I’m not super technically inclined and it’s been on my to-do list for some time.
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planning to open 2-3 of them starting Thurs and see how they develop over the weekend. I’ve opened several pinots and chardonnays which were all excellent, just surprised I have never tried a cab!
Decided to go all in - opening the following starting Wednesday through release day:
2019 Herb Lamb
2018 Calistoga
2021 Vidovich
2021 M-Bar
2021 Panek
Making up for lost time I suppose!
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I had I think the 2019 Herb Lamb a few months ago and it was stunning.
One of the best modern Napa cabs I’ve had. (Maybe that sounds like faint praise but it’s sufficiently different than old school classic 1990s and earlier Napa cab that I don’t really see a comparison.)
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Hoping for improved Hawaii shipping rates on the Cabernet this time around!
As soon as I get them, if I were a betting man - Monday.
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What are you opening to kick it off? Share air time and notes as you go. Very cool
just popped the 2021 M-Bar and Vidovich tonight. will sip these two tonight, tomorrow will pop the other 3 and sip them all over 2-3 days to see how they develop.
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I opened 2022 Oakville Terrace and M-Bar Ranch. Drank over 10 hours, well sipped the initial pop and started drinking around the 7-8 hour mark. Definitely benefited with air. While both great, M-Bar had better integrated tannins and more black fruits; it was silky on the palate. Hint of red fruits on Oakville Terrace and more austere.
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How to you sip wine over 10 hrs? like noon to 10pm? Never tried this before.
The 2021 M-Bar and Vidovich absolutely need air. Day 1 it was all new oak everywhere, wife said she is giving up on Napa Cabs when she tasted them. Day 2 they are now starting to show their true characteristics. I suspect tomorrow will be when they hit their sweet spot.
Yea. Opened it at noon, poured a sip, then decanted and let it sit exposed to air. Occasionally, every hour or so, I took sips when I went past the kitchen to see the wine evolve. Made steaks at 8pm, then really drank during dinner, and continued to drink after dinner.
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Curious your thoughts on M-Bar vs Oakville.
I’m finding Vidovich more my style than M-Bar, but my wife likes the M-Bar better. Afraid this experiment is just going to make me buy more of the 2023’s than less!
My wife liked M-Bar better as well since she likes wines with dark fruit (like blueberry) notes. M-Bar went down really well since its tannins were better integrated. Oakville Terraces, I suspect, needs a lot more time to integrate the tannins. There was also a red fruit (cherry) component in Oakville Terraces that I did not get in M-Bar. They both went well with food, but I’d probably grab M-Bar over Oakville Terraces to drink on its own. I’m planning to get 2 or 3 each of the single vineyards. I wasn’t a big fan of the regular Napa in past years.
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I opened an ‘18 Napa last summer and it was huge hit with a group of experienced Napa cab lovers. My mother-in-law said it was one of the best cabs she had ever had, and my in-laws have a huge cellar of ‘97-2016 Napa cabs, so that was high praise.
I haven’t tried a more recent one, but am inclined to max allocation of Napa’s, among others.
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I haven’t tried the ‘22 Napa yet but enjoyed ‘18, ‘19, and ‘21 recently. When it was $75 / bottle it was an easy 3+3 decision. Considering wish-listing extras this year given the vintage and vineyards that go into it, but definitely grabbing 3.
The ‘22 M-Bar was the standout when we last visited, easy repeat for ‘23.
Herb Lamb is now at a price point that makes me pause, generally. These have also been standouts at previous tastings, albeit at $135 for ‘18 and $150 for ‘19.
Tough decisions but at the end of the day, these are champagne problems (one of the problems being that I want to buy more champagne!)
Exactly my thoughts!
Well…it just so happens to be our anniversary today, and I’ve been debating what to open, so why not 2019 Herb Lamb? Just decanted (lots of sediment) and going to let it air for an hour before putting it back in the bottle for dinner.
It already smells like this release is going to cost more…
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I’m popping the 2019 Herb Lamb tomorrow and giving it a 10 hr decant. looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
So far, I prefer the Panek then Vidovich then M-Bar. Can’t wait to see whats going on w/ the Lamb and the Calistoga tomorrow.
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Based on this thread thinking I am going to get a Panek, the Napa Cabs and maybe one more. Stocked up on 20 and 22 Bordeaux, and Italian wines, so keeping this small.
Strictly for food, which wines would you all gravitate towards?
Opened a 2016 Herb Lamb last night that was singing. Medium acidity, dark garnet color, showing no tertiary notes on the nose, but certainly floral and red fruit. Dark fruit, blueberry, cassis to the taste. Delicious. Tannins fully integrated at this point with a 2 hour decant.
Was worried about the price of Herb Lamb until I tasted this wine. Will be buying my full allocation.
My wife commented that this is all she wants to drink and has me looking for back vintages 
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