WTN: 1996 Napa Cab

Last night Betsy decided on porterhouse, baked potatoes, brussels sprouts, and a arugula salad with mustard/caper dressing. I bundled up for some grilling, and opened the 1996 Barnett Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. Still some tannins, good cassis and black plum fruit, a hint of vanilla and cedar, a slightly ferric mineral note. I'm quite happy with this with the steak, but by end of meal it's really falling apart. Seems disjointed and develops a dirty ashtray streak. Personally I'd drink these up (and share with a group - first glass was definitely the best). B+/B at first, after 2.5 hours C/C-

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.  

[David M. Bueker]

I've opened a few '96s & would say that most are at or past peak with the exception of the top wines. Mount Veeder is headed downhill, as are most of the Flora Springs bottlings, the '96 Arrowood is past its best, etc. All this from the glacial cellar.

I have consumed all of the 1996 Napa Cabs I had. The vintage really disapointed me overall. The biggest let down for me were the Peter Michael Les Pavots and Silver Oak as both seemed to just die in the mouth. There was no finish and I would say not even a mid-palate. An initial taste then nothing.

I really don't have a sense of the vintage, liked some, disliked others. My last 96 Napa though (have some Thunder Mtn, Santa Cruz though)
I think I liked this at release though, because not something I normally buy blindly.

I have a few 1996 Richie Creek Cabs. that I am still holding as they have always been tight and seemingly closed, which is what the word is on this board and another too.

No special knowledge of the '96 vintage. I know '97 produced some really fine wines in Napa. I met a Barnett female (daughter? wife? of owner) at a tasting and liked their wines.