of wine.
Detert CS, Ridge Monte Bello, Abreu Madrona Ranch, Blackbird Vineyards NV Auction Cuvée and the afformentioned Spottswoode.
Yeah â these are great wines in most years, but I think they are better than less maligned vintages and most importantly, would be a great experience for anyone if you are drinking the wines blind.
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I have always thought of 2011 as a better vintage outside of Napa (say SCMs) than in Napa. For example, I rather enjoyed some Ridge 2011 wines I had when they were young.
Are people here praising 2011s saying that they are drinking non-Napa Cabs, that Napa Cabs are much better than they were when young or both?
It is interesting to me how it seems to be getting harder and harder to predict early what vintages will be best with time - and not just in California. Used to be that the great vintages were the ones from warmer vintages. With climate change and modern techniques, this appears to no longer be the case.
Corison is amazing in 2011 as well.
I know someone who was in Napa in '11 and thought it was a great vintage imediately. Thatâs from the perspective of someone who loves the classic Napa wines of the '70s. It was too cool to get too ripe, so they had no choice. Though, some did add megapurple to attempt to achieve an unfortunate house style.
Part of what gave '11 the bad reputation was news of how challenging it was coming out during harvest. More with thin skinned grapes, there was a lot of rot. A lot of that didnt get harvested in the first place. There were also low yields, late ripening grapes never ripening, etc. Varieties like Cab can ride out rain pretty well.
â11 just cant be summed up easily. Some wineriesâ best wines. Some wines that are younger drinkers, some wines that needed age to show wellâŠ
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Sure, just hop in my time machine! $1M per ride, pre-payment accepted. Haha
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Hmmm. This is hard for me to assess to a certain degree because I was just starting my love of wine with the 2009-2011 vintages in stores. I really do not have a good grasp of what I thought about those wines I had early and I probably was not drinking nearly the level of quality that I do now. Frankly, I am much more meticulous in my approach to each bottle now and correspondingly, my recall of good (and bad) bottles has increased. What I do remember at that time is 2011 being panned after two relatively good vintages (2009 and 2010) and then 2012 seemed to be heralded. Just a broad perception of mine if recalling what vintage charts looked like when they first came out back then.
Most of the 2011 Cabernets I have had are from Napa and I was not making the statement about non-Napa cabs (though as I mentioned, the 2011 Monte Bello is outstanding). Not much help here.
I would say that about 4-5 years ago, I tried some of the afformentioned 2011s, and a few in vintage verticals, and I started to get the impression that the âgeneral negative perceptionâ of 2011 was flawed (at least relative to my nascent palate). My suspicion has only gotten stronger because many of those same 2011s are drinking even better now and certainly surpassing some of the warmer years (2007 and 2012 come directly to mind) that seem to be well thought of upon release. I have broad tastes based on what I am eating and my mood (and company). I am not a AFWE advocate (though I do love many wines in that class) and I can and do enjoy bolder, higher alcohol wines too (when I put together my WOTY list, I am pretty sure one of the latter will be at the top of the list). Just my impression of 2011 as part of this discussion . . . I may be wrong about my facts, but I am confident in my opinion 
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Calluna made wonderful 2011s. I didnât appreciate them as much on release and didnât stock up when discounted based on vintage reputation. I wish I had as those I have had since are wonderful. I like them as much or more than any other vintage but expect that it could change when the 2013s finally mature.
I like the 2011 from EMH but not as much as the 2009.
I donât drink much Cab from Napa/Sonoma these days so donât have a lot of experience but based on these two producers would be willing to try others. But then, I also liked the 1998s from many producers.
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Thanks for your detailed thoughts. It is very interesting to me how perceptions of vintages change so much as wines age. Wines that may seem great when young may close up and possibly lose their fruits before becoming mature or may be overripe and just kind of fall apart with age. And, wines that seem reticent when young can blossom with age. This by far is not restricted to California wines but is true with respect to most wine regions. So much depends on whether you want wines to drink when released or whether you want to age the wines.
It is one of the millions of things that make wine as a hobby both fascinating and maddening.
And, I agree that the 2011 Ridge MB was really good from the start (as was the 2011 Klein). Had these wines fairly early on at Ridgeâs winery in Sonoma when I was at a work conference in Napa where I gave a speech. After the speech, I had a lot of free time to go to wineries.
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For me, it would be hard to beat 1978 as that was the third vintage f Cali Cab I ever had.
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Reviving the thread to share a 1970-2025 vintage perspective from Dan Berger, especially useful for the weather and season perspectives on the older vintages. Enjoyable read thru if you have the time.
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1988: I have very little recollection about these wines.
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Awesome read, considering the hype around 2023 its interesting to see him rate 2025 better at this early stage.
I will cry a tear for my birth year wines, 1997. I thought those were critical darlings but also mixed reviews of them being blown out. I do think I have had a few good 97âs, with a standout being the 1997 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages. Iâve had it a few times and its been really good! Still waiting to encounter a 1997 Dunn Howell Mountain, always wanted to try one of those!
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They are good! 1997 is our daughterâs birth year, so we still have a few of those left, as well as Montelena and Monte Bello. Havenât had any of these in the last few years, but I am confident that each will continue to be enjoyable to drink.
Lucky daughter those are some great producers to have stashed away! I will stay on the lookout
She has not acquired a taste for red wine yet, only white white, so they are staying sideways in the hopes that she will start to like red wine at some point. Our son was born in 1994 and he likes California Cabs, so all good there. Forman and Spottswoode are also 1997 Cabs that I have had and really liked. Cheers!
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1994, 1997, 2007, 2013, 2018 are generally my favoritesâŠAnything older than those now may be hit or miss.
Do you find 2018 a little young ??? 2013?