Lots of interesting discussion regarding Napa Cab of late, and given the fact that Mrs. D and I nearly opened a bottle this weekend, I have a question that more seasoned Napa Cab lovers might be able to address.
We have a small collection of Napa Cab ranging from '95 to '04. We discussed opening the 1999 Beringer Private Reserve (which landed on my door as a gift).
I sense some disagreement around here regarding how reliably Napa Cabs will mature. Should I pop the '99 now? What would you expect to find if that wine were held another five or ten years?
Had the 99 Mondavi reserve this past weekend. It was drinking nicely with about an hour of air. I haven’t had the Beringer in some time, maybe about a year ago the last time. I would say drink or hold, it might need some air though.
I had the 2000 Beringer PR last year … it was very youthful, and I regretted succumbing to the temptation of opening a “lesser” vintage that soon … you’re probably safe waiting. I’m in the camp, however, that loves aged Cab and believes Napa Cab ages much better for much longer than seems to be the general belief.
I’d love to hear more on this. Also, I’m in the camp that doesn’t deeply regret letting wine go over the hill a bit. I dig the secondary characteristics, and the romantic in me loves the story that mature wine tells. I think I’ll hold this bottle a while yet.
The wine will give you pleasure now. I have had this wine as well as the 97 (which is great right now). 99’s are great for aging and will have longevity. Much depends on whether you have other wines to drink and can have patience. Personally I am drinking 97’s and 99’s now because I have plenty and I like to see how the wines are aging. My own personal opinion is that Napa Cab’s for the most part are at their best 10-12 years from vintage date. There are a few that I have had that seem to be able to go on for another 10 years…Phelps Insignia 97 and Caymus SS 97 come to mind. It also seems that the Meritage’s can get better with even longer bottle times.
Most Napa wines are not meant to sit for 20 years. They don’t “build” them that way (for the most part).
A departure from that was a 1992 Shafer HSS I had a week ago. It was fantastic and seems to be in the absolute sweet spot of its development. On the opposite end, I had a 97 Merryvale Cab (not profile, just the plain jane Cab). It was shot, gone, kaput, way past it’s prime and had to find its way down the drain of my kitchen sink. The 97 Profile seems to still have plenty of life left…so no hard and fast rules…but I will say that for Beringers Private Reserve, my instinct tells me that its probably within 3 years of its prime if not there already.
actually a real wide range of old-time Napa producers built their wines to be aged: Montelena, Mayacamas, Heitz, Burgess, Forman, etc, etc, etc
there are newer producers also shying away from the “cult” profile, Martin Estate comes to mind, whose Cabs i feel will age nicely. just got to have the patience to wait awhile.
1992 HSS is a wonderful bottle from what i feel is the most over-looked, really good vintage of Napa Cabernet the past two decades.
I don’t mind really old, even over-the-hill Cab. It’s educational and, often enough, surprises. Have been lucky to have a friend who regularly shares Cabs from the 70s and 80s, and it’s just been an amazing thing. Sure, you sometimes get disappointments and wonder how far you missed the peak window by … but I prefer to err on that side of the spectrum because I’d prefer to have an interesting wine that’s faded a bit but still has secondary and tertiary characteristics than one that is all primary fruit, oak, and tannin. A very personal preference, though.
You hit on one of the great fears in wine drinking, though, Evan … wanting to drink a bottle not too soon but not letting it get over the hill. A constant worry. I don’t know much of a defense other than to be comfortable with the risk of disappointment and be eager to see what each bottle has to teach you. At least, that’s how I approach it. Unless, of course, the wine is just pure crap for one reason or another, then it gets poured down the drain or reserved for cooking.
Glenn, while I don’t disagree with you in general, my personal opinion based on my own tasting is that most of Napa’s producers don’t make wines that will hold out well for 20 + years. I realize there are those that will, but I have been let down more than pleasantly surprised with older vintages (prior to 94). I had a stash of 80’s wines from a few very well respected vineyards and just about everyone of them to me at least, was way over the hill and didn’t provide the enjoyment I was expecting. I drank them (or tossed) them from 2001-2004. It just was lacking as compared to 90’s Cab.
I also think much of it also has to do with personal taste and what you “expect” to taste from a Napa Cab. Winemaking styles have changed with each decade it seems. There are those that prefer 80’s, those who prefer 90’s (like me) and those who prefer 00’s. Some love overoaked wine’s, others like me , really don’t dig it. So I think it is just a matter of what one’s preference is and how they perceive the wines of a particular vintage and/or producer.
While I agree with you about Montelena, I wouldn’t touch a bottle from them in the last 12 years because I think they went completely downhill (but that is another story). A Montelena 80’s wine is an exception, I will give you that, I had a few that were actually very good (but that was in 99-00). You can’t say the same thing about BV…Their 80’s wines are mostly over the hill and not very inspiring at all. I rather loathe them to be honest.
Just beautifully said and entirely representative of my POV. And I realize I’m fortunate, because my disappointment is much less when a wine has shown some age fade. Others view that as a sign that they’ve wasted the bottle and missed a chance. I just view it as part of the story - and yeah, those secondary and tertiary characteristics are fascinating to me, and perhaps even moreso with Napa Cab.
I think you nailed it, Alan. Once upon a time, Napa cabs aged quite reliably. The knock on them then was that they didn’t get that much more interesting after a certain point; once the tannins resolved to a certain point, they plateaued.
Now there’s a real issue of longevity for many. I’ve had 94s from big names like BV and Rubicon in the last year that were on the downhill slope – something that would have been very surprising two decades ago. (Indeed, one bottle of the BV Reserve I had bought on release and stored perfectly was quite tired even two years ago.) And I’ve had others from the late 90s that were fully mature.
i have had bright and shiny 1991, 1992, 1994 & 1996 Napa Cabs this year. also a few 1995 & 1997s i thought were on the decline. i think vintage is as big an issue as parcel when talking longevity.
I had the 99 3 weeks ago. While it was really enjoyable, I’d let it sit for at least 2 more years. It has great fruit and depth, but the tannins are not yet as integrated as they will be with some mnore time.
So, while you would definitely enjoy it now, you will enjoy it more later. And that means something coming from me since I like cabs young.
As an aside, I also had the Beringer 2000 Bancroft ranch merlot at the dinner. It was shockingly good. The quality belied the off vintage. It was really rich and deep and very enjoyable.
went thru some notes Alan and have had 3 bottles of 80s Diamond Creek (84 RRT & GM, 86 RRT) this year and two 80s Monte Bello (83 & 86) - all outstanding to exceptional. only 80s loser i can think of this year was a recent 83 Dominus - totally done & gone.
Any specific thoughts or recent experience on window for the 2001 Beringer PR? I have a 9L bottle (got too drunk at a charity auction) and don’t want to guess wrong on that baby…
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