For Cabernet in Napa, if we had to stop right now and force the pick, we could make a very good vintage in the 80’s style. And the outlook is quite good the next 10 days. It looks like an above average vintage, thus far, for quality.
Will it catch 2012 and 2013? We will see. That won’t be easy. I think the summer has been very dry and some canopies are giving out a bit. But overall, we are already better than 2010 and 2011, in my opinion. Hopes are pretty high.
The last time Napa had three or more winners in a row was 1994-1997.
I guess 1998 cabs were panned when they were first released but I went to a Napa cab tasting a few years ago and we all agreed that the 1998s were rockin’ that night. Subsequent experiences have been consistent.
I have not had 98’s in about two years, but when I did, I thought they were in a very good window for immediate consumption, and that the window was going start closing quickly. That is certainly better than we ever guessed they would be. Yet, the fact it probably took 10-14 years to get there is an immediate downgrade in my book. I don’t like waiting that long for Napa Cab to come around.
They are tasting elegant now, though. Although I still find a little green in them.
Just curious…It looks like rain in the Napa/Sonoma area today. Will this have a negative impact on the quality of the vintage? Or has it been so dry all year that the vines could use a little bit of nourishment?
In the Willamette Valley, everything I’ve seen/heard has been very positive about the quality of fruit coming in. The Pinot Noir fruit I’ve put my eyes on has been the best looking I’ve probably seen in the past 5 years (having only been looking at fruit for 5 years). It was a warm summer, so the sugars might be a touch high, but the flavors are definitely there. Likely a vintage closer to '12/'13 than '10/'11.
Talked to a winemaker in Napa last Friday and they were crushing cab sauv from just north of St. Helena. Quality was excellent(similar to 12 and 13) and tonnage was down a little from 2012 and 2013.