This past Saturday,a group of fellow oenophiles got together for a horizontal tasting of the 2002 Neal Cabs. Included in the line up were:

2002 Neal Cabernet
2002 Neal Second Chance
2002 Neal Howell Mountain
2002 Neal Chafen
2002 Neal Wyckoff

The idea was to study California "terroir" and examine subtle differences between the vineyards.

All wines were reddish-purple and opaque. There was still serious unresolved tannins in all of the samples we tried. Strong notes of cassis, blackberry with hints of chocolate in all samples.

Overall conclusions (multiple) were as follows:

1. The wines all display a high amount of "heat" (high alcohol).
2. The group favorite was the Wyckoff which displayed more structure and layers then the others.
3. The regular blend displayed a more greenish note and was the runner-up.
4. In third place was the Chafen and finally, the group felt the Second Chance and the Howell Mountain were monolithic and boring.

For the money, the blend was the best value. In short the single vineyard designates with one exception failed to impress. As has been suggested previously by others, usually the blends tend to combine the best characteristics of all vineyards.

Thanks for the notes. Did you taste them blind? Why, or why not?

Thanks for the notes. I have my single vineyard cabs resting. I'm wondering how long it's going to take before these guys hit their drinking windows. What's your estimate?

I have tasted all of the SV's in various vintages (2-4 depending on the wine). I have enjoyed the Wykoff and the Rutherford Dust. I am seriously contemplating sending all the others to auction. I have already asked for reserve amounts for the Second Chance and Howell Mt....

Thanks for the notes... I would also appreciate thoughts on drinking windows.

Thanks for the notes.
We have a great Tasting Notes section that this would fit in just perfect.

Green ...

You are right about the tasting notes section. While we had started to provide copious notes, we ended up just doing a basic comparison and therefore did not have the detail to provide (what I would call) excellent tasting comments.

Lentini, Tanglenet ....

at least 1-2 years on the blend and longer (2 years min.) on the single designate vineyards. The Wyckoff has the fruit to outlast the tannins and should go the longest distance. The Chafen although a simpler wine then the Wyckoff should also be alright. I am not sure the fruit will outlast the tannins on the Second Chance or the Howell Mountain.

Indybob ....

We did not see any reason to taste these blind. We had no pre-conceived notions about any of the wines or the vineyards.

I don't think the heat from the high alcohol levels will go away (and I can tolerate more heat then many of the persons tasting with me). With the exception of the Wyckoff and the blend, the remaining wines were like getting hit in the face with a brick (that is to say, somewhat less then pleasant). As a result, I may have to re-think many of the Cali Cab mailing lists I am on.

Please remember, these are only one groups opinions.

I think you're describing why I got a little turned-off to Neal... I had a tasting with newsguy and we had 4 vintages of their regular cab... I just felt walloped afterwards. They were tasty and had merit, but, man, not for the faint of heart. The one single vineyard I've had ('02 Chafen) I knew I was opening early, but holy crap it brutalized me. I don't think I'm into that style. I've stopped buying Neal b/c of those experiences. Aged well, they have their place... I just don't have the room in my budget to include them.

Thanks for the notes, interesting tasting. I am a big Neal fan, and continue to purchase. I really think these wines need time, and while the 2002 regular Napa bottling is drinking very well right now, I believe it will continue to improve for several more years. I don't believe the '02 vineyard designates are anywhere near ready. I do agree that heat in a wine will never go away, but I've also rarely found Neal wines to be exhibit much heat.

From my last tasting of these wines I would also add that the Wyckoff has always shown much flashier and approachable early than the rest of the designates, so it doesn't surprise me that it turned up as the group favorite.