'99 Carmenet Moon Mtn. Reserve Cab....any thoughts???

DR -

Couldn't agree with you more. My brother and I picked this up and tried one before anyone rated it. We werre impressed. Probably as good as the 97. As you said, chocolaty, and smoother than I'd expect for a 99. Good call

Thanks for the input B.M.!

I've yet to hear anything from anyone about this wine and yet it blew me away more than a lot of wines I've tried lately. The Santa Rosa paper here in California rates wines each week on a 5 star basis. It's VERY RARE when you see them give a wine 5 stars, but the '99 Carmenet was one of them! After that I had to try it, and I totally agree. Great wine, and a great price.

This is a sleeper that never gets much of a mention. I figure not enough people are trying it.
I love the chocolate component. I picked mine up in New Orleans for $39.99.

I have only tried the Dynamite. I can still get the Moon Mt. Reserve 97 for $50. Is this a buy? Any comparisons to other Cal Cabs?
TIA

Dave -
Like KOH, I picked up the 99 for around $40 in New Jersey just after release.
If I remember correctly, the 97 went for $35 - $40 on release as well.

The '99 is excellent...I don't know how you can beat it, but if you can still get ahold of the '97 for less than $50 it would be fun to compare the two!

-Dr. DRAB

I have not had this wine since release late last year, but I still remember it as one of the better '99s I've had, a more balanced acid profile than most '99s stands out as its signature. I'd be tempted to buy a couple at the prices quoted here, it originally was north of $50 here.

Dr: Carmenet is a customer of mine and IMHO make some great wine. I gave my in-laws a bottle of the 99 MM Res. Cab and they LOVED it. Great people. Ever been there to tour and taste?

Ashamedly have to say I've neve been there to taste! Would like to though.....

Actually heard a rumor tonight that Carmenet is owned by Chappellet, who is looking to sell Carmenet in order to fund overseas wine ventures.....any news on that????

-DRAB

Dr. DRAB

Agree. An underappreciated wine that offers a good QPR, and that comes readily in splits, perfect for 1 dinner.

However, more generally, '99 Cal Cabs are better than I expected, but as to '99's on par w '97's, let alone '94,'91, or even '95, in a word....NO.

Factor in price...eg '91 Beringer PR $50.00, '91 Harlan Estate for $55.00, '94 Arrowood RS for $40.00, '94 Dalla Valle $45.00, and the '99's look to me like they are no bargain. Comparable wines to these today are @$150.00- $200.00.

IMO, too many 90 pt wines for @$70.00. The Wine Bubble. Select '99 Cal Cabs worth a try...sure; worth going hog wild for...not.

DrT

[ 06-23-2002, 07:06 AM: Message edited by: dr.tannin aka x-man ]

I have enjoyed the past 3 vintages of the MMR (yes, even the '98).

I picked up my six '99's at $38/bottle. Tried one before I left and thought it was good but needed quite a bit of time.

Won't open another for at least a year -

Dr. Tannin.......

You sound like my #1 wine tasting buddy I get together with once a week. He's been collecting wine for nearly 50 years. He's got cases of Latour, Margaux, Lafite, Petrus, Caymus, Beringer, BV Reserve, you name it he's got old cases of it! He stopped collecting Bordeaux in '79 when the price of Petrus was raised to $35 per bottle! Imagine that! He remembers telling the local wine merchant that $35/btl. was rediculous, and the merchant's reply back was..."you better buy more, it's only going to go higher!"

I try not to factor in price when I taste....either I like the wine or I don't. When I like a wine....I mean relly like a wine....I'm willing to pay for it. The days of $55 Harlan are certainly a thing of the past!!! For those who stockpiled long ago, you couldn't be luckier. If you want to keep up now....it isn't getting any cheaper for the good stuff! And, I agree, for the most part, with the wine merchant...."you better buy more!" I think we will have more choices in the future, but the demand is also going to be higher, and you will always have to pay for quality.

As for the '99's....I disagree with you...I would put it right up there with the '97 Napa's. Maybe a small step behind, but not far. I've been incredibly impressed with the '99's. There's some damn good juice out there, and a good deal more yet to be released!

-DRAB

Dr. DRAB-

All good points. Cellars are in various states of evolution. I have too many outstanding wines that can still go years to cause me to stir at much of the '99 releases. That no doubt colors my view, prices notwithstanding.

I do believe that of those I have tried, 97 is far more fruit containing than 99, and better fits my palate and what I perceive will develop. Moreover, I anticipate that obtaining '01 vintage Cabs, Zins, and PN will be a more worthwhile use of my money as the published experts all believe this is a significantly better vintage for reds than '99 is. Even our most respected palate here has been impressed at a recent Napa tasting with wine out of '01 barrels. The '01 vintage, many believe, will have much higher highs easily worth a slightly higher price v/v '99 and'00, and a plethora of lower priced quality second and third tier wines.

For me it's simple. Be selective in '99, even far more so in '00, buy in '01. I anticipate going hog wild for the '01 and believe that my money will be better spent snapping up all manner of high caliber and high QPR reds, simply by applying patience.

DrT

[ 06-23-2002, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: dr.tannin aka x-man ]

Dr. T-

Agree with you there on the 2001's coming up....

Seems like it's going to be a good year for quality Bordeax and Sauterne as well! The Q/P there is looking quite nice too!

The other nice thing is that there is just so much wine right now, and the economy is slow too. This leaves wine retailers with a lot of wine to sell, and a lot of new vintages coming down the pipeline. Prices are super low right now on the '98 Napa's, as well as '97 and some '98/'99 Bordeaux. I think we will see prices level off for a little while on the lower to mid tiered stuff. Even slightly on some of the upper end stuff until the economy picks back up again.

Happy hunting and tasting!

Dr. DRAB

Dr. DRaB,

Decanter gave it 5 stars. They tasted 200 Cali Cabs in their 1999 review and I believe it was only 1 of only approx 3 to receive its highest rating. Another one was the Joseph Phelps Napa (the Insignia wasn't tasted).

Their notes were...Rich, ripe, oaky, cassis nose. Supple, concentrated and tight with a lot of ripe tannin. Bright, black fruit character which is juicy and persistent.

This was reviewed in the April '02 issue.

Dr DRAB: Carmenet is owned by the Chalone Wine Group. Late last year it decided to split the Carmenet brand into three different labels: Dynamite Vineyards, Moon Mountain Vineyard and Carmenet Vineyards. Starting with the 2000 vintage the Moon Mountain and Dynamite wines will all have new label designs.

I opened a bottle last night and indeed, a big chocolate -fruity wine. Also had the '99 Dynamite last week, a good cab and a decent QPR.
Moon Mtn Reserve-91
Dynamite- 88.5
pe

[ 09-23-2002, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: Pinot Envy ]

PE -

How long did you have it open / decanted?

When I opened my bottle a few months ago, I came away with the impression that it would greatly benefit from a few years of cellaring.