Your Favorite California Cab

[docsconz]

What is your favorite California Cab? Both the single best ever tasted and the old standby that year-in-year out you can always rely upon?

The best I've ever had was probably a 1991 Philip Togni. I remember it being voluptuous with smooth body, plenty of fruit , great balance and a real drink-me attitude.

My year-in - year-out standard is probably Chateau Montelena with Phelps Insignia a close second. a couple of years ago I participated in a vertical tasting of Montelena from 1992-1997. There were no clunkers in the bunch. Yum.

[KatieLoeb]

I completely agree. Montelena is damned good. Always.

I always like the Justin Vineyards (from Paso Robles) wines. Their "Isoceles" in the currently released 2000 vintage is 78% Cab Sauv; 19% Cab Franc; 3% Merlot. Pretty close to what can be labelled as Cab. Their "Justification" is Mostly Cab Franc with a little Merlot tossed into the mix. Both of these are HUGE wines, so I'd imagine their regular Cabernet offerings would be of similar weight and power.

Arrowood is always pretty tasty to me too. Also quite consistent like the Montelena.

[Alex]

Best ever was a 1978 Mondavi Reserve, tasted at the winery in 1981, then bought three bottles when I got back home. That was my first exposure to really good Cab -- woke me right up.

I usually drink other reds as my standbys, but if I need a Cal Cab I go with Raymond unless there's a better one on clearance.

Edited September 18, 2003 by Alex (log)

[John W.]

I'll play.

Toss up between a '95 Dominus Cab and a '97 Dalla Valle. Both wines were too young obviously, but I enjoyed them both tremendously.

As for the year in and year out wines, my fave lately has been Darioush. Their first release was only in '97, but they seem to improve every year without raising their prices accordingly.

[futronic]

I don't drink a lot of Cal Cabs, but the best I've had was the 1996 Shafer Hillside Select which I had from magnum this past July. I think it had been decanted for a couple hours as well. My notes:

Opaque ruby with thin legs.  Dark/black fruits on nose with bramble and blueberry.  Full-bodied, juicy wine with blackberry, raspberry, spice, and a long, lingering finish.  95 points.

Good juice I tell ya.

[KatieLoeb]

As for the year in and year out wines, my fave lately has been Darioush. Their first release was only in '97, but they seem to improve every year without raising their prices accordingly

Yeah - I've only heard and read great things about Darioush. I'm hoping they have a table at the Winebow tasting tomorrow. Really jazzed to try some of their products - particularly the Cab and the Viognier. Read great stuff about both of those...

[Craig Camp]

I have always enjoyed the elegance and complexity of Spottswoode. Montelena is also always at the top of my list.

[Andre]

Geyser Peak [ Sonoma county ] and Raymond are both interesting and good value.

Mondavi Resrve 1994 and Silver Oak 1994 are amongst the best I have tasted.

[redwinegulper]

Back in the late '80s I had a '85 Cab from Stag's Leap, wow, it was my first great bottle of wine.

A few of my favorites are Dalle Valle, Forman, Staglin, and yes I like Montelena too. I have had some great bottles from Dominus, but am not as excited about it now.....perhaps it is not as explosive as you would anticipate at current prices.

Most overrated is Opus One (I seem to be in the minority here)

Best choice in the value category ($20) is Ch Souverain

[Craig Camp]

Most overrated is Opus One (I seem to be in the minority here)

My bet is that you are not in the minority.

[KatieLoeb]

Most overrated is Opus One (I seem to be in the minority here)

My bet is that you are not in the minority.

I'm with you. Not too many wine professionals I know think it's the bomb either. Then again, we've been known to usually have a bottle or three in the cellar because someone wants to order it with their fish.

[docsconz]

Another Calcab I think is grossly over-rated is Caymus Special Select. I have never really been turned on by it.

[GordonCooks]

I'm still a big new world lover - the best in recent memory - 97 Merryvale Profile, 97 Lokoya, 97 Whitehall Rsv, 97 SL Cask23; all at a 97 Tasting, A 95 Caymus SS , 98 Viader, and 91 Opus (i'm not an Opus fan at all)

Last Year

A 90 Ridge Montebello at a Ridge Dinner

A 87 BV Private Reserve at a 40th (not mine yet) B-day party (Beringer always are pretty consistent for me but I never seem to go for them.)

