Question about Napa Cabs shelf life

Good Day,

This tends to be a topic often debated. If properly stored, what is the shelf life of a very good Napa Cabernet Sauvignon? Now, I understand "very good" can be an individual preference, but I don't want the discussion to be only for the high priced reserve Cabs. For example, I have a couple bottles of 2005 Peju Province Cabernet Sauvignon . Drink dates say between 2012-2020. I have heard people say that 7 years is tops for a Napa Cab to evolve, after that you start to lose it.

I have a few bottles of Pride Mountain, Robert Mondavi and Jarvis Cabs I was hoping to hold onto for a while due to sentimental reasons, but I certainly don't want to consume them past their prime.

Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

Thanks

-Mike

[Jenise]

Mike, I don't think there's a rule of thumb for this. I've certainly never heard the caution about seven years, nor do I think it applies. It's well established that Napa produces a lot of ageable wines, and ageability is generally attributable to age of vines, vintage characteristics, wine-making style, and storage. The first three combine to defy most attempts at a one-size-fits-all plan, and the latter can vary from a chill that is virtually suspended animation to rapid advancement. Most of us go by each individual wine's track record, when known, and adjust that up or down a few years based on what we know about any recent changes in fruit source and winemaking style, plus the conditions of the individual vintage. Some vintages produce more early drinkers than others. And sometimes, we just call the winery and ask.

I've had some splendid Mondavi regular Napas close to 20 years old, for instance.

Mike,

I don't think there's one answer to this question. It really depends on the wine. Some wines are made to be consumed wihin a few years of the vintage, others 5-10 years from the vintage and some even longer. I'm not a huge collector of Cal Cabs but the two that I buy regularly (Ridge MB and Montelena) are generally long term agers (10-25 years) but even Monetelana recently seems to have changed to a younger drinking style. The short answer is that it depends on the wine.

I don't like young Cal Cabs. I don't even consider drinking them before they are 5 years old and more often 7 years old. Right now I am drinking mostly from 1999 and 2001. I am still holding more ageworthy wines from 1991, 1994, 1995, and 1997. Just drank my last 1987 BD GdL and while it was showing signs of age it was no where near dead and still very enjoyable.

Thanks for the replies. So I can safely assume my 2004-2006 Cabs from Mondavi, Peju, Pride Mountain and Sherwin will age well for 7-10 years or longer? I will take the advice and call the wineries when/if I become more concerned.



-Mike

Thanks for the replies. So I can safely assume my 2004-2006 Cabs from Mondavi, Peju, Pride Mountain and Sherwin will age well for 7-10 years or longer? I will take the advice and call the wineries when/if I become more concerned.
-Mike

Mike, first welcome to the forum. Others have offered you sage advice, but I want to step in and mention that storage conditions matter too when ageability come into question. In a cellar at 55 degrees wines will ager more slowly than at a temperature of say 70. And I will further say that I wouldn't want any wine that I want to hold more than 10 years be held above 65-68. Temperature in the cellar can vary but the variance should be a slow change, and not a yo-yo effect.

Thanks for the replies. So I can safely assume my 2004-2006 Cabs from Mondavi, Peju, Pride Mountain and Sherwin will age well for 7-10 years or longer? I will take the advice and call the wineries when/if I become more concerned.



-Mike

I can only comment directly on the Pride Mountain but there should be no problem there. I have not kept one past 10-12 years that I recall but none of the ones that I have had have ever shown any decline.

Bob H. asks the most important question, what temp will the wine be stored at? Without an answer to that i wouldn't even try to comment on your inquiry.

Just for the record, I have a bottle of BV GdlT '60 that I hope makes it to its 50th (and mine).

But the style of the great 50-70s CalCabs is rare these days.

As others noted, assuming good storage, I'd assume any well made Cabernet could make it till 7. What happens after that varies a lot according to wine (and frankly, taster).

Bob H. asks the most important question, what temp will the wine be stored at? Without an answer to that i wouldn't even try to comment on your inquiry.

Lou,

Sorry I did not provide that info. I have a wine fridge that holds 75 bottles. The temp is set at 57 degrees, but does not have humidity control. I have a humidity gage inside the unit and check it periodically. i have a small dish that I add distilled water to in the event the humidity gets low. Currently the humidity is at 70, and it generally floats between 70 and 80 without having to add water. The unit is not one of the top of the line fridges, but it does maintain a constant temp between 57-60 and it is dead silent with no noticeable vibration.

HTH.

Thanks

-Mike

I would drink the Peju pretty young. They're a very, very commercial winery that I doubt focuses on ageability. Just my uneducated opinion.

(I've had a couple non-cab Peju wines that fell apart very quickly...so I'm biased).

Peju, in the next 2 0r 3 years, Pride 5 to 8 years, Mondavi which one? Jarvis next 2 or 3 years.