TN: 2006 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

WINE TALK
21

I thought I remembered you talking about the '06, which I think you had at the winery, correct? I put the '05 on my ‘drink wish list’ on CT, and loved it (my TN posted here - TN: 2005 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena) - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). I do think I prefer the '06 to the '05 as well, but only very slightly so.

For under $40, this wine is absolutely sickening good.

22

The 07 had just been bottled when I tasted it, so I can’t yet tell how it will fare in relation to the previous two vintages. I get 6 pair and request 6 additional pair so you can assume that I have confidence that I will enjoy it. I agree these wines are the best value in Napa year after year. Open an 02 Wight if you can find one. It is friggin awesome.

23

I have an '02 Wight I have been staring at lately…

24

I ordered my allocation of '07’s (3 sets) plus requested 3 more - hopefully I’ll get them, if YOU didn’t take everything! I was excited about them because of the quality of the '07 Napa cabs that I had sampled, so obviously I should trust my favorite of the cabs and order accordingly.

Pobega - maybe we need to find a way to get together and drink that bottle!

25

Todd, next time East, for sure.

26

Full disclosure…had another bottle of this tonight, this time without food, and not as impressed. The oak treatment really comes through without food to soften it, and while it is still a very well made wine, the ‘vanilla’ aspect of the oak is a negative to me, being oak averse. Still, I’d throw 90 or 91 points at it, but it goes to show you that the situation in which you enjoy a wine often has great influence.

27

[berserker.gif]

Damn! Now where do I send the three cases I bought on your recco? You do have the TFGuarantee, don’t you? [basic-smile.gif]

Maybe Mr. Bulkin can take half?

Does that mean Napa is NOT your favorite wine region after all? [stirthepothal.gif]

28

I used to love the wines too, but that Vanilla stuff has gotten out of control, and it also gives off an impression (if not reality) of being way too soft (no solid grip to the win). It was ultimately why I decided not to buy this year. And bottle variation, for me, has been an issue. Some VERY soft and vanillaish.

29

Pobega - they are right up your alley - buy 3 MORE cases. I still very much like the structure, fruit, mouthfeel, and finish - it’s just that vanilla thing that escaped me the first time, perhaps because of the food it was paired with. On its own, it was more obvious. I do not recall this oak treatment on the '05’s, however - now I want to go back and revisit that vintage.

Steve, I wonder if I experienced some of that bottle variation as well. I’m wondering if perhaps some of the barrels are excessive in their vanilla/oak/softness, and my first bottle was perfectly acceptable, but this one was much more in the style I’m averse to.

I’ll write to Lewelling and see what they say.

30

dude… Lewellings are oakshakes on release. Everyone knows this.

Call me in 8-12 months when you should be opening these.


[berserker.gif]

31

[winner.gif]

32

Then I guess I waited too long on some of my '04s and '05s, and they were past their prime last year and this year. [wink.gif] Is there now a tasting window on them of 6 months to 2 years?? [whistle.gif] Some were delicious, but too many had that vanilla shake profile that disgusts me. And Todd, I love “mouthfeel” of a wine. I want that weight and fatness, but it has to have some tannins and structure to carry it, which I am sure you would agree. I’ve opened enough of them with wine buddies, and they were shocked when I revealed it a few times when tasted blind.

Don’t get me wrong, I almost STILL took a shot, but have been trying to not just buy for the sake of buying. I wanted to buy them, but passed due to the vanilla/softness in too many of them.

33

Well, the '05 I recall was awesome, and I had it very recently as well - don’t remember ‘oakshake’ whatsoever, nor all the vanilla, and it wasn’t hidden by food then either. The first '06 didn’t seem to have it, but could have been masked by the food, then the 2nd bottle just dropped the oak/vanilla bomb on me, so I’ll wait on more of them.

34

Obviously my post was tongue in cheek. That said, I find the oak overwhelming on the regular bottling at release, which seemed to be the major objection of Mr. French. I’d hate to see him drop his Napa/Lewelling pom poms, so a reminder/heads up was in order. I think the reason we all love Lewelling (in particular) so much – they don’t make wine for immediate consumption, like so many of my Napa neighbors do. I’m not sure if my 04 Wight’s are ever going to come around – and I’d hate to kill the last 2 or 3 I have before their time.

35

Typical oaky Napa Cab. Solid for $40 if you like 'em but not really my thing. [boredom.gif]

36

I thought it improved being open for a couple of hours and that vanilla began to recede. This is a 2006 after all. I have not even been drinking too many 2005 Cali Cabs. I think this will be nicer with some time, and I’m not too upset that the TF 95 in the first post got me to buy a couple.

37

This is one of the very few Napa cabs that I still buy. I do tend to wait awhile before I open these, much less the Wights.