At my 30th (years ago) B-Day Party

1994 Abreu Madrona Ranch

1994 Caymus Special Select - corked

1994 Dalla Valle Maya

Biggest Tease - 85 Heitz Martha's Vineyard - Corked but still tasty.

Tried and true - never had a bad Jordan, or Hess Select. I've got some 99 Cinq Cepages, 97 & 98 Isoceles, 99 & 00 Quilceda Creek, 99 Pine Ridge, and a few others.

Edited September 18, 2003 by GordonCooks (log)

[mikeycook]

I'll be honest and say I can't afford some of the "top" cabs, like Screaming Eagle, Araujo, etc. However, of the ones I CAN afford, some of the ones I like are:

Phelps Insignia

Arrowood

Stag's Leap FAY

Chateau Montelena

Whitehall Lane Reserve (most underrated, IMHO)

[klinger75]

1985 Heitz Marthas vineyard On several occasions has been an absolute gem.

1992 Havens Black and Blue made by Manfred Krankl another knockout.

Sorry about the corked bottle Gordon.

Edited September 18, 2003 by klinger75 (log)

[GordonCooks]

Sorry about the corked bottle Gordon. 

Thanks, can you send over a replacement ?

Krankl is the SQN guy ?

Edited September 18, 2003 by GordonCooks (log)

[klinger75]

Gordon, the next botttle opened has your name on it. Provided you are in chicago?

Yes, Krankl is the SQN guy, did some private bottlings through havens before he opened his own facility

klinger

[Andre]

To confirm my memory I opened a bottle of Cabernet Mondavi Reserve 1994.

I am eating my words here.

A terrible waste of money both in terms of a premature opening and in terms of an overpriced wines.

Indeed the tannins were massive but as far as complexity is concerned ....

[Auxerrois]

My greatest Cal Cab list is filled with some young beasts.

The pinnacle being 1999 Grace Family- Unctuous texture, like syrup and fat, with hugely concentrated cassis syrup bombarded by cocoa, baking spices espresso, so full of depth, very dynamic, constantly evolving, with a finish that lasted till the next day.

Last Saterday at my store we popped a 1995 Araujo, still really young and vibrant, not quite as good as all the hype, but I definitely would not of sent it back. Where were you Klinger?

My stand by is the C.J. by Phillipe Melka $34.99 and the Little Stone $15.99, both from Napa and both steals at their prices.

[davidbdesilva]

The best Californian Cab I remember having was a 1992 Phelps Napa Valley. It tasted like velvet, was hugely bodied, and was simply delicious. I have another 1997 (95 pts.) of the same resting in my cellar and I look forward to the day I open that. Another wonderful Cab I had years ago was a 1984 Chappellet Napa Valley. Not nearly as big as the Phelps but a delicious wine nonetheless.

[Malik]

I'm not a big drinker of California Cabs, but I'll chime in with one more vote for Phelps Insignia. I have always liked the ones I've tried, and in the crazy price structure of Napa wines, it's actually not a bad value.

[Msk]

I agree with alot of what has been said. Montelena, any Cab Phelps makes (all are good at different price points IMHO, except maybe Backus, though that is certainly an experience)

The best for me would be 1999 Araujo that I paid $200 for on my honeymoon (off of a wine list no less!). It had such great fruit and balance, and the finish seemed to last a lifetime. The release of flavor in the wine from front to mid to finish was unlike anything I had (and have) ever experienced.

Msk

[Bill Klapp]

A no-brainer: 1974 Heitz Martha's. Only had it once, and I think it cost me $350 for that bottle. I can count on one hand the $100+ bottles of wine I have had that I really thought, deep-down, were worth it. This would be the only American wine on my "worth-it" list.

[klinger75]

Bill,

indeed the 74' marthas is up there among the tops i have tasted.(on numerous occasions)

I am sorry to say that the wine is defenitly fading and has seen better days . A wonderful experience although.

[Chris Cognac]

O.K, I am no wine expert but I had a bottle of Charles Shaw Cab last night and enjoyed it very much...So what are anyone's thoughts on "2 buck chuck"?