WTN: Three Napa Cabs

This is my first post, hello everyone.

1991 Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine appears to be at the height of its drinkability, and will probably remain there for a few more years. Woody without being overwhelmingly oaky, and incredibly mellow and balanced. Notes of peppercorns, pipe tobacco, and fennel, with a smooth, pine nut-accentuated dark chocolate finish.

1999 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon None of the overwhelming crushed-mint flavor that caused me to nickname the 1998 vintage "Chateau Mojito." Instead, this wine arrives with a sprinkling of citrus flavors, especially grapefruit, overlaying a bed of black morel. The earthiness lingers on the back of the tongue for an exceptionally long time, and then what a finish! A veritable floral fireworks display, as if a bouquet of forget-me-nots and baby's-breath has exploded on one's palate. This wine is showing spectacularly already, and I can't wait to taste it again a few years down the road.

2002 Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Still just a baby, but a precocious one. Strong herbal notes on the nose, then an enticing cinnamon flavor once one gets past the attack that comes with the wine's young age. The light acidity causes the cranberry flavor in the finish to dance on the tongue, giving a feel reminiscent of pop rocks (though of course far more understated); if the Montelena was a sky-filling night-flower, this one is more like a string of M80s. Obviously not showing all it has to offer just yet, but I'll be keeping an eye on it.

Thanks for the notes!

Welcome to the forum, Alec. You'll find a lot of very knowledgeable and nice people here!

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks Alec! Those are the kind of Napa Cabs I still like.

Welcome, hope for some P Sirah notes if possible please. Enjoy your time spent here!

Hey, Alec. Had the Freemark Abbey 1991 at the winery last summer, and it was delightful (probably the best, but also the most $$$).

Welcome to the board! I live a mere 20 minutes away in Vacaville. Have you discovered Tuco's Wine Bar and Cafe near the train station? Expensive, but great food and some intriguing wines!

Thank you all for the warm welcome! Perusing the boards for the last week, I've been most impressed with the level of knowledgeability exhibited by the posters here. As I live in one of the premier wine producing regions in the world, I've been quite fortunate in my ability to explore the world of California wines. Unfortunately, my experience with the wines of the rest of the world is sketchy at best, and I hope that with such a well of knowledge to draw from I can begin to learn more about the wines of France (and other places, of course).

Brian, you're right about the Freemark Abbey '91 being quite pricey (the other wines I posted notes for are around the same range). Of course, one doesn't drink wines like these every day unless one is much wealthier than I am. I selected these three for my fiancee's birthday celebration last week. If you want a nice Freemark wine that won't break the bank I recommend their 2001 Cab Franc. Tuco's is fun, and I need to delve more deeply into their list, but my favorite wine bar in the area is 58 Degrees in Sacramento (though I miss the old chef). Their no-corkage Sunday nights often extend my weekend far past its logical conclusion.

Alec, welcome. Being new here, you might not be aware of our ongoing "Local Trade" program. Here's how it works. You send the first person to ask the finest bottle of wine to be produced where you live, and they return the favor. It is really just a way to get to know each other better through the local wines. In fact, I keep an extensive collection of wines (always received as gifts, but set aside for this special program) from Chateau Thomas, the best Indiana has to offer. Just drop me an email with your mailing address and I'll send you mine.

You're wicked D Honig!

Welcome Alec. I had the chance to buy the current release of Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon but at the price of $125 per bottle had to decline. I draw the line on domestic wines (and most foreign wines) at $75 a bottle and rarely spend that much. A couple California wine shops were advertising the Chateau Montelena Estate C.S. futures at $113--that's less than the winery was charging their e-mail list! However, the wines you opened for the fiancee's birthday do sound very special and it leaves me wishing I had some of the 1999 Chateau Montelena.

This is my first post, hello everyone.

1991 Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: This wine appears to be at the height of its drinkability, and will probably remain there for a few more years. Woody without being overwhelmingly oaky, and incredibly mellow and balanced. Notes of peppercorns, pipe tobacco, and fennel, with a smooth, pine nut-accentuated dark chocolate finish.

1999 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon None of the overwhelming crushed-mint flavor that caused me to nickname the 1998 vintage "Chateau Mojito." Instead, this wine arrives with a sprinkling of citrus flavors, especially grapefruit, overlaying a bed of black morel. The earthiness lingers on the back of the tongue for an exceptionally long time, and then what a finish! A veritable floral fireworks display, as if a bouquet of forget-me-nots and baby's-breath has exploded on one's palate. This wine is showing spectacularly already, and I can't wait to taste it again a few years down the road.

2002 Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Still just a baby, but a precocious one. Strong herbal notes on the nose, then an enticing cinnamon flavor once one gets past the attack that comes with the wine's young age. The light acidity causes the cranberry flavor in the finish to dance on the tongue, giving a feel reminiscent of pop rocks (though of course far more understated); if the Montelena was a sky-filling night-flower, this one is more like a string of M80s. Obviously not showing all it has to offer just yet, but I'll be keeping an eye on it.

Hi Alex,
I have not had any one of the three wines you write notes on, but I sure could learn to like sipping with you if they are indicative. Welcome to the WLDG and out sister forums (I hope) we have been around for quite some time now, and hope you will stay with us for an equal amount of time.

[Jenise]

Alec, welcome to WLDG. I hope with descriptions like "if the Montelena was a sky-filling night-flower, this one is more like a string of M80s" you won't resist the temptation to post often. Very entertaining--and hey, you talked about three of my personal favorite Napa wines to boot, one of which (the Abbey) has always struck me as vastly underappreciated. Thanks!