Quick thumbnail on Napa vintages 06 thru 08, please!

[Jenise]

I'm buying cabs for a group event.

Jenise, IMHO they would go as thus;

2006 is ready with 2-3 hrs, of decant time
2007 is ready with 7-8 hrs. of decant time
2008 is ready with 3-4 hrs. of decant time

by the way, 2009's are drinking VERY well right NOW

All decent vintages. I don't like to be specific unless talking about wines individually. Eight would be my fav but it's awfully young now.

[Jenise]

All decent vintages. I don't like to be specific unless talking about wines individually. Eight would be my fav but it's awfully young now.

Lou, I get your disdain for the whole vintage-rating thing, and I'm not interested in numbers. But I am interested in the kind of broad brush that does apply: cool years generally produce a certain style of wine and hotter vintages another. As a buyer who doesn't follow Napa closely anymore, it would give me some useful perspective to know a little more than I do, which is NOTHING, especially when shopping from this distance.

I've seen a few accolades for 07s but of the type that make me more suspicious, not less; reminding me of the way Parker and the Speck loved vintages like, going back to when I paid more attention, 94 and 97.

I also don't really keep up with Napa vintages (there are a few producers I like and buy, but they seem to do well year after year, no reason to base my purchases on vintage charts). But I recently heard an acquaintance rave about 2007, which knowing this person leads me to believe it is a very hot vintage (I think it also got a very high Laube rating- if anything he's even fonder of fruitbombs than RP). But I don't think any of the 3 would be considered a cool vintage (I think 2010 will be from comments).

I also don't really keep up with Napa vintages (there are a few producers I like and buy, but they seem to do well year after year, no reason to base my purchases on vintage charts). But I recently heard an acquaintance rave about 2007, which knowing this person leads me to believe it is a very hot vintage (I think it also got a very high Laube rating- if anything he's even fonder of fruitbombs than RP). But I don't think any of the 3 would be considered a cool vintage (I think 2010 will be from comments).

If one is to generalize 07 is an overall warmer vintage. 08 coolest, 06 probably drinking better because of having some time in the bottle.

2008 is the frost vintage. Late spring frost impacted a significant number of Napa vineyards. A lot of the primary buds were killed off and as a result crop loads were down. I don't recall if it was worse on the floor or in the hills.

2007 was hailed when released. My notes indicate a slight preference to it over the 2008 but I prefer the 2009 to both. 2007/2008 prefrence differences appear to be producer based more than vintage based.

2006 is a vintage for which i have limited experience. Based on the few that I have tried - Cliff Lede, Trefethen, not sure if there is another, its only now started to show well.

[Jenise]

Thanks everybody, this is the kind of perspective I needed.