I saw a quote attributed to Chuck Wagner of Caymus that it was a horrible year for Napa Cabernet. So are you buying favorite producers or passing altogether? Did some producers make great wines in spite of the conditions? Thanks for the insight.
Tom
Tom;
I could see 2011 as an easy pass for MOST (not all) north coast Cab. With '12 probably going to be a big winner and with considerable volume, I could see plenty of folks waiting for the '12’s. I’m not a buyer nor do I grow Cabernet anymore, so just one farmers view.
I think for some, they will buy to stay on lists for 2012. Of course, those kinds of producers, as a general rule, will make good wine in 2011 if not as good as other vintages. I will wait and see, but I am looking forward to 2012.
I don’t know. I will probably wait and see. I’ll be out this year to reconnoiter the situation. If the report is true, maybe not.
My comment though, is that like Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Italy, there have been so many good vintages to choose from lately, it makes me less likely to reach in a lesser vintage. There are so many greater vintages from which to choose. It sounds like there is another in the pipeline.
Yes and YES! Esp Howell Mountain, Pritichard Hill, and Eastern Oakville! I admit this is a buyer beware vintage but look at it historically - Wineries have a hard time selling wines the vintage before a “BIG” vintage and 2012 will be one of the biggest and best we have seen. There will be little interest in most 2011. I remember the bargin 1996 (people waited to buy 1997 and there was 1996 to be had a great prices for a long time) same thing with 2006 Hell there is still a lot GREAT 2006 Napa wines at retail or below that has tons of potential. I say do your homework, come out, visit, and taste the wines and buy. I have tasted a lot of the 2011 at a year old, I think the best of the '11s I have tasted can stand with many of the 2009’s. One fear I have on the vintage - the really good 2011 have had a really wonderful purity of fruit, I worry that any heavy handedness with oak (either too much, too powerfull, or just the wrong oak) can turn this wonderfruit into a real milkshake vintage.
My brother in law is ITB, he says the good vintages sell themselves. He says he earns his keep in the off vintages.
You’re off to a good start.
easy pass
Didn’t I just buy some bedrock cab 2011.
What great points here. '96 and '06 were GREAT vintages and everyone looked ahead. However, '11 is no '96 or '06. Go back and read the '11 vintage thread there will be plenty of lean and unexciting Cabs from '11. I’m thinking '98 Cabs here.
I will buy some wines from producers that need to sell each vintage to keep on keeping on. I trust in their skills to make good wines, as well as them being good producers to deal with. Would hate to see them falter on the '12s due to an inability to stay viable from not being able to sell their '11s.
Of course, stay away from big producers of industrial plonk.
need to buy to stay on lists but I’m cutting back and planning to buy more '10 Burg
This is what I was going to say. The difference between 2006 and 2011 is that 2006 wasn’t a bad year; 2007 was just going to be that good. 2012 will be a great year, but 2011 wines will generally suck.
Ok, I’ll bite: what’s so hot about 2012?
Big harvest, good hang time, good sugars, etc.
Word around the campfire from people on the ground is not to miss any wines from top to bottom tiers.
Yeah I made my Schrader purchase today although staying a viable concern is not an issue here.
Tom
Perhaps, but it’s not from Napa.
This is my plan. I’ll buy from the smaller winemakers with whom I have a relationship…partly because I think they have earned my loyalty and support through more challenging vintages, and partly because I trust them to turn out something worth drinking. At the same time, I do hope there is some pricing adjustment if the wines are not up to a reasonably comparable level.
Duh. Only The Four Horsemen could slow that Juggernaut.
Does this ever happen in Napa?
Not that I recall.
Tom