Your Favorite California Cab

[melkor]

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"?

It's wine. Some of it is better than others, none of it is great and some of it is awful. In general it kicks ass for coq au vin or braised short ribs.

edit: typo

Edited September 22, 2003 by melkor (log)

[Schneier]

Ridge Monte Bello. I opened a 91 last night. Beautiful.

Bruce

[pleiades]

Welp, I just can't afford to go one these big game expeditions. Not when I can bag Vieux Telegraphe or Beaucastel or even the occasional Pride Mountain for less money.....

[Schneier]

It's wine.  Some of it is better than others, none of it is great and some of it is awful. In general it kicks ass for coq au vin or braised short ribs.

edit: typo

I make my coq au vin with real cocoa.

Bruce

[fyfas]

I buy the Spottswoode every year but, that said, my favories are Dunn (Howell Mountain) and Forman.

The Forman is relatively speaking a bargain these days. While I won't say Opus One disappoints, for the price it is over-rated. I've had a fair amount of Dominus and never been "blown-away"; always expected and wished for more.

The early wine experience that remains memorable was with a few bottles of '78 George de Latour consumed in the mid-nineties.

[liamdc]

I've enjoyed the B.R. Cohn Silver Label Cabernet. I first had the '98 in a restaurant--a vintage I understand wasn't supposed to be the best for California cabernet. Nonetheless, I've subsequently had the '99 which was most enjoyable (80% San Luis Obispo/20% Sonoma).

www.brcohn.com

[Coop]

In the early 90's I had Martha's 74 at a tasting. It was all that could be expected. Layer upon layer of flavours, leaning to the cedary tobbacco side of things. I also used to love the Cayamus Napa from the 80's. As for dependable I've leaned towards Newton, Alexander Valley Vineyards (are they still around?), Whitehall Lane, Geyser Peak and Inglenook Napa from the 80's. I also remember the 91 Geyser Peak Reserve to be one of the best cabernets I've had.

This is now a street less travelled for me as are Burgundy and Bordeaux. It just seems you can do more for less elsewhere. A friend of mine brought a bottle of Spring Valley Uriah to dinner a few months ago, what a wine!

[beegew]

Grgich, Rombauer and the Kenwood Jack Londons.

[Carolyn Tillie]

Several months ago, I was very fortunate to taste an evening of California Cabs from the 40s to the 80s. The list included BV Latours from 1968 to 1985, '74s from Caymus, Ridge, Silver Oak, and Stag's Leap, and '78s from Stag's Leap, Mt. Eden, Diamond Creek, and Heitz. Hands down the winners of the evening were Inglenooks from 1958 (Case F30, Cast F10, and one with no cask notation).

I didn't have to pay for them and doubt I will ever be in a position to taste the likes of such again, but they were amazing.

[docsconz]

Sounds like an awesome night