I am fairly new to cabs and Have tried a couple I liked and a couple I didn't. The ones I liked where a Columbia Crest 2001 reserve and a Raymond 2001 reserve. Can't remember the names of the ones I didn't like.
My question, is it just a coincidence that the 2 I liked where 2001 or is this a particularly good year for cabs? I was under the impression, maybe incorrectly so, that cabs where better with age. Is this not true?
Any way, the 2 I listed where very good. Any recomendations on similar cabs?
I have only had the Raymond Reserve, but the ones from the '90s, and have not tasted the '00 - '01. I have not had any of the Columbia Crest Cabs, so I cannot comment. The Raymond Reserves are very nice Cabs and with pretty good price points for the quality. As a good acquaintance's brother was the local rep, I seemed to acquire several of these, and have enjoyed them. While not as complex as many, especially some that are much more expensive, they have offered a good wine over the years.
As to your question on aged Cabs, I'd say that there are several factors that should dictate one's decision whether to age, or not:
1.) Personal taste - some folk like young Cabs, regardless of tannins, and how well the wine has "come together." My wife likes young Vintage Ports, and I like them with a few decades on them.
2.) Desing of the particular wine - some wine makers strive for a more readily approachable style, rather than one that requires 5+ years in the cellar. This seems to be a trend in many low -> mid-priced reds lately, but certainly not all.
3.) Vintage of the wine - 1998's seemed to be ready to drink by many standards, right upon release. They were panned, in general, by the wine- press, but many well-made ones turned out to be great "restaurant" Cabs, as they were lower in tannin, and seemed to come together much sooner. They probably will also fade much sooner.
There might be some more considerations, but I can't think of them right now.
An important note: jot down the wines that you do NOT like, as well, so you can use them as a standard of what you do not want, and so you will not order them, when faced with a wine list in a dark restaurant.
2001 has been hailed as an excellent year for CA cabs. Raymond reserve is a "one of many" production better grade cabs that probably is really helped by having a lot of good grapes around.
The columbia crest is from WA. Although some years the quality of CA & WA coincide, frequently the quality does not. Sort of like Tuscany and Piedmont, or Bordeau and Burgundy and Alsace, or even Burgundy and piedmont. For example '99 is considered a bust in CA. WA had a good year.
I have not seen a major taster's ratings of WA wines..
Tom, when I was visiting Ch. Montelena in Jan., I got to taste the '98, '99 and '00 Estate Cabs. Much to my surprise, I found that the '98 was deeper and more complex than the '99 (and the '00). So much for vintage generalizations...
Rule of thumb: don't take advice from someone who calls you a moron because of what you like.
I don't know Raymond. Columbia Crest is amazingly good for the the price IMO. Most of their wines are meant to be drunk young so there is no advantage in holding them. Their 2001 Two Vines Syrah got good reviews. It is simple, fruity, oaky, and pleasent. If you like it (I do) enjoy it.
Rule one is really don't respond to uraniumcommittee (he has a couple of other names but the trademark is the insistence that one should only drink Italian wines within minutes of openingthe bottle as breathing "destroys the wine.")
He is relentless and won't let go and is in the kill file of just about all of us.
Raymond is a very good, consistent producer with a range of everyday wines to the reserves (which are much better for the slight increase in price, in my opinion) to the sometimes hard to find, "Generations" which is their ultra-premium cabernet. Fortunately, it's not priced like an ultra-premium. The last time I bought any it was about $65/btl. I would probably stay with the 2001 and 2002 vintages for the regular and reserve bottlings.
Precisely, Gary. Their Cabs will rarely excite, but they are among the best value for the dollar Cabs in Napa IMO. And, the last time I was there they distinguished themselves by not charging a tasting fee!
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