Good Cabs?

Alan,

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:

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.

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.

Hunt

Cabernets tend to benefit greatly from age, but some are very approachable in their youth as well. 2001 was a very good vintage for Napa Cabernet, but

Tom S

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..

'99 was *far* from a bust in CA, although your point is still a valid one.

Mark Lipton

Agreed.

By whom? Certainly not I! Perhaps you're thinking of 1998 (Napa Cabs).

FWIW, I've found 1999 Napa Cabernets to be better than their 2000 counterparts.

Tom S

Sorry my bad. Mean 2000. parker gives CA 78(worst since 1988((no wonder why I have so many 88 cabs...)).....) and 2000 WA an 89 and

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...

Mark Lipton

They all suck. CS is NOT a good food wine.

Moron. Buy Italian wine.

Barolo.

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.

Andy

On 27 Aug 2005, you wrote in alt.food.wine:

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.

Amen!!!

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.

Gary

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!

Mark Lipton

...and he doesn't care what you think or drink. He drinks better wine than you do anyway...because he doesn't drink California Crap...

Pheeyew! Who farted?

Oh. It was Michael.

The wind blows to the east from Califartia...