WTN: Mostly California Cabs

Notes from last week's dinner at Decanter.

Saintsbury Carneros Chardonnay 2006 - A little smoky (cigarette smoke). Dry and silky, with just a touch of oak. Good length. A rather middle-of the-road wine. Nothing objectionable but not exciting either.

Beringer Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - Really ripe, sweet nose. Rich and juicy. Strong attack but it quickly calms down. There's a burnt element on the somewhat abrupt finish. I've had some pretty awful Knight's Valley wines before but this one isn't bad.

Robert Mondavi Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - Really smooth. Great fruit with noticeable acidity framing the wine. Good length. This has everything in the right place and is such an easy wine to drink. Will likely improve further with some short term cellaring.

Merryvale Starmont 2002 - Lovely nose. Excellent, sweet, ripe fruit. Coffee and a bit of mint. Good complexity. Just about peaking now. Difficult to choose between this and the Havens Bourriquot as WOTN.

Havens Bourriquot 2002 - Sweet, ripe fruit. Plummy. Espresso. Soft and lush. At peak now. Excellent.

Dominus 2001 - Bottle opened for 2 hours but not decanted. Very tannic, dry, understated fruit. Difficult to assess. Very tight. A shame to have opened it now, this needs serious time in the bottle or a decanter. Try again in years.

Interesting notes on the Beringer, Jay. You did not notice a distinctive green, beyond bell pepper almost "jalapeno" note on this wine?

I was able to sample a 1996 or 1997 vintage of that wine...and it was definitely green!

I never bought any Bourriquot while Havens was still in business. I have one Syrah and some Merlot left.

[Jenise]

Another fan of the Bourriquot here, I have some 04s in my cellar. Brian, Havens is gone?

Jay, speaking of Mondavi--always a California cab I've liked. Not sure if the style has been supported by the new megaconglomerate that owns the brand, but nonetheless I didn't blink at picking up two cases of the 05 Mondavi Oakville last week when I got a chance at them for $16.50 a bottle. Insane price.

Another fan of the Bourriquot here, I have some 04s in my cellar. Brian, Havens is gone?

Jay, speaking of Mondavi--always a California cab I've liked. Not sure if the style has been supported by the new megaconglomerate that owns the brand, but nonetheless I didn't blink at picking up two cases of the 05 Mondavi Oakville last week when I got a chance at them for $16.50 a bottle. Insane price.

Holy Bargain batman! $16.50 a bottle??!!!! How do I get these deals???

-Mike

Another fan of the Bourriquot here, I have some 04s in my cellar. Brian, Havens is gone?

Yes, Jenise. I recall some Internet post a while back stating that he was hanging up his spurs.

Mark Lipton

Same here.

The '96 Bourriquot was outstanding. All I have left are some 375s of the '03 Merlot... Too bad.

-Michael

Another fan of the Bourriquot here, I have some 04s in my cellar. Brian, Havens is gone?

Yes, Jenise. I recall some Internet post a while back stating that he was hanging up his spurs.

Mark Lipton

Chamber music series starts soon in Napa and I'll see Michael and be able to ask him what his plans are for the future. I've heard two or three different stories on what his future might be. Really one of the neatest people in the valley.

Beringer KV was one of my go-to wines from the 91-94 vintages when I first got into wine. And the 92 KV was the first (of a very small list) of wines I ever nailed blind.

I've long been a fan of the Bourriquot. I still have a mag of the 94, plus some '99 and '01. Drank a fair amount of the 96, but all gone. My understanding is that Michael Havens sold the Havens brand a few years ago, but stayed on as winemaker. The new brandowner was an importer, and they bit the dust and the winery went with it. There have been lots of closeouts, but I haven't bitten because I have too much wine.

Interesting notes on the Beringer, Jay. You did not notice a distinctive green, beyond bell pepper almost "jalapeno" note on this wine?

I was able to sample a 1996 or 1997 vintage of that wine...and it was definitely green!

I never bought any Bourriquot while Havens was still in business. I have one Syrah and some Merlot left.

I don't remember any green or jalapeno notes on Knight's Valley. I remember one example recently that tasted like a milkshake. Can't recall the vintage but probably early 2000.

Another fan of the Bourriquot here, I have some 04s in my cellar. Brian, Havens is gone?

Jay, speaking of Mondavi--always a California cab I've liked. Not sure if the style has been supported by the new megaconglomerate that owns the brand, but nonetheless I didn't blink at picking up two cases of the 05 Mondavi Oakville last week when I got a chance at them for $16.50 a bottle. Insane price.

Too bad we don;t have the Oakville here. That's a ridiculous price! I did think the 2003 Cab Reserve was a tremendous wine.