I suspect this is because you produce . . . gasp, WINE . . . not over-priced chocolate-blueberry milkshakes. The horror!
You know, Bob, I appreciate the support, honestly I do, but I have to say that I do not personally feel the need to choose one style of Cabernet over another, or one style of Pinot or Chardonnay over another. I taste and buy and enjoy a range of styles, and I limit myself to purchasing wines under $100/bottle, because that is what is in my “affordable” range. But the style and price range that is best suited to my vineyard and to the label I have established is the one I do. And in Napa Valley for the 2011 vintage, the possibilities for successes across the styles became limited for growers and winemakers.
Bob, would it be possible for you to give us some actual names?
No thanks…more for you
I think you can figure it out, Otto. It’s a big list.
That’s fine, Merrill - though I suspect you’re kinda trying to “say the right thing”. I’ve been jousting with this particular windmill for quite some time and quite vocally. I know my fervor rubs some folks the wrong way and, though I’d like it not to be so, I’m not likely to change my opinion nor my very direct style of saying what I think. I also know what Roy (among others) says about ripeness and brix and rootstocks and weather and all that other stuff, and I disagree with him. I simply do not prefer the “modern” style of cabernet that’s been in vogue since about 1997. I still remember with horror the first vintage of brand XXXX (the latest “big thing” at the time) I tasted. Many loved that wine at the time and have loved it since. I thought it was a DNPIM.
Though I haven’t had any of your wines I suspect I’d like them very much and I suspect, were I a big buyer of Napa cabernet, that I’d find more to like from 2011 than some other folks - at least the ones who like cabernet picked at 26 and 27 and 28 brix. My decision to buy (with some exceptions such as Champagne and Port) mostly wines only made by people with whom I have a personal relationship factors into that. It’s easy to do here since I have so many friends in the business, but California presents some issues in that regard.
Wow. Looks like I slayed another thread. Sorry, folks.
Mark this post…
As always, ever so helpful and tactful.
Yup will buy 2011. The guys that are doing it well will still produce good juice.
I might purge some mailing lists but that’s more based on trying to tighten my focus then a vintage based decision.
Those who know me from these Boards for so many years, and who know me personally, know that I don’t “kinda…(try to)…say the right thing.” Do a search on my posts - I like a variety of “styles.” In fact, I’m not sure what “styles” are. I stated openly and said I could be quoted that when I tasted Maybach 2010 Materium at CLONYC #33, I wish I had made that wine. THAT wine. I did not feel the same way about the 2010 Maybach
Amoenus (not sure this is the right tag). And before you or anyone dismisses (or congratulates) me as someone who only picks in the 23-24 Brix range (sorry, Counselor Holdredge), let me openly state that 7 of my 13 vintages have been in the 23-24 range; 6 have been in the 25.5-25.8 range. Nope, never hit 26. It might happen, if that’s what I think the vintage deserves.
So what else needs to be addressed here? I have a 2006 Etude Pinot Noir in my glass. I found it on my porch this afternoon, along with a dozen “homegrown” eggs. It is gorgeous, and thank you to my neighbor for cellaring it and giving it to me. But I started to think: What is this style? Does it matter? What else have I liked in Pinot? Sometimes I like Copain Tous Ensemble. Sometimes I like Failla. Sometimes I like Rivers-Marie - some vintages. Sometimes I get knocked out by something like Bevans’ 2009 Wren Hop Omen & Prophecy. Do I have to decide? No. I only have to decide what to do for my label in any given vintage. And it does it mean I can’t or won’t do other things - or can’t and don’t enjoy other things? No. No way.
Merrill-
I took an 8 month break from wine this year & one of the cool things about time away was the realization of trusting my palate more & not worrying as much about vintages, styles, common conclusions etc.
As I learn more, I’m simply becoming more curious. I posted the other day about a 1991 Eyrie Pinot Noir which transcended all discussion of styles etc for me. It was simply great wine.
I guess I’m saying you’re a bit of a zen mistress here.
Well said, Merrill. 
I’ve been called a lot of things, but I’m thinking I like that. Must be the Etude. For those who are curious, it is an estate Pinot from Carneros. The Etude, I mean. Wait a minute. Aren’t all the great Pinots grown somewhere else? Now, if memory serves me, Carneros straddles Napa and Sonoma. But this is not RRV, Sonoma Coast, or anything else near that region. Tony Soter must have been the winemaker then. I remember when I stopped a vehicle on the avenue separating my vineyard from my neighbor’s, and I asked the driver what the heck he was doing driving around my pro-per-ty. But then I recognized Tony from various tastings and periodicals. Oops.
Merril - I remember almost everyday of the 2006 harvest like it was yesterday. I think that wine is probably the most misunderstood in the last 10 years. A very good harvest that produced some California Pinot Noir that had an essence of Volnay to them. Every flower took, it appeared - the clusters were so tight they were that proverbial “grenade”.
The Etude "Estate’ Vineyard is about a 20 minute drive from the winery - and is situated right on the ridgeline that borders Carneros and the Sonoma Coast right alongside the Petaluma Gap. It’s off the heavy clay soil that the rest of Carneros lays on, as it has an extremely diverse soil portfolio (it rides right along the Rodgers Creek Faultline). An incredibly diverse vineyard overall. I’m amazed everytime I go out there at the different micro-climates and the thought behind the clones planted to each that went in.
Would think there’d be more interest in a cooler weather vintage like 2011, especially around here. Could be a throw back to how ripe (or green) they used to pick, or at least more traditional/bordeaux-like.
Kind of like how Mike posted recently in the post 07’ Napa world, it seems after all the hype of 07’, years 08’ - 10’ may have all been better.
We as consumers don’t have to worry about harvest size, which often plays into the hype of years like 97’, 07’, & 12’ etc., just what suits our palate…and I’m thinking 11’ could very well surprise in this way. Critic scores are down, but the major critics pretty much do what’s expected anyway. Bring in JG I’m sure he’d have an interesting take.
Nope, waiting for '12.
I’ll buy any 2011s that Mike Smith is offering!!!
I’ve tasted a significant number of 2011 Napa barrel samples in recent months. There is massive variation. The vast majority of 2011 versions showed the underlying character of wines I knew well but were severly muted, short and light. Does not bode well for more barrel time.
I was ready to write off the vintage entirely after about 20 duds…but then I had a few outstanding rockstars that you wouldn’t believe were from the same year, no way. The Boswell/Jacquelynn/Bevan 2011 barrels were off the charts amazing. Gandona’s 2011 was a superior stand out, raspberry/blackberry sorbet, huge.
I haven’t tasted them, but Aaron Pott, Mike Smith and a couple others have said they are very happy with their 2011’s. This will be the year of the winemaker/vineyard-manager to pull off great wines. They’ll be out there but you’ll need to be very careful.
I have just this week finalized my two 2011s: EMH Black Cat “regular” and EMH Black Cat Special Selection. I have my longtime trusted palate, Jim Gallagher of San Francisco, tasting these next week for pre-release notes, with an offer to the mailing list for the Special Selection around April 1st. I’ll also be pouring them side by side at Bassin’s Annual California Barrel Tasting on April 27th. I am happy with them, and they are true to my brand. Will it be the vintage of the decade or century? Certainly not. But delicious wines that are representative of the vintage, and at no price increase.
I am aware that some growers and wineries had difficulties with some blocks at some locations, but I think it is important to avoid brushing the entire vintage for everyone as a goner. No question at all that this has been a challenging vintage to grow and to produce.
This thread was started some time ago, and I think there is more information now and an increasing availability for people to taste this vintage. Some notable winemakers and vineyards are mentioned in this thread, and I think a better profile of the vintage in general will emerge over time.